Teejay Marquez on working with Jerome Ponce on ‘Ben X Jim’: ‘Sobrang easy katrabaho’

Rhea Manila Santos

With the first episode of his new digital series Ben X Jim now available online, Teejay Marquez said that his BL project is different from the previous ones that came out locally this year.“Yung difference ng BL na ginagawa namin is ito mapapangako namin sa inyo na hindi na ito virtual love story. Talagang naghintay yung character namin dito ni Jerome (Ponce) and talagang lahat ng characters dito nag-sama sama. Pero siyempre tinaon pa rin namin dito sa setting ng pandemic season pero at least magkakasama lahat ng character and maganda yung message kasi tumutok din kami about family, about friendship, struggles ng bawat isang character so maraming pang ibang mga points na makaka-relate yung ibang tao,” he explained.Teejay said that his character Ben’s message for viewers is one of patience when it comes to love for his longtime crush Jim (played by Jerome Ponce). “Sometimes may mga bagay na kailangan natin hintayin. May mga bagay na it’s worth the wait and minsan kailangan natin maghintay pero pag nandiyan niya, if it’s meant for you, it’s meant for you. So yun ang gustong patunayan ni Ben. Na sige, kapit pa. Kasi kung talagang para sa iyo, para sa iyo. And happy naman si Ben (laughs),” he said.During the press launch event for Ben X Jim, Teejay admitted that unlike his onscreen character, he is the type who sees the need for labels in a relationship. “For me importante ang label para at least alam niyo rin naman siyempre kung nasaan na kayo. Kahit hindi naman sa same-sex relationship, kahit sa opposite-sex relationship, importante yung label. Kasi mahirap humopia kasi kailangan alam mo kung nasaan na kayo, kung saan kayo nakalagay na in a relationship. Pero for me ang importante pa rin diyan is love, kung mahal niyo ang isa’t isa, yun na yun eh. Dun na magsisimula lahat. And then dun niyo na ma-ri-realize na talagang love conquers all so for me, yun ang pananaw ko about labels.,” he added.While shooting the series, Teejay says he and Jerome really made an effort to build their onscreen chemistry even before they started shooting. “Nakatulong din yung nag-zu-Zoom kami nung nag-si-script reading kami, nagbibiruan na. Kahit papaano tina-try ko na rin naman siyempre na dun pa lang sa Zoom meeting namin magkaroon na ng biruan. Hindi ko naman inaasar. Binibiro ko na rin talaga siya and nakita ko naman na siyempre first time ko siya makatrabaho, sabi ko kasi mamaya baka sa set sumobra naman akong feeling close, magulat siya sa akin. Good thing naman, sobrang professional ni Jerome and sobrang easy katrabaho. At saka lahat ng iniisip ko na baka mamaya mahirap kausapin si Jerome, ganito, ganyan. Pero hindi. Iba siya sa set. Sobrang bait na tao. Sobrang gaan katrabaho. At saka sobrang galing, nakaka-inspire. Kaya nangyari lang lahat dahil tinadhanag mangyari ang lahat,” he shared.Ben X Jim is directed by Easy Ferrer and presented by Regal Entertainment, Inc. It is available for streaming on the Regal Entertainment Channel on YouTube.

During the press launch event for Ben X Jim, Teejay admitted that unlike his onscreen character, he is the type who sees the need for labels in a relationship. “For me importante ang label para at least alam niyo rin naman siyempre kung nasaan na kayo. Kahit hindi naman sa same-sex relationship, kahit sa opposite-sex relationship, importante yung label. Kasi mahirap humopia kasi kailangan alam mo kung nasaan na kayo, kung saan kayo nakalagay na in a relationship. Pero for me ang importante pa rin diyan is love, kung mahal niyo ang isa’t isa, yun na yun eh. Dun na magsisimula lahat. And then dun niyo na ma-ri-realize na talagang love conquers all so for me, yun ang pananaw ko about labels.,” he added.While shooting the series, Teejay says he and Jerome really made an effort to build their onscreen chemistry even before they started shooting. “Nakatulong din yung nag-zu-Zoom kami nung nag-si-script reading kami, nagbibiruan na. Kahit papaano tina-try ko na rin naman siyempre na dun pa lang sa Zoom meeting namin magkaroon na ng biruan. Hindi ko naman inaasar. Binibiro ko na rin talaga siya and nakita ko naman na siyempre first time ko siya makatrabaho, sabi ko kasi mamaya baka sa set sumobra naman akong feeling close, magulat siya sa akin. Good thing naman, sobrang professional ni Jerome and sobrang easy katrabaho. At saka lahat ng iniisip ko na baka mamaya mahirap kausapin si Jerome, ganito, ganyan. Pero hindi. Iba siya sa set. Sobrang bait na tao. Sobrang gaan katrabaho. At saka sobrang galing, nakaka-inspire. Kaya nangyari lang lahat dahil tinadhanag mangyari ang lahat,” he shared.Ben X Jim is directed by Easy Ferrer and presented by Regal Entertainment, Inc. It is available for streaming on the Regal Entertainment Channel on YouTube.

With the first episode of his new digital series Ben X Jim now available online, Teejay Marquez said that his BL project is different from the previous ones that came out locally this year.“Yung difference ng BL na ginagawa namin is ito mapapangako namin sa inyo na hindi na ito virtual love story. Talagang naghintay yung character namin dito ni Jerome (Ponce) and talagang lahat ng characters dito nag-sama sama. Pero siyempre tinaon pa rin namin dito sa setting ng pandemic season pero at least magkakasama lahat ng character and maganda yung message kasi tumutok din kami about family, about friendship, struggles ng bawat isang character so maraming pang ibang mga points na makaka-relate yung ibang tao,” he explained.Teejay said that his character Ben’s message for viewers is one of patience when it comes to love for his longtime crush Jim (played by Jerome Ponce). “Sometimes may mga bagay na kailangan natin hintayin. May mga bagay na it’s worth the wait and minsan kailangan natin maghintay pero pag nandiyan niya, if it’s meant for you, it’s meant for you. So yun ang gustong patunayan ni Ben. Na sige, kapit pa. Kasi kung talagang para sa iyo, para sa iyo. And happy naman si Ben (laughs),” he said.

BL series ‘Ben X Jim’ star Teejay Marquez talks about his first full-length gay role in the new digital film series.

Teejay Marquez on working with Jerome Ponce on ‘Ben X Jim’: ‘Sobrang easy katrabaho’ | PUSH.COM.PH