Showbiz Chika

Now that Melissa Ricks is starring in Kapamilya Gold’s upcoming mystery-suspense series Nasaan Ka Elisa?, a sexier and more mature image is on the horizon for Jake Cuenca’s ladylove. But the actor said he is not bothered by Mel’s official “graduation” from more wholesome roles. Jake said that it would be a double standard to not be supportive of his girlfriend since he has also done daring scenes in the past as well, more recently he did some steamy scenes with Alessandra De Rossi in Green Rose. “Si Mel, she just lets me work. She lets me do my thing. Same with her, kasi yung ginagawa niyang bago is a bit daring. It’s very different from what she’s done in the past, so ako naman, hindi ako hipokrito. So I just let her do her thing. She lets me do my thing and that’s really the reason why we get along really well. She didn’t have to convince me to let her do that kasi hindi naman ako hipokrito I’ve done a lot of roles like that na medyo daring at tulad nga nung sa Green Rose, sabihin na natin na medyo mainit yung scenes,” he said.

The 23-year-old actor said that he wants to give Mel enough freedom to make her own decisions and decide what’s the best path for her career. “She wants to be different eh. Sa akin, since she’s 21 years old, I think it’s about time that she moves and gears towards more mature roles. Andito lang naman ako para sumoporta sa kanya,” he said.

Jake said that Mel also gives him the right amount of space and isn’t a jealous girlfriend, even after seeing the intimate scenes he did with the sultry Alessandra, who was also one of the first people he met in showbiz. “Kasi kami ni Alex, we’ve been friends for almost ten years so more or less we know each other by heart. So pagdating sa mga eksena, nakapa na namin ang isa’t isa. Malaki pagtitiwala namin sa isa’t isa. Alam naman natin na si Alessandra, hindi kumportable gumawa ng eksenang ganun kaya ako nagpapasalamat ako kay Alex na pinayagan niya ako, siyempre madaming mga daya-daya. We had to work with what we had so yun. At least maganda yung feedback na mainit naman yung eksena so I just have to thank Alex na she just went with the flow. Hinayaan niya ako na gawaan ng paraan yung mga eksena namin. Talaga namang hindi ako gagawa ng bagay na ma-o-offend ang kaibigan ko kaya alam na alam ko yung linya eh, yung linya na hindi dapat i-cross sa eksena na ganun. We just had to work with what we had and it worked out,” he shared.

With all the action-packed scenes and fast-paced storyline, it looks like the following for the local adaptation of the popular Korean series has grown even stronger as the weeks go by. Jake admitted that he and the cast of Green Rose have high hopes for the show since they worked extra hard to make it a success. “Masayang-masaya kami kasi matagal na namin pinaghahandaan ang Green Rose. Matagal naming hinintay yung airing niya kasi hinintay pa namin yung snow sa Korea. Masaya ako. Sobrang tagumpay namin lahat yan sa show. Maraming marami pa kaming exciting na ipapakita. Makikita niyo na talaga yung drama at yung bigat ng storya. I accepted this role for maturity because I know I’ll be working with Jericho (Rosales), who’s a phenomenal actor and Anne who’s a great actress. So for me, when they presented this role to me, I felt like I needed to do this for my maturity, para ma-enhance ko ang aking craft. At the end of this project I can say that I’m more mature. I’ve learned so much from this project and I’m proud of it. For me, this is a great experience,” he said.

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Now that they are working together on a drama series for the first time, Jericho Rosales admitted he had been looking forward to working with Jake Cuenca. The Green Rose actor recalls how he felt when he heard news that Jake might not push through with the project. “Actually nalungkot ako dati nung may balita na hindi na matutuloy si Jake. So I really got sad because kumbaga para sa akin, gustong-gusto ko makatrabaho yung mga leading men and na-fra-frustrate na ako na hindi ko nakakatrabaho sila Piolo (Pascual),  John Lloyd (Cruz), and Sam Milby. Si Diether (Ocampo), sobrang cool kami nun so I also love working with Diet,” he shared.

Echo, had nothing but praises and admiration for his Green Rose co-star. “Now that I am able to work with Jake, ginanahan talaga ako. Sabi ko, ‘Wow, finally, an actor. A leading man and a known actor that I can work with.’ So nagtrabaho kaming dalawa sa mga eksena namin. Pinag-uusapan talaga namin. We congratulate each other after every scene. There’s no competition on who’s better. Hindi namin tinitingnan yung competition. I respect him as an actor,” he shared.

Echo said that he finds Jake’s professionalism as one of the reasons why Green Rose has become such a compelling series to watch. “I heard a lot about him before, but now that I’ve worked with him and nakita ko kung anong klaseng artista si Jake. Now I only have respect for the guy. Makikita mo yung mga eksena namin, yung characters, ‘pag may eksena kami, maganda. It’s nice. And ako, I don’t really mind kung sabihin man nila who’s the better actor or whatever. What’s important for me is nag-produce kami ng magandang scene. Meron kaming sinusunod na linya so dun kami buma-biyahe. Kailangan naming tutukan yung detalye nung show kasi hindi rin kami puwedeng lumayo but at the same time kailangan naming i-express yung feelings namin. On the set, talagang pinag-uusapan namin kung papano i-attack. Kasi may mga scenes kami na ang ganda, sobrang ganda, but sometimes we have to do it again. We actually worked on every scene, kami ni Jake, pinag-uusapan namin yung eksena. First time ko makatrabaho si Jake so ang sarap ‘pag ganun yung ka-eksena mo,” he explained.

As he plays the role of Jerome Delgado, a poor but good-hearted man wrongly accused of committing crimes because of a frame up, Echo said the role gave him new depth as an actor and provided a new kind of challenge when it came to imbibing his character. “Hindi pa naman ako na-frame up sa buhay ko. Yung character lang talaga ni Jerome, since nag-workshop kami, hawak ko na siya sa isip ko and then every time na nasa set kami, medyo they made sure na kuha na namin yung character namin so when we get to the set, in character na and hindi ko talaga masisi kung madala talaga ako sa buhay niya at saka dun sa character ni Jerome kasi talagang kakapitan mo yung character niya kasi talagang nakakaawa siya. Nakakaawa yung pinagdadaanan niya. I was actually blessed to portray a role na ganun na yung karga niya. For me, sasampa na lang ako dun tapos tatakbo na siya. So I had to do my homework from the beginning and yung pinakadulo yun na yun. Tapos na yung rehearsal, ganun,” he said.

Although he’s always up for complex kind of roles, Echo said another added challenge was the unexpected toll the role took on his body. “Yung pinaka-challenging dito is yung transition niya sa pagiging bagong character na dumating. It was medyo physically and emotionally challenging kasi may mga eksena na nagagawa ko na sumasakit yung batok ko sa sobrang pagka-intense niya. As in nagpapamasahe ako bawat eksena. Meron akong isang araw na sumisipa ako, iiyak ako, tumatakbo ako, pagod talaga ako. Emotionally drained ako. The character has many demands. Meron siyang stage na Jerome, the normal guy na mabait na na-in love. I’m loving pero may mga parts si Jerome na hindi ako yun eh. And then biglang he becomes a fugitive, nagtago. And then biglang naging may-ari ng isang malaking kompanya. And then pagbalik ko, magko-Korean ako. Meron akong mga Korean lines. He has to exude that power na parang ganun. So three characters in one,” he said.

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Melissa Ricks unleashes her wild side to play the daughter with a questionable reputation in the upcoming mystery-suspense teleserye Nasaan Ka Elisa? The show is an adaptation of a Chilean telenovela that had also been a hit in several countries including Venezuela, Georgia, Spain, Croatia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, Mexico, Lithuania, Poland, Iran, and Romania. During the press conference of Nasaan Ka Elisa?, Melissa was asked if she is like her character, the missing Elisa, who acts as the perfect daughter but also keeps a wild side. “I’m far from perfect but I try to be a good daughter to my parents. I would say I’m a better daughter now, but siguro parents”

The 21-year-old actress was at first hesitant to admit that she also had a rebellious past. “Slightly lang naman, ha ha ha! Tapos na ‘yun,” she answered. Was love the reason behind that rebellious stage in her life? “Maraming dahilan. Siyempre kapag teenager ka marami kang pinagdadaanan. Hindi lang puro love life. Meron din sa family, friendships.”

Rumor has it that Melissa began having issues with her parents when she got into a relationship with hunky actor Jake Cuenca. Two years ago, she was reported to have stormed out of the house after having a heated argument with her mother about Jake. But Melissa clarified, “Hindi layas ‘yun. Sleepover lang naman, ha ha ha! Hoy! Hindi naman kina Jake! Kina Kitkat ako nakitulog. One night lang naman. Umuwi na ako kinabukasan. Nagpasundo ako sa kotse ko. Daddy ko ang naghatid sa akin dun.”

She didn’t deny though that her mother at first didn’t approve of Jake courting her. But Melissa was touched with how the actor persevered in winning the trust of her parents. “Well, she’s just being a mother. Siyempre natatakot lang siya kung ano ang mangyayari sa akin. Ako ang bunso and I’m a girl. Pero noon pa ‘yun. Napakita naman ni Jake na malinis ang intensyon niya. Okay na sila ng mommy ko. My mom is in the US right now kaya hindi sila masyadong nagkikita. Pero dati nagtetext sila. Kinausap ni Jake ang mom ko several times before.”

Melissa went on to confess that even she herself had doubts about Jake’s intentions, but her worries were later proven wrong. “Ayoko talaga sa kanya nung una kasi ang tingin ko sa kanya mayabang, presko. Pero he proved me wrong when I gave him the chance. Ipinakita niyang mabuti siyang tao. He tried the hardest. Mabait talaga siyang tao. Mahirap i-explain pero isa siya sa pinakatotoong tao na nakilala ko. Gusto ko siyang makasama. Marami na siyang naturong magagandang bagay sa akin.”

Now together for almost two years, Melissa and Jake still insist in their interviews that they are still in the dating stage. Not contented with ambiguous answers, reporters asked Melissa to define clearly what kind of relationship she and Jake have at the moment. “Ayaw naming lagyan ng label. Ang hirap kasi sa showbiz maraming nakikialam, naninira. I would say exclusive na kami sa isa’t isa. Wala nang iba. Nagpapaalamanan na kami sa isa’t isa. ‘Yun na ‘yun, ha ha ha!”

Still the actress begged that the media respect her and Jake’s decision not to talk too much about their relationship. The only thing she assured the public is that so far she is happy with the man whom she described as her guide to the right path. “Masayang masaya ako na alam kong may taong nagke-care sa akin, inaalagaan ako at mahal ako. Siya ang first love ko. I’m thankful that he came at the right time. Hindi nung magkasama kami sa Penduko kasi we were both young then. We make the right decisions and we support each other. Binabantayan niya ako at talaga igina-guide niya ako to the right path.”

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It’s been two years since they first started dating and now that they admitted to their relationship, Melissa Ricks says it really was a big help that she and Green Rose star Jake Cuenca decided to be mum about it at the start. “Masaya ako na everything’s okay between me and Jake and masaya ako na ang tagal na namin na steady lang. Ang tagal namin na masaya and I think it was a good idea to keep it to ourselves for a while kasi nakatulong din yun na tumagal kami ng ganong katagal,” she shares during Empress’s debut last February 20 at The Grand Terrace in Quezon City.

The 21-year-old says that it’s not true that her parents were against her dating Jake. “My mom was never against it. My mom was just being a mom. Concerned sa akin. Siyempre they don’t want their little girl na magka-boyfriend. Pero she never disliked Jake or anything like that, walang ganun. Talagang ganun lang sila talaga. Any family na may bunsong anak na babae, siguro ganun talaga,” she explains.

Mel also admits that she feels flattered that Jake has been very vocal to the press about his feelings for her. “He’s very, very nice. I know sometimes it’s cliché to say na mabait ang isang tao pero ito talaga from the start mabuti na siyang tao hindi lang sa akin pero pati sa family niya, sa mga kapatid niya. He’s very down-to-earth and alam ko na mahal niya ako,” she adds.

Mel says that Jake is also a very open-minded boyfriend. They have both decided to keep their professional decisions separate from their personal lives. “He leaves my decisions up to me. Yung career path ko and career path niya, sine-separate namin yung career namin sa personal life. So I think that’s why na nagkakasundo din kami kasi we have our own thing eh. But we support each other in everything that we do,” she reveals.

But even if they are now open towards talking about their relationship, it doesn’t mean that they will divulge everything about it. “Oo masaya ako na alam na ng tao yung sa amin pero hindi ko naman ibibigay lahat sa mga tao. Sana they leave some for us pa rin, for ourselves na private naman. Ibigay rin naman nila sa amin yung konting privacy,” she says.

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