(From left) Kyle Echarri, JK Labajo, Xyriel Manabat, Andrea Brillantes. Images: Hannah Mallorca/INQUIRER.net
“Senior High” stars Andrea Brillantes, Xyriel Manabat, Kylie Echarri, and JK Labajo appeared to be setting their sights higher and are aiming for more mature roles as their series is about to come to an end.
During a finale mediacon, the young stars were asked about the possibility of doing a romance project with their partner being of the same sex, and they gamely said they are open to such roles, subject to some conditions.
Echarri said he is open to doing a BL (boys’ love) project in the future, as long as his onscreen partner would be his close friend and costar, JK Labajo.
“Sa totoo lang, ‘yung chemistry namin [ni JK], kaya naming mag-TimPoch (Honestly, my chemistry with JK can rival TimPoch),” Echarri said, referring to the onscreen partnership of Zaijian Jaranila and Miggy Jimenez in the youth series.
“As long as si JK. Basta si JK. Magkasama kami, ‘We Love OPM’ pa lang. ‘The Voice Kids’ pa lang, d’un na kami nagkakilala (As long as I’ll do it with JK. As long as it’s with JK. We’ve been together since the show ‘We Love OPM.’ We met when we competed in ‘The Voice Kids’),” he continued.
Echarri started his entertainment career as a contestant in “The Voice Kids” season two in 2015 under the mentorship of Sarah Geronimo. Labajo competed in the show’s first season with Bamboo Mañalac where he ended as second runner-up.
Labajo, who was also at the mediacon, agreed with Echarri’s remarks. saying their friendship goes way back. “Nalulungkot talaga ako kasi never kaming nagka-eksena sa (I’m sad that we never had a scene together in) ‘Senior High,’” he added.
The cast and production team of “Senior High” entertain questions from the media as the youth series is down to its final two weeks on air.
Also included in the cast is Zaijian Jaranilla who is unfortunately absent at the press conference. | @HMallorcaINQ pic.twitter.com/k0CaHL3eZO
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) January 9, 2024
Meanwhile, Manabat also said she is open to working with any actress for a possible GL (girls’ love) project, but she would love to do it with Andrea Brillantes.
Manabat said her kissing scene with Elijah Canlas was merely a camera trick, and that she would rather have her first onscreen kiss with a woman.
“Sa kissing scene namin ni Elijah, wala talagang dumikit d’un. Clarification lang. But feeling ko, if magkakaroon ako ng first onscreen kiss, gusto ko talaga sa babae,” she said. “Feeling ko mas komportable ako d’un. Less ilangan, less issue, less hassle, and experience siya. Fulfilling siya as an actress.”
(In my kissing scene with Elijah, our lips didn’t touch. Just a clarification. But if I were to have my first onscreen kiss, I want to do it with a woman. I’d feel more comfortable with it. Less awkwardness, less issue, less hassle, and it’s an experience. It’s fulfilling for me as an actress.)
Manabat also shared that she’s open to having a kiss scene with any actress. But if she has the option to choose her partner, she would love to do it with Andrea Brillantes — who plays her onscreen best friend.
“Open naman ako [sa kahit sino]. Basta sa matalik ko pong kaibigan sa [Senior High]. Gusto niya rin ng gan’ung role (I’m open to anyone. Although I would choose my best friend in ‘Senior High’ and she wants to do those kinds of roles),” she said.
For her part, Brillantes said that she’s “comfortable” doing a romance project with Manabat, but she “respects” the latter’s non-showbiz boyfriend.
“Napansin ko kasi that there’s a lot of BL series now. Hindi pa masyadong madami ang GL. If ever lang naman, I would be comfortable doing it with my best friend in ‘Senior High,’” she said, referring to Xyriel. “Magaling siyang actress and marami kaming makukuha sa isa’t isa. Pero nirerespeto ko kasi ‘yung boyfriend niya.”
(I noticed that there’s a lot of BL series now. But there is not much GL series. If ever, I would be comfortable doing it with my onscreen best friend in “Senior High.” She’s a great actress and we would learn a lot from each other. But I respect her boyfriend.)
The youth series, which is down to its final two weeks, also stars Elijah Canlas, Daniela Stranner, Zaijian Jaranilla, Sylvia Sanchez, Angel Aquino, Baron Geisler, Mon Confiado, Miggy Jimenez, Tommy Alejandrino, and Gela Atayde.