JANELLA Salvador (left) and Elmo Magalona
Elmo Magalona said his relationship with girlfriend Janine Gutierrez was the first thing he discussed with current onscreen partner Janella Salvador.
The love team of Elmo and Janella, known as ElNella, will be seen in the drama series, “Born for You,” on ABS-CBN starting June 20.
“I was the one who opened it up to Janella. I felt that it was something that I had to do. I assured her that there was nothing to be worried about, that it would not affect our partnership at all,” Elmo told reporters at the show’s recent media launch.
For her part, Janella said Janine should not worry or feel jealous of her.
“Elmo and I are always on work mode when we’re together,” she stressed.
According to Janella, she has already met Janine, whom she had worked with for a hair product endorsement.
Asked whether his onscreen romance with Janella was affecting his relationship with Janine, Elmo said: “No. She’s actually doing the same thing right now. She has a project with a different love-team partner. There’s no conflict at all.”
Janella is adjusting to working with a different love-team partner. MarNella, her partnership with Marlo Mortel in the TV series, “Be Careful With My Heart,” and the horror flick, “Haunted Mansion,” was well-received.
Elmo said he was not surprised that MarNella supporters were reacting negatively to the new pairing. “It wasn’t our choice to be put on the spot,” he pointed out, stressing that their team up was the idea of their network bosses.
He added: “I’m feeling the pressure for this (love team) to work.”
Elmo promised that he would take care of Janella. “This is her first romantic drama series. We will have a lot of romantic scenes together. I’m very cautious around her. She is only 18, while I’m 22. I will try to guide her. I will do my best so she will not feel uncomfortable.”
In “Born for You,” Janella plays Sam Kazuko, an aspiring Filipino singer in Japan.
Elmo is Kevin Sebastian, a teen heartthrob and son of an OPM icon (Ariel Rivera), who popularized the song, “Born for You,” in the Philippines. While vacationing in Japan, Kevin meets Sam.
Both Elmo and Janella said they had an awesome time taping in different locations in Japan.
Janella added: “There were instances when we bonded over food, but there was one memorable night when we had free time to go around. I got crazy over what I saw in one store, so it took me a long while to shop there. I was so touched because when I stepped out, he (Elmo) was still there waiting for me.”
For Elmo, the most memorable part was taking a walk with Janella at the famous intersection outside the Shibuya Station.
“There are always a lot of people on that road. It would be romantic to imagine that the person you’d bump into would actually be your soulmate,” he shared with the Inquirer.
“Born For You,” directed by Onat Diaz, also features Vina Morales, Bernard Palanca, Ayen Laurel and Gina Pareño.
E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph