Showbiz Chika

Luis Manzano is looking forward to promoting his new movie Who’s That Girl which will premiere on March 7. Unlike their past movies where Luis tries his best to win Anne’s heart, in Who’s That Girl, it’s Anne who does all the chasing.

Admittedly close friends for the past ten years, Luis and Anne (who address each other by their respective pet names Manzano and Nippy) have maintained their strong bond throughout the years. Luis said that Anne is currently the closest girl to his heart. “Talagang sabi ko nga, she’s my soulmate. Napag-isipan nga namin na kung may female version ko rin na maiintindihan ako no matter what. Na alam kong kahit anong pinagdadaanan ko, alam kong nandun yung tao na yun para sa akin. Para kumbaga, ako din siya. So for me, that’s Anne. My soulmate,” he shared during the Who’s That Girl presscon held last February 4 at the City Best Restaurant in Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City.

The 30-year-old actor saif that even though they have had relationships with other people, it doesn’t mean that there is no chance of them ending up together in the future. “Kaya naming sabihin na tuloy-tuloy kaming ganito, tuloy-tuloy itong kung ano mang meron si Manzano at si Nippy. Pero sabi ko nga, no one can tell the future. Walang puwedeng magmagaling at kayang sabihin kung ano mangyayari pa. Sa akin naman, at this point, whatever we have right now is a very, very good foundation for the future, kung ano man yun,” he admitted.

Luis also shared that his friendship with Anne was not always smooth sailing. “May time na nung nag-a-ASAP kami, hindi kami nag-uusap. Best friends na kami nun. May mga tampuhang kaibigan rin kami na basta sa amin na yun kung bakit nangyari. Basta dumaan kami dun nung sa ASAP na magkakasama kami na literally ‘pag kinukulit ko sila Nikki (Gil) at si Iya (Villania), si Nippy nakatingin lang sa amin. Tapos ako mananahimik. Umabot sa puntong hindi na kami nag-uusap sa ASAP. Umabot kami sa part na yun,” he explained.

The Who’s That Girl actor said that it’s not hard to be friends with Anne because it doesn’t take a lot to soften her heart. But he admitted he also had to make an effort to get on her good side after a fight. “Pag may tampo yan, it’s very, very easy to make her smile. Eh dati nga, nag-antay nga ako ng alas-diyes ng umaga sa school niya. Akala ko kung nasaan siya, akala ko nasa school. Pinuntahan ko siya dun, yun pala wala! Puyat na puyat ako, so talagang nag-effort ako, nag-aantay ako sa labas ng school niya para lumabas siya. Para gusto ko maranasan naming yun maglu-lunch break date, yung ganun lang. Pero wala, hindi siya pumasok. Pagdating ko sa ABS-CBN ang init tuloy ng ulo ko! (laughs) Pero pagdating ko sa dressing room ko, may flowers siya para sa akin. Ganun, ganun kami,” he said with a smile.

Luis said he loves to make Anne smile especially when he knows she’s going through a tough time. “Si Nippy kasi ‘pag may mga araw na may pinagdadaanan or kung ano man, ‘pag masama ang gising, kahit gaano kainit ng ulo niya or irritable siya, ako wala akong pakialam, kukulitin ko pa rin siya, hanggang matawa siya, parang ganun,” he said.

Luis said that his friendship with Anne has only become stronger because they are also both there for each other even during times of heartache. “Ako naman kasi, kahit anong pinagdadaanan ko, nashe-share ko rin sa kanya. Minsan humihingi pa ako ng dasal mula sa kanya, kung puwede bang isingit niya ako sa mga prayers niya, whatever it maybe. Siguro something as substantial as my love life, eh sa pinagdaanan namin aabot din dun at one point or another dahil she’ll be a very, very constant part of my life. Sa akin yun ah,” he said.

• 
• 
• 
• 
•