Jerome's Way

“Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita” may have ended in October 2015, after a successful 9 month run in daytime, but blessings and projects continuously poured in for Jerome Ponce.

Jerome and I with Direk Mae Cruz-Alviar
on the set of "Pangako Sa 'Yo"

Jerome (as Charles) shared a scene with Kathryn Bernardo no less.

Before 2015 ended, Jerome made a special appearance in “Pangako Sa ‘Yo” as Charles Garcia, the memorable “anak ng senador” na nagka-interes kay Yna, at pinagselosan ni Angelo. It was really short, pero somehow answered prayer ‘yun (Christmas gift actually) for me kasi kahit sandal ay naka-trabaho ko si Jerome, as I did his online promo. I’ve always wanted to work with him. At nakakatuwa ang reactions ng viewers, especially the KathNiel fans, as they took in his character well. There were even requests na ma-extend yung role niya.

With Jerome and Janella backstage of ASAP
for "Haunted Mansion" promo

After ASAP Christmas episode taping

"Tonight With Boy Abunda" guesting

Kapamilya Live Chat

Midnight screening of "Haunted Mansion"

Backstage of StarMall San Jose mall show

At the MMFF Parade of Stars

Jerome also made his film debut in “Haunted Mansion”, Regal Films’ entry to the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival, kasama sina Janella Salvador and Marlo Mortel. While he was doing NKNKK, segue siya sa shoot nito, which took 6 months to finish. Pero naging super worth it naman because the horror film ended up grossing more than P100 million, the film outfit’s biggest grosser in recent memory.

2015 also saw Jerome’s rise as a reliable product endorser: He was launched as one of Coke’s ambassadors (together with Janella), and became part of the cool Greenwich Barkada (comprised of Robi Domingo, Andre Paras and Yassi Pressman) as the face of the Hawaiian Overload pizza flavor.

Jerome's promo for "Ipaglaban Mo: Peligro".

As 2016 opened, dalawang mahahalagang TV projects ang napunta sa kanya. First was his “Ipaglaban Mo” debut bilang si Danny, a rebellious teenage boy na naging cause ng death ng kanyang girlfriend (played by Michelle Vito) dahil sa kalasingan at kapabayaan. The episode was a top-rater, and a trending topic as it saw Jerome tackling a more daring and matured role. And no doubt, nakitaan si Jerome ng husay sa pagganap ng offbeat character dito, amidst the demands of taping a weekly series. It was actually his first guesting ever in any drama anthology in ABS-CBN, since more than three years din siyang diretso sa paggawa ng mga teleserye.

Some backstage moments of Jerome in ASAP.

He was also chosen to be part of ASAP’s new dance idols, along with Janella and NKNKK co-stars Loisa Andalio and Joshua Garcia. Every week, we get to see and admire his other side: yung husay niya sa pagsayaw.

But Jerome’s 2016 is highlighted by two remarkable projects: “Wansapanataym: Candy’s Crush” and “MMK: Ang Lolo Kong Siga”.

On the set of "Wansapanataym: Candy's Crush"

With JeLoi backstage of ASAP.

In “Wansapanataym”, which premiered in June, he was paired for the first time with Loisa. Jerome played a playboy, campus heartthrob na si Paulo na sinumpang maging pangit dahil sa kanyang kayabangan. And just like in any fairy tales, he found truly love in an ordinary girl, si Candy, who has loved him all these time sa kabila ng kanyang kahinaan. The series was surprise hit – walang pinanggagalingan ang teamup nila. Umabot pa ang ratings nila sa 37 for two straight weeks – all time high for the show, and still unbeaten up to this point.

On the set og "MMK: Ang Lolo Kong Siga"

Jerome with letter sender Gilbert Opena

He also made his “MMK” debut as Gilbert, a teenage gay forced to hide his sexuality sa lolo niyang nagpalaki sa kanya, who happened to be “siga ng Tondo” (played by Phillip Salvador). This was a major step career-wise because, hindi madali ang gumanap na gay, and it may take a toll on his career eventually. Make or break, ika nga. But Jerome was brave to take the role in. At na-witness ko personally sa set how he really worked hard na makuha ng tama at maayos ang pag-arte ng bakla. He studied his lines. In-observe niya ang mga gays sa paligid, including me. Matindi ang pagi-internalize niya. He really dedicated himself to this. But sobrang worth it because umabot sa 33.9% ang ratings, the highest for MMK in September, and sobrang napuri ang kanyang pagganap. If noon, puro “ang cute”, “ang gwapo” or “nakakakilig” ang posts about Jerome, in that MMK episode, napuno ng “magaling”, “mahusay”, “parang totoo”, at iba’t iba pang papuri ang kanyang pagganap.

Two days before he entered PBB.

"Minute To Win It" taping, two days after his PBB stint. 

Jerome ended up as "Last Man Standing" of the day,
winning P70,000. 

Nakakatuwa at nakaka-proud because it was a major turnaround after his controversial stint in “PBB Lucky Season 7”. Won’t go into details, because I admit kahit ako nasaktan sa mga nangyari, and it really challenged Jerome, his well-being and the public perception towards him. I even remember seeing him for the first time just few days after siyang lumabas ng PBB, sa taping ng “Minute To Win It”. He was sad. Hindi masyadong nagsasalita. I didn’t even know how to approach him. Pero ang maganda dun, he was able to resort whatever he was feeling sa games – he ended up as one of the game show’s “Last Man Standing” of the week, winning P70,000.

Jerome slowly but surely bouncing back. 

But by God’s grace, he was able to bounce back. Buo na uli ang mga ngiti niya. Alam mong masaya na uli. It could be because of someone (not my story to tell though). It could  be because of the bright future awaiting him. Or it could be, he chose to be happy among the “lines of problems” as he put it in one of his social media posts. One thing I’m sure of, Jerome found his way back. He always does. And he always will.