YASSI Pressman broke up with non-showbiz Canada-based businessman boyfriend John Semira and soon after that, she was quickly linked to other guys, young politicians like Ilocos Norte Congressman Sandro Marcos and to Camarines Governor Sur Luigi Villafuerte.

“But they are just good friends of mine,” she says. “Lalo si Luigi na halos ten years ko na yatang kakilala. Kabe-break up ang lang namin ni Jon, it was a mutual decision, and I won’t just quickly jump into a new relationship lalo na ngayong I’m so busy. I have ‘Kurdapya’ with TV5, I’m now busy promoting our new movie ni Ruru Madrid, ‘Video City’, and I’m also taping for our new series on GMA, ‘Black Rider’. So sa work muna po tayo mag-concentrate.”

She is elated to be given the chance to work with old friend Ruru Madrid both on the big and the small screen.

“I’m optimistic viewers will watch our movie, ‘Video City’, kasi it provides a nostalgic look into the 90s. You’d remember the times when life was much simpler, walang smart phones, walang social media, walang bashers na galit sa mundo. Sa story, nag-rewind ang buhay at panahon for Ruru as Han in 2023 at napabalik siya sa 1990s due to a mysterious rewinder of VHF tapes.”

And what is her role? “I play Ningning, isang attendant sa Video City branch kung saan napadpad si Ruru. I will attend to him and I cannot believe him when he said na galing siya from the future, 2023. Kami nung mga kasamahan ko, we just laughed at him and made fun of him.”

So how is it working again with Ruru? “Masaya. We first got to work together sa GMA exactly ten years ago at ibang-iba pa kami noon, teenagers pa lang kami. Nasubaybayan ko rin ang career niya and I’m very happy he’s one of the big stars now sa GMA who’s built up as a young action-drama star. I’m very proud of him. Working with him now, I can feel his love for his craft kaya naman napakagaling niyang artista.”

How is Ruru as a leading man? “A real gentleman. And very caring siya. There was a time that I was very tired sa dami ng trabahong nilalagari ko. Pagod na, kasi galing pa sa ibang raket. Yung scene na isu-shoot namin, kailangan, snappy ka, bubbly. Hindi mo puedeng ipakitang inaantok ka o ngarag ka na.”

She felt her body cannot take it anymore and she is about to collapse. “But Ruru is there to support me and encourage me to do our scene together. Bale ba, rain scene ‘yun, umuulan, kasi ang director namin, si Direk Rayn, true to his name, mahilig nga sa rain. Sabi ko kay Ruru, babagsak na yata ako. But he said, ‘Kaya mo yan. Ako rin pagod na, pero kakayanin natin ito nang magkasama.’”

That definitely perked her up and energized her. “Doon ko na-feel ‘yung concern and care niya para sa partnership namin. Hindi kayo laging mataas ang energy and in tiptop shape, pero kapag may suportahan kayo ng kapartner mo, makakaya nyo. Si Ruru, hindi ka niya hahayaang basta bumagsak at ‘yun ang pinakana-appreciate ko sa kanya as my leading man. Maalaga siya, sa likod man o sa harap ng camera.”

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Mario Bautista