Ian & Jodi: Why they click

MANILA, Philippines – Love teams nowadays are not just for celebrity young ones but also for the young once who, obviously, can give the former a run for their money. Serving as proof to that is the onscreen pairing of Ian Veneracion and Jodi Sta. Maria which never fails to make the audience giddy over their romantic scenes in the primetime series Pangako Sa ‘Yo.

Ian and Jodi are taking their “reel romance” to the big screen via All You Need Is Pag-ibig, the Star Cinema entry to the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival, that is set to open in theaters on Dec. 25.

With a smile plastered on his face, Ian admits he didn’t expect that he will one day be sharing the other half of the loveteam JodIan — as fans love to call them — that the audience will truly appreciate. “At my age, I’m now 40. Actually, we had a show before, Saan Darating ang Umaga, where Jodi played as my daughter so when we first worked on the set as a loveteam in Pangako Sa ‘Yo, she was teasing me that I was her dad before and now we are a loveteam. But I told her not to worry because on our next show she will be my mother, hahahaha.”

For her part, Jodi says they click together probably because of their harmonious working relationship. “I believe the joy of working with each other is easily translated onscreen that’s why may kilig but we never thought na magkakaroon ng ganun. I was telling him that we are old to be called as a loveteam kasi parang pang teenybopper so I’d rather call ours a partnership.”

At first, Ian was a bit apprehensive when the idea of having a loveteam was broached to him since he felt too old to fit in such fad. Still, he accepted the offer of partnering with Jodi mainly to give support to Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla’s soap. “We were surprised, especially me, to find out that a lot have been following our love story and it’s heartening to know that we are able to contribute in the show in more ways instead of sa simula lang.” 

Like Jodi, Ian is at ease working with Jodi. They often laugh at each other’s jokes during taping breaks. “Another reason why people enjoy seeing us together is because they know who we are in real life — I am married and have a family — so parang merong sexual tension; merong forbidden love so baka yun why people are interested. Even KathNiel supports us but the teasing never stops, alaskado pa rin nila ako as usual.”

In All You Need Is Pag-ibig, Jodi shares they toned down the intensity of their “love” for each other as compared to their characters in the soap. Ian plays her boss who is mending a broken heart. Jodi’s character has a long-time crush on him.

Asked if she finds Ian handsome and “hot,” Jodi replies, “I always say this even in our mall shows that I really appreciate his beauty as a man kasi gwapo naman talaga s’ya.”

Visibly amused over the question, Ian tells The STAR, “Hayaan n’yo na ang tumatanda. My children (Draco, 17; Deidre, 15; and Buccio, 9) were teasing me na pa-cute daw ako when they saw me on the billboard for Bench. I really need to exert an effort para magpa-cute (laughs).”

How does he find Jodi’s acting?

“She is always true to her character and you can see how excellent she is giving life to her role. It is only lately that people are seeing her from a different side; with a love team. Compared before, of course, Jodi has matured as a person and as an actor.”

Their onscreen pairing does not in any way affect his relationship with wife Pamela. “Naiinis nga ako minsan gusto ko pagselosin eh kasi she’s very confident,” he quips. Pamela, according to Ian, is an engineering graduate who manages her own construction business.

Kidding aside, Ian says Pamela knows what his job as an actor entails. Not once did any news linking him to his leading ladies because “my reputation as an actor is important to me so I keep everything on a professional level.”

Aside from acting, Ian is a painter, too. But his love for painting has to take a back seat due to his hectic schedule these days. He needs to devote six to eight months in order to mount another exhibit.

“The last time I had a one-man exhibit was in November of last year and since being an actor is my day job, I have no time left for painting. Probably, when I find more time, I’ll do it again, maybe next year; I’ll be 41 in February. Ako kasi I need to do something different after a show like I can go back to painting or flying para maka-recharge na din.”

On the personal front, Ian looks forward to spending time with his family on Christmas day “because for several months, I was tied down to work; tapings for TV and movie so yes, I’ll be taking a break on Christmas.”

(All You Need is Pag-ibig, written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone, also stars Kris Aquino, Derek Ramsay, Pokwang, Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Julia and Talia Concio, Bimby Yap, Ronaldo Valdez and Nova Villa.)