Jerome: “Kung ako nga marunong maghintay, sana kayo din”
Ensuing the success of the VIVA One series “Safe Skies, Archer,” its lead love team Jerome Ponce and Krissha Viaje are in the hot seat about their relationship status.
During Krissha and Jerome’s contract signing and press conference with VIVA Films at the VIVA Conference Room on February 29, 2024, they were directly asked by the media if they are dating or not.
However, the two tried to stay indirect with their answers.
Jerome says it is still early to set things straight between him and Krissha, especially since they just had their first project together.
Smiling, he tells the media, “Kailangan ba kaagad-agad? Hindi kasi namin napag-uusapan pa yung ganun and… kung ako nga marunong maghintay, sana kayo din, ano?”
Pointing to Krissha, Jerome then says, “Sa kanya manggagaling yung sagot. ‘Di ba, sabi [ko] nga, kasama niyo lang rin ako, naghihintay ako. Ganun lang ‘yun, ‘di ba? Okay na ‘yun, oo. Nakaka-first project pa lang kami.”
On the other hand, Krissha wants to concentrate on work. However, she also acknowledges the comfort of having Jerome around.
She said, “Wala pa. Wala pa talaga.
“Well, for now, siyempre, naka-focus po kami sa work namin so we don’t really talk about it now, but we’re enjoying each other’s company. That’s what I can say. ‘Yun po.”
But how close are they right now?
Jerome implies that the fans’ observations of him and Krissha being touchy to each other comes naturally to them.
As he puts it, they have been past the stage of sending ‘Good morning’ and ‘Kumain ka na ba?’ text messages, as they now hang out together–just the two of them.
Jerome explains, “Ayaw naming abangan ‘yun. Ayaw naming pangunahan ‘yun. Gusto naming hayaan kung saan kami dadalhin ng mga paa, mga kamay, mga isip, yung tingin namin, mga ganun.”
“‘Di naman namin pinlano lahat, e. Hinayaan naming mangyari. So, ‘yun… ‘yun muna puwede kong isagot.”
Is Jerome ready to fall in love again?
One of the talked-about break-ups in 2023 involved Jerome, who was in a 2-year relationship with ex-girlfriend Sachzna Laparan.
Their split was announced in April 2023.
READ ALSO: Ogie Diaz Reveals Reason Behind Sachzna Laparan And Jerome Ponce’s Breakup
In his interview with ABS-CBN News in September 2023, Jerome was firm in saying that he wants to stay out of a relationship for a while.
But hopping back to present, FreebieMNL asked if his heart is open for a new relationship, especially with Krissha around?
Jerome answers, “Siyempre naman! Bakit hindi, di ba? Siguro ‘yun na yung honest ako dun and hindi imposible. Malayo, malayo sa imposible.”
As for the success of the KrisshRome tandem, Jerome admits that he did not expect that their love team would last longer.
He explains, “Hindi ko in-expect na matagal pala ‘tong team up na ‘to. So, from magkatrabaho, naging team up, naging friends–more than friends…”
The press then points out how he said “more than friends” about their relationship.
Smiling, he says shyly, “Nawala ako, my gosh.”
He then explains, “Sabi ko, two years, pero na-lo-lost track na yata ako sa pagbibilang. Pero masaya ako dahil sabi ko nga, yung nakikilala ni Krissha ngayon, iba naman.
“Kasi natuto [ako]. I mean, maraming natutunan, maraming na-appreciate, mas lalong, alam mo ‘yun? Full of love, and I’m a happy, happy, happy, happy person and ako yung taong hindi na pwede yung stress. Wala nang mas stress pa.”
READ ALSO: Jerome Ponce, Krissha Viaje Are The Next VIVA Love Team To Fly Via “Safe Skies, Archer”
The fruits of “Safe Skies, Archer”
Krissha and Jerome’s VIVA One series, “Safe Skies, Archer,” achieved unprecedented success throughout its run in the platform.
For those who have not seen the series, it is the second book of the popular Wattpad adaptation of Gwy Saludes’ “The University Series.” The first was the equally successful “The Rain In Espana” headlined by Heaven Peralejo and Marco Gallo.
As Krissha and Jerome’s partnership flourised, both were able to learn things about each other.
In a way, these discoveries broke the ice for them, and even surprised Jerome’s ideal time frame in establishing a comfortable work atmosphere.
Jerome recalls, “Grabe yung comfortability namin sa isa’t isa. I mean it takes more than one project ang isang magkatrabaho para sobrang [maging] comfortable sila.
Sa mga hindi nakakaalam, nanggaling na po ako sa mga teleserye, from TV, na sobrang tagal–taon, ilang buwan, at iba yung feeling na one year, more than kayo nagtatarabaho.”
Jerome started his career in the daytime series “Be Careful With My Heart,” which ran for more than two years on TV.
He continues, “Pero ito, with ‘Safe Skies, Archer’, with less than six months, sobrang naging comfortable kami [ni Krissha] and alam niya kaagad kung ano yung mga dos and don’ts ko sa pagtatrabaho, kung pa-paano ako sa pagtrabaho ko rin, at sa character ko, internalization at ganun din [ako] sa kanya.”
Meanwhile, Krissha admires how easy and chill Jerome is as a colleague.
She says, “Mabilis katrabaho si Jerome, sobra. It’s not… siguro sa unang mga pagkikita namin, siguro first and second ko, medyo ano lang, may kaunting awkwardness pero mabilis kaming nag-jive for some reason.
“Ilang beses ko rin nasabi sa interviews na he’s very generous. Hindi lang sa pagiging aktor, as a person, he’s generous with his family, with his friends, sa akin, sa mga ganung bagay po.
“Siyempre, sobrang honor na makatrabaho si Jerome kasi matagal na siya sa industry and marami akong natutunan sa kanya, e. So, I feel like in the future… parang in the future, mas marami pa ‘kong matututunan with him.”
After “Safe Skies, Archer,” Jerome and Krissha are set to work in VIVA One’s upcoming horror series “Sem Break” along with their other co-stars in “‘The University Series.”
Words Pamela Torres
Banner Art Dani Sison
