‘Almost Us’ stars JM, Fyang grateful to fans for respecting their privacy

“Almost Us” director Dan Villegas recently revealed why he had long wanted to work with the love team of JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith.

First, it was JM who got him curious after seeing his acting debut in the Cinemalaya 2025 entry, “Child No. 82.” Then the filmmaker found out that JM was one-half of the popular post-”Pinoy Big Brother” tandem JMFyang.

“Sobrang happy (to direct JM and Fyang) kasi first time kong na-encounter si JM, napanood ko yung pelikula niya sa Cinemalaya. Tapos sabi ko, gusto ko maka-work itong actor na ito. Nung night na yun, nag-research ako tapos nakita ko yung love team niya. Meron pa lang JMFyang,” direk Dan shared during a presscon how he finally got to work with the JM and Fyang in Regal Entertainment’s romantic-comedy “Almost Us,” which opens in cinemas nationwide tomorrow, May 6.

“Tapos pinanood ko yung mga (works) nila, kinikilig ako...Nag-deep dive talaga ako. All of those nights na nagsimula ka lang sa isang video tapos 4 a.m. na natapos na puro JMFyang lang yung pinapanood mo? So, I said, I really want to work with these two.”

In “Almost Us,” Fyang is a woman obsessed with her celebrity idol Kenzo (Dustin Yu), while JM is the supportive best friend who is secretly in love with her.

According to direk Dan, he was impressed by the love team’s professionalism despite being showbiz newbies.

JMFyang in one of the scenes from the film.

“When I work with someone, it’s more of... there are many talented people, but what’s important is the attitude. So, when we started shooting, I told them, ‘If we’re going to work together, know these three things: you come to work on time, memorize your lines, and don’t step on set without bringing something to the table,’” he said.

“And they exceeded my expectations. They arrived early. Thirty minutes early. Then whenever they were on set, I never encountered them not memorizing their lines. We had sequences that were, my god, several pages long with continuous take.

“Third, I like working with actors who had their own take on the script, who had ideas on how to go about it. So we really took time before the shoot to discuss the script. And na-impress ako na may baon sila. (Again) the attitude is very important (for me) and that’s why I salute them.”

Meanwhile, as “Almost Us” brings their partnership to the big screen, JM and Fyang know that fans are also curious about the real score between them.

The two stars are grateful for the support, but they also said that they value keeping some things private.

Nevertheless, JM is not coy about the fact that he’s seriously pursuing and courting Fyang.

In the Dan Villegas film, JM plays the supportive best friend, who is secretly in love with Fyang.

During a separate one-on-one interview with this writer, they were asked if and when the time comes when they are officially a couple, would they opt for a “hard launch or soft launch” of their relationship.

Both were in agreement that they would rather go the low-key route.

“Hindi naman namin kailangan i-announce… Mas pinapahalagahan ko yung nasa amin na,” JM said.

“So, I guess, kung dumating man sa punto na yun, kung ano man yung nakikita nila hanggang dun na muna. Hindi naman namin kailangan i-announce pa or i-launch pa.”

Fyang agreed, saying their fans have also been respectful of their privacy.

“Mahal namin ang mga fans namin. Mahal kami ng mga fans namin na they know kung paano rumespeto ng privacy,” she said.

“Kung ano nakikita nila, happy sila.”

Fyang is obsessed with someone else and belatedly notices her bestie’s feelings for her.

The two were, likewise, asked if they were excited to transition from “almost us” to “finally us” in real life.

JM readily admitted there is excitement, but said that he’s not going to rush things.

“Excited, pero hindi ko naman siya (ni-ru-rush)… nandun yung excitement, pero hindi ako gagawa ng bagay (to rush her) para at least kung dumating man, mas masaya,” he said.

For Fyang, they also don’t feel pressured to turn their reel relationship into the real one or even define what they have right now. After all, they’ve always been clear with each other about their priorities.

“Di nakaka-pressure kasi kami naman very vocal kami sa isa’t isa na career muna ang unahin,” she said.

One thing is for sure, JM said working together has made even the heavier parts of their job feel lighter and happier.

On and off screen, JM and Fyang say they enjoy being together.

Photos courtesy of regal Entertainment

“Mabigat yung pressure, mabigat yung ginagawa namin, pero may part pa rin na nag-e-enjoy kami. Mabilis kaming makalabas dahil yung kasama namin isa’t isa. Nagiging magaan,” JM, who’d want to more heavy drama in the future, said.

Fyang likewise said that like JM she’d also want to explore more heavier material, reasoning that she welcomes any chance to challenge herself as an actress.

“Gusto kong i-test kung hanggang saan yung kaya ko,” she expressed.

But of course, they enjoy giving it — that romantic thrill — to the fans, who they believe are also willing to wait for them should they decide to be officially together in real life.

“Almost Us,” directed by Dan Villegas and produced by Regal Entertainment and Project 8 Projects, opens in cinemas on May 6.