Why Jericho Rosales almost said no to ‘The Loyalty Game’

Jericho Rosales almost turned down his role in “The Loyalty Game: Level Up.” Not because he did not like the story, but because Ben, his deeply troubled character in the suspense thriller, was unlike the roles he had played before.

“Hindi perfect ang characters namin. I was reluctant to accept the role. I play a very damaged character,” Jericho admitted at the series’ recent media conference.

Playing Ben over an extended period also took an emotional toll on the actor.

“Doing a teleserye and playing the role continuously was a bit challenging. I had to avoid judging my character. I had to believe and understand why he was doing all those things. So, after every taping, nagpapagpag kami,” he shared.

To understand Ben, Jericho paid close attention to the little details, from the way the character walked to how he reacted. He even found an unexpected peg in his son, Santino.

“Nagpaalam naman ako sa son kong si Santino. I said, ‘Son, you are my peg sa show.’ And he asked, ‘What is the role like?’ I said, ‘A psycho.’ He replied, ‘Thank you.’ He’s really cool,” Jericho recalled, drawing laughter from the media attendees.

Viewers will see more of this complex character when ABS-CBN’s “The Loyalty Game: Level Up” premieres on television on Oct. 5.

The TV version will unfold over 18 weeks, expanding the 14-episode version first released on Prime Video. It will feature additional scenes and stories not included in the streaming release.

Jericho plays Ben opposite Janine Gutierrez as Anna, a married couple whose seemingly stable relationship begins to fall apart when questions about fidelity expose dangerous secrets.

Jericho says he almost turned down his role in the series with his real-life girlfriend Janine.

A loyalty tester is someone asked to approach or flirt with a person’s partner to find out whether that person will remain faithful. But in the series, the test opens the door to revelations that go far beyond infidelity.

“Nagulat ako sa dami ng excited at nagbibigay puri sa show. Nagpapasalamat kami,” she said.

What also surprised Janine was that friends who did not normally watch her shows became hooked. Filipinos she met at airports in Canada and the US also approached her to say they had seen it.

Jericho had a similar experience in Toronto, where he had dinner with some Filipino senior citizens.

“In-explain ko sa kanila kung ano ’yung loyalty tester. At gusto nilang i-avail. Then the next day, nanood na sila,” he recalled.

The show’s morally complicated characters are part of its appeal. As Jericho put it, “Walang perfect na character sa amin. Lahat may krung-krung.”

Janine remembered replying to a netizen who wondered whether the show was simply another “kabitan” series. She encouraged the viewer to watch it. Other viewers who were already hooked also chimed in to say that it was something entirely different.

Jericho believes Filipino series can connect with audiences beyond the Philippines. Known in countries such as Malaysia and Kenya as Angelo from “Pangako Sa ’Yo,” he noted that viewers across cultures relate to similar stories about love, marriage and family.

“We have the global appeal when it comes to storytelling,” he said.

“We are trying to push the envelope in storytelling. And we achieved it,” said creative manager Jay Fernando.

What can viewers expect from “The Loyalty Game: Level Up”?

“Maraming dagdag na scenes sa loyalty testers. Lahat ng nanood sa Prime, masasagot ang mga tanong nila. Kailangan nilang manood kasi mas buo at mas exciting ang series,” Janine revealed.

Jericho also revealed that more scenes were filmed after he and Janine had completed taping. “Kami mismo, excited kaming mapanood,” he said.

If you think “The Loyalty Game: Level Up” is another kabitserye, it’s not. With its unpredictable twists and intriguing characters, it is not your usual Filipino teleserye.

The cast delivered brilliant performances, complemented by equally impressive storytelling and direction.

If you enjoy Korean dramas, Spanish or American series, it is time to watch the Filipino series and support our own.

“The Loyalty Game: Level Up” premieres Oct. 5 on Kapamilya Channel, ALLTV2, A2Z, TV5, Kapamilya Online Live and iWant. Episodes will stream on iWant seven days in advance.