Jerome Ponce says he does not mind being called a Mario Maurer lookalike

Rhea Manila Santos

<div><img src='' alt='101012-jerome_main.jpg' align='left' border='0' height='290' width='305'>Newcomer Jerome Ponce said he feels lucky to have made the crossover from theater acting to television with <i>Be Careful With My Heart</i>. The 17-year-old said he is also partly thankful to Director Jeffrey Jeturian. 'I recently joined Star Magic last August <i>lang. Tulad ng ibang naghahangad maging artista, nag</i>-go-see <i>at </i>VTR <i>ako. Sinama ng </i>manager <i>ko na si </i>fashion designer Avel Bacudio<i> sa </i>go-see <i>ng Be Careful With My Heart</i> and okay<i> naman, nakilala ako ni Direk</i> Jeffrey Jeturian. <i>Nalaman niya na nag-te</i>-theater <i>ako dati at yun ang naging</i> start <i>para magkakilala kami</i>. I used to be part of musical theater.<i> Sayaw at kanta</i>. I started acting when I was 16 years old,' he shared.</div><div><br/></div><div>Jerome said he has always been passionate about his craft. '<i>Nag</i>-work<i> talaga</i> for it. <i>Hindi ko lang ito basta gusto</i>, I really worked hard for it. So<i> habang nag-aaral ako ng </i>fourth year high school, <i>nag-wo</i>-work <i>ako sa </i>company<i> na </i>Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF). Ten years <i>pa lang yun</i> in existence.<i> Tinanggap naman ako ni direk</i> so okay <i>naman daw ako </i>so far,' he told <a href='/default.aspx'>Push.com.ph</a>.</div><div><br/></div><div>A graduate of the Malayan High School of Science under Mapua Institue, Jerome said he definitely had to get used to adjusting from acting on stage and in front of a camera. 'Actually <i>inaamin ko mas kabado sa teatro kasi siyempre lalabas ka, ilang libo yung nasa harap mo na nakaupo. May gawin ka lang mali, tatawa, magtataka kung ano. Pero dito sa </i>TV okay <i>lang kasi nasanay na rin ako</i> so <i>masaya. Mas masaya nga dito kasi bago ka pumasok sa</i> camera or<i> sa</i> screen,<i> alam mo na kagad kung anong gagawin mo</i>,' he shared.</div><div><br/></div><div>The talented teen said he still can't believe he is part of one of the Kapamilya network's most successful series this year. '<i>Sobrang saya ko kasi ito yung</i> first time <i>ko mag</i>-show. First <i>ko pa lang tapos ganito na kaagad</i>, so <i>sobrang saya ko. Siyempre ako makikilala din ako dahil sa</i> show<i> na ito. Sobrang</i> thankful<i> ako sa lahat ng taong sumusuporta sa Be Careful With My Heart at sa mga tao sa </i>ABS-CBN <i>na kung wala sila eh wala din ako sa</i> show. <i>Yung</i> role<i> ko siyempre malayo siya sa</i> personality<i> ko, kasi hindi naman ako yung parang nang-aaway. Pero may pagkamalapit siya sa</i> personality <i>ko </i>in a sense<i> na makulit din ako eh </i>(laughs) <i>yun lang,</i>' he said.</div><div><br/></div><div>On the <i>Be Careful With My Heart </i>set, Jerome said he has become closest to his on-cam siblings. '<i>Siyempre mas nakaka</i>-close <i>ko yung mga kapatid ko </i>like<i> si </i>Mutya (Orquia) <i>at si </i>Janella (Salvador) and more on<i> sa</i> staff <i>nakaka</i>-close <i>ko</i>. From the veteran actors <i>naman, may mga natututunan ako </i>and it's to be natural <i>lang sa pag-a</i>-act <i>at intindihin ko yung storya </i>and <i>huwag kabahan, yun ang pinayo nila sa akin</i>,' he said.</div><div><br/></div><div>Even before he entered showbiz, Jerome said he has already gotten used to comments saying he bears a resemblance to Thai heartthrob Mario Maurer. The teen actor said he has never minded the comparison. '<i>Ewan ko ba kasi kahit nag-te</i>-theater <i>pa lang ako ang dami ng nagsasabi.</i> That's one of the things <i>kaya mas nakilala rin ako ng mga ibang tao kaya nakakatuwa lang kasi kamukha ko,</i>' he revealed. Jerome admitted he is even a fan of Mario's romantic Thai film <i>Crazy Little Thing Called Love</i>. '<i>Oo pinanuod ko talaga. Sobrang nakakakilig at nakakiyak kasi lalo na sa</i> last part <i>niya. Talagang nag-iwanan sila na nagkamali lang. Parang nagkaroon ng</i> something<i> na</i> about his best friend. <i>Yung hindi niya naligawan kasi may</i> promise <i>sila kahit gusto niya</i>,' he shared.</div><div><br/></div><div>When it comes to acting, Jerome said he looks up to <i>Walang Hanggan</i> star Coco Martin the most. '<i>Pagdating sa</i> acting <i>siyempre si kuya</i> Coco Martin. <i>Ang galing niya talaga umarte tapos parang </i>dedicated <i>talaga siya para magtrabaho, makikita mo sa kanya na gusto niya yung ginagawa niya,</i>' he admitted.</div><div><br/></div><div>If given the chance to be part of another project, Jerome said he has never been picky when it comes to roles. '<i>Pagdating sa</i> roles, <i>ayokong mag</i>-expect <i>ng kahit anong</i> role <i>kasi gusto ko yung bigla na lang dumarating tapos yun yung pag-aaralan ko, yun lang. Kahit ano. Ipagpapatuloy ko talaga ang </i>acting<i> kasi ito talaga pangarap ko eh</i>,' he admitted.</div><div><br/></div><div>For more updates on your favorite Kapamilya celebrities, log on daily to <a href='/default.aspx'>Push.com.ph</a> and follow <a href='https://twitter.com/Push_Mina'>@Push_Mina</a> on Twitter.</div>

Jerome Ponce says he feels lucky to be part of 'Be Careful with My Heart.'

Jerome Ponce says he does not mind being called a Mario Maurer lookalike | PUSH.COM.PH