JAK Roberto is now doing lock in taping for his new assignment, “Never Say Goodbye”, and he says he will surely miss the company of his inamorata, Barbie Forteza. They just celebrated the fourth anniversary of their boyfriend-girlfriend relationship last May.

“Salamat na lang at may technology tayo ngayon to help us keep in touch kahit magkalayo kami,” he says. “So sa video call muna kami magkikita at magkakausap.”

Jak is the only male member of the cast in “Never Say Goodbye” and he will be paired with Starstruck 6 winner Klea Pineda. They will be supported by Snooky Serna, Lauren Young, Kim Rodriguez, Max Eigenmann, Sharmaine Santiago and comedian Mosang, under the direction of Paul Sta. Ana. The show will be taped on location in Pampanga and will be part of the new drama series “Stories from the Heart”.

Going back to Barbie, she and Jak have a joint vlog and recently, they answered intimate questions in the portion “Questions We Never Asked Each Other”. Their fans want to know if they intend to walk down the aisle and face the altar soon. Jak says they do have plans of tying the knot, but not in the immediate future.

“Ayaw naming i-pressure ang sarili namin sa pag-aasawa kasi pareho kaming may goals pa sa buhay that we haven’t achieved,” he adds. “Isa pa, may pandemic and we don’t know yet when it will end. Pare-pareho pa tayong nangangapa sa ngayon. So as of now, mas focused muna kami sa work namin, para kapag dumating ang time na we want to settle down, malaki na ‘yung naiipon namin hindi lang for us but also for the families that we help support. Kaya sa ngayon, work, work, work and work muna.”

He says another reason why they won’t get married yet is because they’re still young. “23 pa lang si Barbie at 27 naman ako, so hindi kami kailangang magmadali. Siguro kapag 28 na siya at 30 plus na ako, puede na kaming mag-start ng sarili naming family.”

He says they know they will be more mature in their ways of thinking by then. “Yes, by that time, we’ll be more ready na to face challenges as a couple and we can handle na more capably ang iba’t ibang responsibilities ng married life. Sa ngayon, chill lang muna, just enjoy each other’s company as boyfriend-girlfriend. We serve as each other’s inspiration para galingan ang trabaho namin. We both feel kasi na lucky charm namin ang isa’t isa ever since na maging kami. Mas maraming dumating na magagandang opportunities sa amin at mas nagtuluy-tuloy ang work namin. Kahit na may pandemic, pareho pa rin kaming busy and we have a lot to be thankful for.”

Pokwang leads first month-long ‘Wish Ko Lang’ specials

POKWANG is known as a comedian but, for a change, she now goes dramatic in the first of a month-long special star-studded anniversary episodes of “Wish Ko Lang”.

“I’m happy to be part of the anniversary presentation ng ‘Wish Ko Lang’,” says Pokwang. “Biruin nyo naman, 19 years nang naglilingkod ang programang ito sa mga taong nangangailangan at tinutupad ang kanilang mga kahilingan. Lalo na ngayon, nasa gitna tayo ng pandemya, patuloy pa rin si Vicky Morales sa pagiging fairy godmother niya in fulfilling the wishes of lots of her audiences. Nagsisilbi siyang simbulo ng pag-asa para sa marami nating viewers.”

Pokwang will star in the episode titled “Ang Forever ni Miss Virgie.”

“Ang ganda ng story nito and I just love the character I play,” she adds, “Ako si Miss Virgie, isang teacher na iniukol ang buong buhay niya sa pagiging guro kaya hindi na nakapag-asawa. Tapos, sa 25th anniversary ng kanilang paaralan, may isa siyang dating estudyante, si Joshua, played by Jeric Gonzales, who is reunited with her.”

An unexpected romance will brew between her and the handsome and younger Jeric.

“Dati na pala siyang may pagtingin sa akin, pero di niya mai-express noon kasi teacher niya nga ako. So ngayong nagkita kami uli, nanligaw na siya sa akin. Kahit malayo ang agwat ng mga edad namin, nahulog ang loob ko sa kanya at nagsimulang mamuo ang isang magandang pagtitinginan between us.”

That a handsome guy will fall in love with her is not really surprising since, in real life, we all know Pokwang’s partner is a good looking American actor, Lee O’Brian. But in “Wish Ko Lang”, somebody will intervene in their love affair and tell Jeric that falling for Pokwang is so foolish.

This is Arra San Agustin, Jeric’s former girlfriend who now wants to reconcile with him. So what will happen now to the love affair of Pokwang and Jeric?

“Para malaman nyo ang sagot, samahan nyo kami this Saturday at 4 PM for this heartwarming episode of ‘Wish Ko Lang’,” says the lovely host Vicky Morales. “Puro maganda at kapupulutan ng aral ang stories na napili naming ihandog sa inyo for our special 19th anniversary presentation. And don’t miss our special guests in each unforgettable episode na pinangungunahan ng veteran actors na sina Christopher de Leon on July 10 and Albert Martinez on July 17, and beautiful young Kapuso actresses Rhian Ramos on July 24 and Sanya Lopez on July 31.”

Christopher de Leon will star in the episode titled “Mr. Right”, Albert in the episode titled “A Second Chance”, Rhian Ramos in “One Day More” and Sanya in “To Love Again”. Special songs were also recorded for the anniversary episodes, to be sung by Katrina Halili, Jeremiah Tiangco, Kelvin Miranda and Crystal Paras. The anniversary episodes start this Saturday at 4 PM on GMA Network and, worldwide, on GMA Pinoy TV.