Showbiz Chika

As the teleserye Sabel ends this week, AJ Perez said he will miss everyone from the show, most especially his leading lady Jessy Mendiola. “Mami-miss ko siya kasi every scene namin sa Sabel was memorable. Masasabi ko na dito ako natuto, nahasa sa pag-arte. Malaking bahagi nun si Jessy at si Joseph (Marco). Itong Sabel parang malaking workshop para sa aming tatlo. I’ll miss the both of them. I’m proud to have worked with them.”

AJ was asked if within the months of taping Sabel he developed special feelings for Jessy, he admitted getting physically attracted to her whom he had know prior to working together in the teleserye. “Siyempre every time I see Jessy, parang…‘Wow! Ang ganda ni Jessy. It’s hard not to like Jessy. She’s a good friend of mine. She’s very beautiful, matalino, napakagaling umarte. It’s an honor to be one of her leading men.”

But when it comes to the possibility of actually falling in love and courting Jessy, AJ explained that he would rather let time decide. “I’m not closing my doors. I just hope if ever liligawan ko si Jessy, sana tanggapin niya ako. Pero nakikita ko ngayon she’s more focused sa work, and ako rin. May studies pa ako. We have priorities. Love life siguro can wait.”

For now AJ said that he is very much proud to see Jessy having been elevated to drama princess status because of the success of Sabel. “Jessy is very professional. Alam niya kung kailangan magtatrabaho, kung anong eksena ang kailangan ng heavy emotions and drama. Kapag malapit na mag-take nagiiba na ‘yung personality niya because she wants to give all of her dun sa eksena. Matagal ko na siyang kilala pero now that because of Sabel I’m seeing her as the next leading lady, the next big thing. Sobrang ang laki ng improvement niya. I’m proud as a friend.”

The actor was very thankful for Sabel for having had the chance to finally play a leading man role. As much as he wanted to still work with Jessy on his next project after Sabel, AJ said he knows he also needs to work with other stars so he can widen his range as an actor. “As artists we have to face the fact that we have to follow our own career paths and we have to grow rin. So we have to work with different actors, different directors para ma-hone ‘yung craft namin as an artista.”

Though because of his youthful and sweet face he usually play “good boy” roles, AJ shared that he is also open to trying out being bad on screen. “As much as possible gusto ko iba ibang roles ang ginagawa ko. Ayokong ma-typecast. Ayoko naman sa next project ko, pari na naman ang role ko, yung sobrang bait na totoy ang dating. I want to experiment, explore.”

• 
• 
• 
• 
•