Getting To Know

Before 2012 ended, and as 2013 ushered in, Jerome Ponce had already won the hearts not just of “Be Careful With My Heart” loyal viewers, but also of teenage girls and kolehiyalas. Everywhere he went to, “Luke” na ang tawag sa kanya ng mga tao. Nagkasunud-sunod ang mga TV guestings, mall shows, at naging part pa siya ng ASAP as one of the hosts of “ASAP Chillout”. He was also launched as part of Star Magic Circle Batch 2013 kasama sina Julia Barretto, Janella Salvador and Liza Soberano. His star was shining the brightest - he was a daytime “Prince Charming”.

Thanks to our common friends, especially Marco Gumabao who would invite us to hang out, naging malapit kami lalo ni Jerome. Uso pa ang LINE application no’n, so dun kami nagkakamustahan, nag-uusap. Getting to know more of him. Suddenly, isa na siya sa mga pinupuntahan ko sa ASAP. Dinadalaw ko na rin siya sa set ng “Be Careful With My Heart”, or sa ibang guestings niya sa ABS-CBN. Fan na fan lang. Sulit naman, deep down. At naging mabait naman at welcoming siya everytime he would see me.

Pero yung masasabi kong naging “test” namin before I can finally say and claim na friends kami was nung nag-away sila ng isang common friend namin, at pati ako nadamay. I didn’t expect na, I would find myself crying about it. Then a friend made me realize, “hindi mo siya iiyakan kung hindi siya mahalaga.” So Jerome and I talked, settled things, and decided na hindi kami nagpaapekto. From then on, na-claim ko ng friends talaga kami. And everytime I would visit him sa mall shows or sa set, he would introduce me to others na, “friend ko po, si France.”

Kasabay ng pagsikat niya ay ang mga intrigang binato sa kanya. Na-link sa ilang girls: Ella Cruz, Julia Barretto, Claire Hartell (na partner niya sa BCWMH), Elisse Joson, and even sa kapatid niya sa seryeng si Janella. Well, hindi naman big deal dahil it’s expected from a rising teen actor na gwapo at may ibubuga. Mas OK nang ganyan ang intriga sa kanya kesa bading ‘di ba? Not for anything ha. I’m gay, and I know how it feels.

But the worst issue pressed against him that time was yung “attitude problem”. Lumaki na raw ang ulo. Feeling superstar. Of course, I wouldn’t really know because hindi naman kami magkasama everyday sa trabaho. Pero sa nakita ko kapag magkasama kami, hindi naman. He may look maangas, at may tono siya pag nagsalita na ganun, but he’s not. Yung fact na lagi niyang kinikwento ang humble beginnings niya, at kinakausap pa rin niya at nakakasama ‘yung mga tao sa paligid niya even before pa siya nakilala, it speaks so much of his character. E on my end, hindi naman siya dapat magpakabait o magpakitang gilas sa akin, hindi naman ako boss o katrabaho na dapat i-please. What I see is what I really get.

He was just your typical outspoken and adventurous teen guy na kapag hindi mo kinilala ng lubos ay hindi mo maintindihan. He grew up almost all by himself. Walang masyadong alam sa showbiz then. Nao-overwhelm sa attention. He addressed this on "A&A Tonight" in 2015. Minsan, may nasasabi siyang hindi ko maintindihan. Nagkakatampuhan. Pero pag kinilala mo siya, you will see and feel his kindness and generosity. If he sees or felt na nasaktan ka niya, he would say “I’m sorry”. ‘Yung little things na he would ask or offer you na kumain kasabay niya, or isakay ka niya sa sasakyan niya pauwi. Mabait si Jerome Ponce.

Actually, there’s so much to share about my moments with Jerome that time as his “Dakilang Fan” and friend. Let me tell some of those through these photos:

Bumped into Jerome at Yen Santos' birthday celebration in 2012.

After "Be Careful With My Heart"'s pictorial and promo shoot
on November 29, 2012. Inabot kami ng next day, which happened
to be Bonifacio Day. 

With Marco Gumabao, backstage of GGV taping. For some reason,
this episode didn't air. 

Met with Jerome after his "Be Careful With My Heart" taping.
Mahilig siyang kumain at mag-chill lang after work.

Jerome watched "Princess And I" third Royal Fair
at Mall Of Asia Arena.

At Jeromefinities', his fan club, second get together.

During Star Magic Circle batch 2013 press launch

With Khalil backstage of ASAP during their Star Magic Circle 2013
launch in the show.

At his dressing room for GGV guesting,
that time umere naman. 

Election Day 2013, he and Marco played basketball
at Marco's subdivision. 

Backstage of his Robinson's Novaliches Mall Show
with Janella. I brought his favorite food then,
which he posted in Twitter.

Backstage of ASAP. His handler, Ate Janice Damasco, took this
at ang peg daw ng picture ay parang rom-com movie poster, 

Surprising Jerome on his 18th birthday in 2013. I remember
him saying, "ngayon lang uli may nag-surprise sa akin
ng ganito after so many years". 

In turn, he went to my birthday celebration a
month later after his.

After dinner with other supporters
he considers friends as well.

Backstage of ASAP, I told him, "kamukha mo talaga
si Sir Chief" with eyeglasses on, thus the pose. 

After his Isetann Recto Mall Show with Janella.
Afterwards, he was on his way to Baguio to tape an episode
of "Kaya Mo Bang?" He actually invited me. Sila lang ng
sister niya ang pupunta, at maluwag ang van going there. 

He also loved doing wacky poses. Like this one,
during his next get together with his Jeromefinities. 

After "Minute To Win It" taping where he
and Janella won P250,000!

And this one. 

Backstage of Janella's Marikina Riverbanks mall show.

Jerome, Jane Oineza and I have been good friends as early as 2013.
In this pic, ang peg namin ay love triangle kami kunwari. 

Backstage of 2013 Candy Cuties.