Heaven Peralejo (left) and Marco Gallo
While they insist that they aren’t dating, Marco Gallo and Heaven Peralejo did let on that what they have is, well… “something.”
“We’re in this situation where we don’t want to put a label on it. Because when you put labels, everything follows—expectations, the responsibilities. What we have within us is something … I can’t even call it a friendship. But it’s something. And we don’t want to waste it,” Marco said at a recent press conference.
It’s not like they’re hiding anything, because there’s nothing to hide in the first place. “We’re open,” Heaven said. “What you see is what you get. If we have something to say, then we will say it.”
Heaven’s current mindset toward relationships, she pointed out, is partly due to her past experiences with publicizing her relationships. “My past relationships were open to the public and didn’t really do me any good. Now, I would rather protect whatever I have in my personal life. And I hope people can respect what we’re willing to show,” she said.
For now, it’s all about enjoying each other’s company and not giving in to what people think they should be or do.
‘No rush’
“We want to take our time. We don’t want to be together just because of the pressure or just because other people are in love with the idea [of us being together]. We have to be super sure,” said Heaven. “I don’t want us to be a couple just because we’re in a love team. “If in time we do end up together, I want it to be because we chose and love each other,” she said. “Whatever we have now, we just want to make it right and take it really slow. There’s no rush, really,” Marco added.
And they do put an effort into nurturing whatever relationship they have.
“When we decided to hang out—and it so happens that it’s usually during rush hour—I would go book a motorcycle taxi even if it’s raining. And one time, I even booked a delivery truck—and begged the driver to drive me—just so I could see her,” Marco related.
“One time, he arrived soaking wet and with food in hand! He loves cooking. But I don’t usually eat out or order food on my own. So it’s either he goes to where I am, on the set, or my mom’s house, and Marco would just bring food, drop them off and be on his way. I really appreciate that,” related Heaven, who described Marco as a “green flag.”
Marco and Heaven topbill Viva Film’s upcoming romantic comedy flick, “The Ship Show,” which opens in cinemas this Aug. 9. Directed by Jason Paul Laxamana, the film revolves around a reality show that aims to find the next big love team. Araw (Marco), an introvert, gets paired with the bubbly Chia (Heaven). Together, they will compete against five other love teams in different challenges that will test their rapport and drawing power. The roles couldn’t be more apt for Marco and Heaven, who both joined the seventh season of the reality show “Pinoy Big Brother” in 2016.
Supporting each other
While the concept seemingly makes for lighthearted viewing, there was a challenging scene, Marco revealed, that gave him a bout of anxiety. Luckily, Heaven was there to comfort and motivate him. It was as if he had a personal acting coach,” Marco quipped—something he couldn’t be more grateful for.”
“I couldn’t bring the right emotions out … I felt pressured to do the scene well given the limited time, and I had to give my 100 percent. I was taking a lot of time. Heaven pulled me aside, behind a curtain on the set, and she started talking to me and motivating me,” Marco said. “I learned a lot from her and she really guided me through it.”And this instance is one advantage of being in a love team. “If you’re comfortable with your costar, he already knows your mood swings and it’s good,” Heaven said. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be just stuck in one. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that we can’t work with others. We’re super flexible.”
“We can have our respective projects, and I believe our followers will support us as individuals as they did together. Our love team isn’t limiting —it actually helps us grow,” Heaven said.
The success of Heaven and Marco in the romantic series “The Rain in España” prompted more projects for the tandem. “I’m so amazed because the show opened a lot of doors for us. It gave us a chance to prove ourselves when it comes to acting,” Marco said. “We grabbed the opportunities. And I think people saw potential in us.”“People have seen what we can offer. And now, we have this movie and more projects to come,” Heaven said. “All our hard work is now paying off.”