When Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas finally ends its run tomorrow, Jericho feels relief, more than anything, that he will no longer have to put up with the rigorous taping schedule of the soap series.
"When I’ve been doing something for a long time, I tend to malfunction, although I don’t get bored," Jericho explains. "At one point, frustration also hits me. Something inside me wants to do a lot of other things."
Jericho expresses his desire to go back to making movies and explore a gamut of challenging roles. "I want to try out different characters," the 24-year-old actor says. "I want to do something that will challenge me. It’s time to sink my teeth into another character."
True enough, Jericho will be busy juggling his time between two movies once Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas wraps up. He stars with Claudine Barretto and Diether Ocampo in Cholo Laurel’s Lihim and also joins the cast of Angelica Panganiban’s launching picture, Santa Santita, with Laurice Guillen at the helm.
Although he has proven his mettle in drama, Jericho also wants to try his hands at doing warrior hero roles like the next Panday, a character popularized by Fernando Poe Jr. Or Jericho also wants to star in the film version of the epic tale, Biag ni Lam-Ang.
He is even lined-up to headline an episode of ABS-CBN’s fantasy series, Wansapanataym, to play a character that he himself has created.
"I believe this is a transition time for me," Jericho asserts. "I am an actor, an artist. I want to share my thoughts, imagination and ideas and continuously stimulate them. I have so many concepts in my head. I want to share what God has given me. I don’t think about money or what I’m going to lose. As long as it satisfies me, I will do it. There are a lot of good actors in the Philippines and I want to become one of them."
When the topic inevitably shifted to his love life, Jericho clarified he’s not romantically involved right now in real life. "There’s so much to talk about me than my private life, which is not exciting right now," he said.
Nursing a knee injury recently brought about by surfing in La Union, Jericho showed up on the set of Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas for the taping of the final episode. The ending will be his "grand wedding" to Kristine at the Victory Chapel in Malabon. However, before viewers readily think that Christian will end up with Ara, the production team of Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas will actually tape two endings – and air the one which will win in the viewers’ text votes. The ending with Ara and Leo (Diether Ocampo) will be taped in Subic and will also be a grand wedding.
For the first time in the history of the soap opera world, Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas will air its finale solely on the outcome of text votes. Interestingly, the ending of Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas will be decided not by any ABS-CBN TV executive or production staff, but by the viewers who have loyally followed the series.
Fans can help decide which couple will finally end up being married in the ending. Since February, ABS-CBN Interactive has been gathering text votes to get the viewing public’s pulse on who of the series’ four lead characters – Christian (Jericho), Ara (Kristine), Leo (Diether) and Mary Ann (Angelica de la Cruz)) – will get together for the final episode.
If he will have his way and will be asked to vote as a viewer, Jericho will prefer the Ara-Christian ending for Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas. "Both of them had been through a lot," Jericho explained. "They fought for their love and they deserve to end up together."
To vote for your favorite love team, text SANAY <space> <number of loveteam> and send to 2331 for Globe subscribers or 231 for Smart, Talk N’ Text and Addict Mobile subscribers.
To further cater to Filipino fans all over the world, The Filipino Channel (TFC), which airs ABS-CBN programs worldwide, will also receive votes from its international affiliates through on-line voting in the Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas site at abs-cbn.com.
The Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas production team taped two versions of the series finale and the true voice of the fans will be followed. A tally of the votes will be maintained by ABS-CBN Interactive until an hour before broadcast of the final episode tomorrow. Not even ABS-CBN executives or the stars of the teleserye will know what ending will be aired. The final week of Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas will have an audio simulcast through dzMM and a video broadcast in Plaza Miranda.