Actor Jerome Ponce recently shared how blessed he is with his gay friends.
It started when he shared how he prepared for his role for Ang Henerasyong Sumuko sa Love, where he played a gay role, “From friends to stylists, yinaya ko sila lumabas tapos a couple of drinks, dinner, sabi ko yung movie ko ganito, ano yung way para maging respectful and sa industriya naman, makikita mo naman yung different kinds of being gay so ganun ko prinepare.”
Ponce admitted that he was scared to exagerrate things, seeing as most actors playing gay roles do so.
“Sila yung kinausap ko. Natakot kasi ako na biglang i-exaggerate. Marami rin akong kaibigan na artista na gumanap ng gay role at kahit ako mismo nagsasabi na, ‘Ano ba yan, halatang halatang pinilit.’ Pero sa sarili ko lang yun. Pero sino nga naman ako para mag-judge.
“So andito ako ngayon sa point na ako naman yung gaganap so kinabahan na ako kasi sarili ko pa lang jinu-judge ko na yung sarili ko.”
Ponce admitted that he really enjoys the company of his friends who are part of the LGBT and said he needd his gay friends in his life.
“Very respectable naman sila dahil ako mismo kung papapiliin, ang mga gay na friends ko kailangan ko sila sa buhay ko kasi masaya talaga sila kasama and malaking responsibility rin na mag-po-portray ako ng ganito na hindi siya kabastos bastos, hindi disrespectful.”
Being surrounded by his LGBT friends helped him decide to accept the role that was offered to him.
“So tinanggap ko yung role kasi andun na ako sa nag-tu-trust ako sa director dahil sabi niya sa akin siya na ang bahala.”
Director JP Laxamana, director of Ang Henerasyong Sumuko sa Love, made sure Ponce was on the right track.
“Ako naman malaki respeto ko kay direk JP (Laxamana) kasi siyempre sa mga ginawa niyang movies napanuod ko at hindi dahil madaming nakapanuod pero yung style ng pag-di-direct ng movie and yung movie itself kung papano sa script,”
Ponce as a straight man admitted that his role in Ang Henerasyon Sumuko Sa Love is one of his biggest acting challenges to date.
“Buong palabas naiilang ako. Hindi ko kinakaya, andun na eh. Wala, tanggalin mo na lang sa utak mo. Kaya naman. Ikaw lang naman naglalagay ng limit sa isip mo eh.
“So minsan kailangan i-surpass mo yun. Kailangan malawak ka lang talaga. Kahit papaano masaya ako na nagawa ko ito at masaya ako maganda yung kinalabasan.
“Pinili kong ma-stress kung paano ko makuha yung drama sa iyakan at mabibigat na eksena kesa yung doon kasi aminado ako ang dami kong nilunok na paninibago.
“Masarap din sa pakiramdam na ang galing na na-exceed ko yung limit,” he added.
This 24-year-old actor started his career in the daytime series Please Be Careful With my Heart and earned praise for The Good Son where he played Enzo.
