Are Zephanie and Michael Sager open to taking their friendship to the next level?
Sparkle and Cornerstone talents Zephanie and Michael Sager seemed to have just formed the next promising love team of GMA-7.
This comes from the success of their weekly anthology series, “Sparkle U,” where they were part of two installments: “#Frenemies” and “#SoundTrip.”
Both of the installments they starred in got positive feedback and good ratings that the moniker of their characters’ team-up, MarSue, earned its fan base. Outside of the show, their love team is known as ZephChael.
In an intimate interview with Zephanie and Michael organized by Cornerstone Entertainment last February, the two Kapuso artists expressed to the press–including FreebieMNL–how grateful they are to showcase their love team.
Even before working together, Zephanie and Michael are already good friends that’s why they are happy to be able to do a project together.
Zephanie says, “I’m just really grateful and happy na na-appreciate ng tao yung tandem namin sa #Frenemies and #Soundtrip po. Ang hindi namin in-expect na mabibigyan po kami ng ganung blessing agad, na lead role.
“So, malaking bagay po yung support ng mga tao. So maraming-maraming salamat po. Super nag-enjoy po ako kasi siyempre, nung nag-start din kami ni Michael mag-work together, parang before pa lang, na-imagine na namin na gusto namin na magkaroon ng ganong project po.
“So, finally kahit papaano, nabigyan kami ng chance to showcase paano din kami sa work aside sa real-life po na friendship.”
As for Michael, he is “amazed” by the fact that MarSue had a recall with the viewers and started shipping them as a love team.
“Na-amaze ako that ang tawag sa amin, MarSue, kasi for me, it means a lot when the characters’ names stick to the people.
“When I started in the industry sa showbiz, ang first project [ko] for work was with Zeph for [the song] ‘Magpakita Ka Na,’ and now that we’re here on our second show in ‘Sparkle U,’ sa third story, nakakatuwa lang po.
“As what she said, talagang pangarap po namin na to be one day in a musical kasi nga she sings and I like to sing too.”
Michael also emphasized how the two seasons of “Sparkle U” helped in building their chemistry that made their love team effective to the viewers.
He continues, “It’s a great opportunity lang, it’s a blessing and I’m happy, of course. It was a ride that from the first book, it was more so developing yung chemistry namin.
“With Direk Barry (Gonzalez), tinuruan niya kami ng mini lessons especially sa acting and then naman sa book three, we really learned how to be more independent on set.
“As a lead actor or [playing the] lead role in the show, you need to have your own spice to it, kumbaga. So yun, natuwa lang ako na Zeph and I were able to make it through.”
Michael and Zephanie: from friends to lovers?
Michael and Zephanie are vocal in saying that they are very good friends.
Now that they are working as a love team, is there a possibility that they might bring their friendship to the next level—or enter into a relationship?
Zephanie responds, “Kasi po, ako po personally, I think I can also speak on behalf of Michael na yung goal namin talaga ngayon and yung focus namin talaga is yung career namin and yung mga dreams namin.
“Since nagsa-start pa lang po kami sa industry, even if five years na po ako, almost five years nang nandito, I feel like after the pandemic, nag-reset or nag-restart siya. So ako, I’m happy with what we have right now and I’m really happy na I’m able to work with him.”
Meanwhile, Michael openly declares that Zephanie is a “blessing” in his life.
He says, “I can say that Zeph is a blessing in my life and in my career life as well. So, I really like to take things slow especially when it comes to relationships just because may work here.
“I sacrificed a lot moving here from Canada. Talagang it was one reason… it was for work. And for me, I have to put my career first and… I mean, I’m not complaining that Zeph’s in my life, that she’s helping me because it’s been a delight and we’re able to work together, right?
“So yeah, good friends kami. We’re special people in each other’s life.”
ZephChael no more in next show?
But it seems like Zephanie and Michael are going to miss each other in the meantime as they are expected to tackle separate projects after “Sparkle U.”
Michael, for his part, is already taping for the upcoming Philippine adaptation of “Shining Inheritance.”
What can Zephanie say about this?
“Siguro mami-miss nila yung MarSue, mami-miss nila yung mga on-screen na mga moments po but I’m really excited kung anuman yung ma-o-offer ni Michael sa ‘Shining Inheritance.’
“I think dapat abangan niyo ‘yun kasi kakaibang character naman and kakaibang story so I’m just happy.”
READ ALSO: Sparkle Artist Michael Sager Receives Big Break Via “Shining Inheritance”
Even then, both Zephanie and Michael are looking forward to working with each other again on an acting project.
Zephanie explains, “I think yung experience din na naibigay sa amin noong ‘Sparkle U’ na ‘#Frenemies’ and ‘#Soundtrip’ made me realize din na talaga iba po kasi makipag-work sa mga tao na parang meron kang totoong connection.
“Kasi ‘yun nga, mas komportable pa, and you can really learn from each other. You can help each other sa mga scenes, so yes, of course and I can’t wait po sa susunod na kung anuman yung magiging project namin.”
As for Michael, he really enjoyed working with Zephanie for “Sparkle U.”
“Ako naman po, if given the opportunity, I’m willing. Masaya lang naman talaga mag-trabaho kasama si Zeph, of course at the same time, I also want to explore, and if exploring means I get to work with her in a different genre or anything, that’ll be nice.”
Banner Art Dani Sison
