A Mature Kind of Loveteam

Let’s face it: Loveteams are born in the minds and hearts of the fans whose tastes are unpredictable.

Used to such young loveteams as AlDub, JaDine, KathNiel, LizQuen and a dozen others, have we ever thought of “unlikely” loveteams like Jodi Sta. Maria and Richard Yap or Jodi Sta. Maria and Ian Veneracion? But they tick and they click! A mature kind of loveteam, if you please.

Ian and Jodi first played father and daughter in the ABS-CBN soap Saan Darating Ang Umaga? and then as lovers in the remake of Pangako Sa’Yo and in the movie All You Need Is Pag-ibig; while Jodi and Richard were a hit in Be Careful With My Heart, another ABS-CBN soap in which Jodi plays the nanny to widower Richard’s daughter.

Except for Jodi, 34, who is separated from her husband, Pampi Lacson (by whom she has a son), Richard, 49, is happily married (with two children) and so is Ian, 41, who has three children. In showbiz, age (gap) doesn’t matter, does it? (Late-breaking news: Jodi has broken up with boyfriend Cavite Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla.)

The loveteams are brought together in The Achy Breaky Hearts (directed by Antoinette Jadaone who is famous for hugot lines), a love story for all ages and for all seasons and reasons from Star Cinema showing nationwide starting on Wednesday, June 29.

Obviously, your “love team” is not along the same vein as JaDine, KathNiel and the others in that age level. So why do you think your “love team” clicks?

Jodi: Iba kasi ang kilig na ino-offer ng age namin. Kahit may edad na kami, may kilig pa rin kaming mabibigay sa inyo.

Richard: I think it’s because we have the advantage of having more experience and we can showcase that in other scenes aside from the kilig scenes that the younger love teams have. This is what draws not only the younger crowd but the more mature ones as well.

Ian: I guess it’s the dynamics that make it work, you know, coming from a tandem that is not in the usual teenage bracket, the level of maturity. The actions, the spontaneity and the mystery, perhaps these are what contribute to make my tandem with Jodi appealing. Add to that, maybe it’s also the level of complexity shared by two very different individuals who can complement each other. Also, maybe the “loveteam” reminds us of our most basic tendency to believe that falling in love, and all the emotions that come with it, is always worth it.

What do you find interesting in and about each other?

Jodi: With Richard, even if he seems to be very serious I like sense of humor. And even if he’s like that, he’s game in whatever he is told to do. Kumbaga pinapatulan niya yung mga kabaliwan ko minsan. With Ian, I love the long talks that we have and his being adventurous. Natutuwa ako doon sa mga stories na naririnig ko though hindi ko talaga kayang sabayan.

Richard: I think that it’s because we have similar interests that we can talk about. Our life and experiences that we share with each other are what I find interesting.

Ian: Jodi is interesting in the way she looks at the world, at life; the way she sees things and handles situations. She looks very innocent and still remains unbiased despite the fact that she has survived (I would imagine) a heavy dose of heartaches in her past. It’s as if she’s looking at life with fresh eyes. Jodi is kind and caring, and always finds the best in people and situations.

All three of you being parents, do you observe certain “do’s” and “don’ts” when accepting a project?

Jodi: From the very start, the boundaries are clear, kung nasaan sila at anong estado ng buhay nila na bilang married men I should not do anything that crosses those boundaries. And yun nga isa ring pakiusap namin sa mga fans na parang not to take it personally because we cannot deny the fact that Ian and Richard are married men.

Richard: I personally have certain limits that I follow because I consider my kids in whatever I do. When it comes to romantic scenes, I have no problems since my wife supports me in whatever I do when it comes to work.

Ian: As a parent, I don’t treat my children as “kids.” I interact with them as I normally would with an adult (without the green jokes, I suppose) and I would always assume that they would be able to see the output of my work. That naturally guides me towards the roles/scenes that I would be comfortable doing. Most of the time, it does not even have anything to do with nudity (which I personally am really not comfortable with) or kissing scenes, but more so, the quality of work, the story-telling, the professionalism, the sincerity of my performance as an actor.

What does the title The Achy Breaky Hearts mean and how can you relate to whatever it means?

Jodi: Achy Breaky Hearts pertains to a group or club composed of people na wounded ang mga puso from loving pero hindi sinasara ang pinto sa love. Yes they are scarred but they still believe in love including the joys and pains that go with it.

Richard: Achy Breaky Hearts describes the state of the hearts of the three people in the story.

Ian: The title of the movie is about a group of people, a club made up of individuals who have been scarred by love, by falling in love, by falling out of love. It’s about people who are still willing to take the risk of falling all over again, of getting hurt and disappointed again, but remaining hopeful that they’d still be able to find “the one.”

Describe your role(s) in the movie and what of yourselves do you see in them.

Jodi: It’s something new, it’s something that I have never done before. I found the script amusing, solid siya, you know where the story is going. Not only that. At the end of the film, the viewer can’t help asking himself or herself: oo nga ano, pano kung ako yung nasa sitwasyon niya, anong gagawin ko?

Chinggay, my character, is desperate for love. She has been single for a long time and she belongs to a barkada of all singles. As a daughter and sister, mabait siya, pinaaral niya yung mga nakababata niyang kapatid, very loving towards her family, hard at work, but she feels that something is lacking in her life --- wala siyang boyfriend. And then she is faced with a dilemma when two men come into her life, putting her in a situation where she has to choose between the two.

Of course, I also thought of how to make Chinggay different from my characters such as Maya (in Be Careful) and Mel (in All You Need). So si Chinggay ano siya dito, parang ginawa ko, yung... alam mo yung babaeng kalog, yung ganun siya, yung okay, cool lang lahat sige, parang hindi siya pa-sweet, hindi siya pa-girl, ganun, ganun siyang klase.

Richard: Frank is a successful writer and motivational speaker who has come back to pursue the love that got away. He is persistent and ambitious, the traits where I think we are similar.

Ian: Ryan (my character) has just been through a failed relationship, and is still in the process of recovery when he meets Chinggay (Jodi’s character). The similarities between Ryan and Ian I know are: We both appreciate the same things like motorcycles, the great outdoors, we both have a pilyo sense of humor, we have a deep respect for women, but at the same time, we both have no idea how women think and what goes inside their minds.

How are you as parents (disciplinarian or liberal)? Busy with work as you are, how much time do you have for family?

Jodi: I always make sure that I spend time with my family. Kapag walang work or on weekends, I cook for them. Gustong gusto nila yun.

Richard: I try not to be very strict in other things as long as they do their best in school as I always emphasize the value of education. When I’m not working I spend as much time with them as possible, specially during vacation time and usually on weekends.

Ian: Liberal. Quality time with my kids is my utmost priority, more than anything, not only because it is something they enjoy and is good for them; ultimately, because it is something I treasure, and it’s definitely good for me, too.

If ever you let your kids join showbiz, what would you remind them of and warn them against?

Jodi: Si Thirdy kasi since I bring him to my tapings and shootings, he knows what kind of job I do. He is exposed to my kind of world and the long hours of working and waiting, so sabi nya ayaw nya ng ganun. Hahaha! Right now kasi, he likes yung mga commercial shoot lang. Kasi fast lang yun. But whatever Thirdy wants, I will support him and give my love 100 percent.

Richard: That showbiz is not real life and you should be able to differentiate the two. That you shouldn’t let the environment there mold you, specially if it is bringing you to directions which are against what you think is right.

Ian: I would rather they not join show business. As a parent, it’s going to be quite hard for me not to somehow “pull strings,” so it is like I’m depriving them of their own adventure into the wilderness; and even if I don’t, they would believe otherwise and they may end up not having full confidence in themselves and may even doubt their achievements because at the back of their heads, they’d always think, “Maybe dad has something to do with it.”

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