A toast to

ABS-CBN’s Saturday afternoon hot teen show, Berks, features two of the most popular young love teams today: John Prats-Heart Evangelista and Carlo Aquino-Angelica Panganiban.

John says Heart was paired with him only after a series of rigorous auditions. "I’ve already been paired with six girls in G-Mik, pero walang bumagay sa ’kin, so they called for an audition and among all of the applicants, Heart stood out with her winning smile. When we were paired in Trip, they noticed that our chemistry is really good so we’re now paired again in Berks every Saturday. Soon, we’ll shoot our launching movie, tentatively titled First Romance where we’ll share top billing with the love team of John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo."

Is it true Heart’s mom requested that Gilbert Perez, originally assigned to direct the movie, be replaced because they had a conflict? The film is now being megged by John-D Lazatin.

"It’s true nagkasagutan sila ng mommy ko but my Mom won’t tell me the reason," says Heart. "I just want to make it clear that it’s management’s decision to replace him, not my Mom’s. But despite what happened, I’m still willing to work with Manong Gilbert. Honestly, ayoko ng intriga. I’m having a lot of fun with my work now and I just wanna enjoy it."

In Berks, Heart plays Gwyneth, a student who leaves her widowed dad in Batangas because she objects to his new romance. John is Javie, a rich kid with overprotective parents from Bacolod.

Since they’ll co-star with John Lloyd and Bea in their launching film, which do they think is the more popular love team between them?

"We are not at all competing with them," says Heart. "I think they are more serious than us because they star in a dramatic teleserye while we are in a teen show na pampakilig at pampa-cute lang sa fans. We’re also not competing with the other love teams in Berks because we really are a barkada in the show."

They’re so sweet on screen. Are they really going steady even off camera?

"No, we’re just the best of friends," says Heart. "He’s not even courting me naman."

Aside from Berks, they are seen in ASAP and John is hosting Cover Story in Cinema One, a magazine show with nine segments where he gets to tour various campuses.

Another star of Berks is Angelica Panganiban. Since she is quite well-endowed, there have been some offers for the former child star to go bold. "I’ll never do that," she says. "Hindi ko kaya."

Unlike Heart Evangelista and John Prats who claim they’re just good friends, Angelica and Carlo Aquino are more open in admitting that they are indeed going steady.

"We’ve always been close since we grew up together since we did several shows as child stars," says Angelica who turned 16 on Nov. 4. "We’ve been officially on since I was 14 and he, 15. He proposed to me at the taping of one of our shows. Even then, I was telling myself that if somebody would kiss me at that time, then he’d be my first boyfriend. I was lying down on a sofa to rest when I felt someone kissing my forehead. When I opened my eyes, siya pala and he was saying good night because he was going home. When I told him about it later, he said, ‘Bakit pa natin ito patatagalin? Di on na tayo!’ He gave me a necklace and I gave him a bracelet. But it’s clear to both of us that we’re not that dead serious about this. It’s more of mutual understanding lang because we can still go out with other people. But he’s always getting jealous. Now, we’re even classmates in Thames College in Libis, along with Camille Prats and Francis Ricafort, so we really see each other everyday. We’re taking up the general courses now but I intend to major in advertising."

Carlo used to study music at UP. "But my schedule there was so hectic, with classes from Monday to Saturday, and whole day pa. So I decided to transfer to Thames where they’re less strict to working students. Our classes now are only from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday, so after that, we can do our tapings."

He declared in Morning Girls that he’ll do everything for Angelica. "It’s true, because I really care for her. And I also admit that I’m the jealous type."

What qualities of Angelica does he find endearing? "She’s sweet and very understanding. When I need her, just one call and she’s there to listen to me. I can feel that we’ll always be there for each other," Carlo replies.

In Berks, Carlo plays Aries, a working student who is self-reliant because he grows up without parents. Angelica is Nicole, a student whose parents are working abroad so she is now guarded by a strict aunt.

Also featured in Berks are the budding love teams of Marc Acueza-Hazel Ann Mendoza and Glaiza de Castro-Cholo Barretto. They are supported by Sarah Christophers, Karel Marquez, Allyson Lualhati and the comedian among them, Ketchup Eusebio. Berks airs every Saturday at 5 p.m.