Joyce & Diether: The first time, the last time

To paraphrase the title of their first movie together, Regal Films’ Ano Bang Meron Ka?, what is it that Joyce Jimenez has that his other leading ladies don’t have? What is it that Diether Ocampo has that her other leading men don’t have? And what does she have, what does he have, that they seem to click and hit it off well (not as sweethearts, for sure, but as real good friends)?

In the Regal flick directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes from a screenplay by Jun Lana, described as a modern-day romance, Joyce plays a lifestyle editor and social-events planner and Diether a laid-back bar-owner who’s her exact opposite. In real life, they seem to share many things in common, including, very obviously, the "art" of teasing the public and keeping the movie fans guessing as to their true relationship.

To probe the psyche of the two stars, Conversations asked them in separate interviews to answer the same set of questions.

Now, do they match?

Let’s find out.

The first time they...

• CRIED REALLY HARD

Joyce: When I found out that my boyfriend cheated on me. That was years ago when I was 15.

Diether: When my father died. I was only six years old. I saw him die.

• TOLD A LIE

Joyce: Also years ago, when I was in high school. I told my parents I was in school when actually I was somewhere else with my friends, playing hookey. Nahuli rin ako and I felt guilty.

Diether: It was a white lie. I was a kid then. I couldn’t play in the afternoon until after I had taken a nap. I told my Mom that I slept already when in fact I just closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep.

• KISSED SOMEBODY… ANYBODY

Joyce: It was just a peck. I was in Grade 8. I don’t even remember who the guy was. It happened behind the school library. It wasn’t really a kiss; peck lang.

Diether: When I was in high school (La Salle Cavite). There was a school fair where you’re supposed to be "married" to somebody in a Marriage Booth. I was "married" to this girl, so I had to kiss her.

• SAID "I LOVE YOU" TO SOMEBODY... ANYBODY

Joyce: I was a kid, a toddler. I said it to my parents.

Diether: To my Mom a long time ago.

• PRAYED REALLY HARD

Joyce: When I moved here (from L.A.). I prayed really hard. I asked God to give me strength to go on and to give me direction, and to help me make the right choice. "Lord, please, give me a sign that I’m going in the right direction and making the right decision."

Diether: My Mom was then working abroad (in the Middle East). It was my birthday and I prayed hard that she would come home and take me with her. I was then living with my uncle.

• FELT REALLY, REALLY SCARED

Joyce: When my Mom called (from L.A.) and she told me that my (older) brother met an accident. I thought we would lose him.

Diether: When my father died and I felt so alone because my mother was abroad.

• FELT DESPERATE/DESPONDENT

Joyce: I don’t exactly remember when but I guess I was into my early teens at that time and I felt na parang nawawala, hindi ko alam kung ano ang gusto ko.

Diether: When I was a bum. I got so tired of bumming around that I became so desperate to go back to school. The only way for me to do that was to work and earn money. So I tried doing odd jobs.

• BETRAYED SOMEBODY... ANYBODY

Joyce: I think I betrayed my whole family, my relatives, when I moved in with Jay (Manalo). It wasn’t because of Jay, it’s just that nakipag-live-in ako na hindi nila alam, na hindi ako nagpaalam sa kanila. They were shocked and then they were disappointed.

Diether: Never! I’ve never betrayed somebody…anybody.

• SLEPT WITH SOMEBODY… ANYBODY

Joyce: Huwag na! Well, when I was small, katabi ko sa pagtulog ang mga pinsan ko.

Diether: I was 16. Late-bloomer ba? The girl was older than me. Parang nagkaroon kami ng agreement that, you know…

• WERE BROKEN-HEARTED

Joyce: That’s it – when my boyfriend cheated on me.

Diether: When I broke up with my high school girlfriend. We were graduating and we didn’t have a choice. She was going to another school for college and so was I.

• WERE TURNED DOWN BY A GUY/GIRL

Joyce: I was a high school sophomore (at Bishop Amat High School in L.A.). I was an ugly duckling then, naka-braces at naka-glasses.

Diether: That was a long time ago. I don’t want to remember that incident. It might hurt.

• GOT REALLY, REALLY MAD

Joyce: When I found out that my brother’s girlfriend was "two-timing" him. She was older than my brother. I was only 13 then, pero inaway ko talaga ’yung babae in defense of my brother. My brother got really hurt and I couldn’t take it.

Diether: When I learned that my Mom got married again. I got so mad because I didn’t want a father other than my own. (Pero okey na kami ng stepfather ko.) Possessive ako pagdating sa Mom ko.

• FELL IN LOVE REALLY HARD

Joyce: Huwag na lang! Well, it happened. I think when you really, really fall in love, once it’s over it’s really hard to get over it. I won’t say na lang who he was and when it happened. I was really hurt; na-traumatized talaga ako. If it happens to me again, hindi ko kaya ma-handle. I might go crazy.

Diether: I was in high school. That was when I lost "it." I’ll never forget that girl. She was older than me at marami talaga siyang alam.

• LOST SOMEBODY/SOMETHING PRECIOUS

Joyce: When I first came to the Philippines, my brother gave me his ID bracelet which he had been wearing for 10 years. He gave it to me as a remembrance. Sobra siyang sentimental kasi, e. He wanted me to take good care of it. E, kaso, nawala ko. I looked for it all over the house but I never found it.

Diether: My godfather, a German, gave me a Swastika necklace but I lost it in school. I cried because that necklace was so precious to me.

• DISOBEYED PARENTS

Joyce: When I was entering my teen years. Kasi naman, my parents were sobrang strict. Bawal ang matagal makipag-usap sa phone, bawal lumabas with a guy, ganoon. But I did it anyway – you know, go out with guys and make telebabad.

Diether: I was already in college. I ran away from home and I stayed with friends.

• TURNED REBEL

Joyce: When I was in junior high school. Ayaw ng parents ko sa isang guy pero dini-date ko pa rin. You know, wala akong pakialam.

Diether: Noong high school din ako. That was my turbulent period — my high school years. I was confused, clueless. I was trying to find myself so I ran away from home.

• FELT REALLY TRIUMPHANT

Joyce: When I got an award for second honors in Math pa and I graduated (from high school) with honors. Hindi ko expected. I felt really proud of myself.

Diether: When I joined Star Circle.

• FELT IN REAL DANGER

Joyce: I was 13 then. May nakaaway ang kuya ko and they went to our house looking for him. E, ako lang ang nasa bahay and I thought they’d rough me up.

Diether: When I was wandering around, not knowing what to do and where to go.

• FOUGHT WITH SOMEBODY… ANYBODY

Joyce: With my kuya. Close kami and yet, when we were small, away parati kami nang away.

Diether: In grade school. A schoolmate was trying to bully me so I showed him who was the boss. He never did it again. I put him in his place.

• HAD SEX

Joyce: Huwag na lang.

Diether: I was 16.

The last time they...

?• CRIED REALLY HARD

Joyce: Last week. Over what? Basta... wala... gusto ko lang umiyak.

Diether: Two years ago. Don’t ask me why because it really hurts; it hurts so much that I don’t even want to remember that incident.

• TOLD A LIE

Joyce: White lie lang. My Mom was asking me if I was okay and I told her I was okay when in fact I wasn’t okay.

Diether: That there was nothing going on between Joyce and me.

• KISSED SOMEBODY... ANYBODY

Joyce: A few days ago… si Diet. We guested on Talk TV and they asked us to kiss so we kissed.

Diether: Just a while ago…si Joyce.

• SAID "I LOVE YOU" TO SOMEBODY… ANYBODY

Joyce: Just last night — to my parents also. Everytime I talk to them, I always tell them, "I love you."

Diether: To a girl I was involved with. (Was it you, LJ?)

• PRAYED REALLY HARD

Joyce: I pray hard everyday. I pray for strength and for people who hurt me, na sana naman the Lord will bless and enlighten them, na sana huwag silang ma-karma.

Diether: Last Sunday. I realized that I’d hurt so many people so I prayed hard for forgiveness. I promised to be nicer next time.

• FELT REALLY, REALLY SCARED

Joyce: When I found out my Dad was sick, mayroong heart complications. Thank God he’s okay now.

Diether: When I almost got into an accident while riding my motorbike. It could have been a close shave with death.

• FELT DESPERATE/DESPONDENT

Joyce: Recently when I was put in a situation na hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko…naguluhan ako. Parang any direction I took, talo ako.

Diether: We were shooting a heavy-drama scene in La Vida Rosa (with Rosanna Roces). That day, I was so happy that I couldn’t get myself to cry. It happened during my first shooting day. Excited ako, e!

• BETRAYED SOMEBODY… ANYBODY

Joyce: I think also just recently. I betrayed myself. Parang ayokong aminin ’yung totoong nangyayari sa harap ko and I believed the lies instead.

Diether: Never!

• SLEPT WITH SOMEBODY… ANYBODY

Joyce: With my tita when we were in Baguio. We shared a bed.

Diether: I’ve been celibate for several months now.

• WERE BROKEN-HEARTED

Joyce: Recently din. Mild lang.

Diether: I’ve been so busy that I never realized if I’ve lately been broken-hearted or not.

• WERE TURNED DOWN BY A GUY/GIRL

Joyce: Recently — by my brother. I was asking him to buy things for me and to send them to the Philippines but he turned me down. Tinatamad siya.

Diether: None lately — thank God!

• GOT REALLY, REALLY MAD

Joyce: Tungkol din sa kuya ko and his (other) girlfriend. I can fight for other people, especially my family, but I can’t do the same for myself.

Diether: When my (younger) brother didn’t show up for my Mom’s birthday party.

• FELL IN LOVE REALLY HARD

Joyce: That was the first — and last.

Diether: Just a year ago. I don’t think I’ve gotten over her — yet. (Was it you, LJ?)

• LOST SOMEBODY/SOMETHING PRECIOUS

Joyce: When my high school friend died of cancer a year ago.

Diether: When my Lola died two years ago.

• DISOBEYED PARENTS

Joyce: When I decided to live-in with Jay.

Diether: Since I changed my ways, I’ve never disobeyed my parents.

• TURNED REBEL

Joyce: ’Yung kay Jay na rin.

Diether: Last year when I watched Miss Saigon with somebody (was it you, LJ?) against the advice of my manager. Na-miss ko tuloy ’yung premiere ng movie ko.

• FELT REALLY TRIUMPHANT

Joyce: I feel really triumphant, really blessed until now. I got here by myself and I got this far by myself without stepping on anybody’s toes.

Diether: When I bought my house.

• FELT IN REAL DANGER

Joyce: When I was on the way to Boracay and the plane lost a propeller. It was one of those chartered planes. Thank God we landed safely.

Diether: Early this year when I was trying to decide whether or not to join politics. I felt that I was putting my career in real danger, so I backed out. (He was being invited to run for Councilor in a Cavite town. – RFL)

• FOUGHT WITH SOMEBODY… ANYBODY

Joyce: I can’t remember.

Diether: None lately. And none in the future, I hope.

• HAD SEX

Joyce: Huwag na lang.

Diether: I’ve been celibate for several months now, di ba?