Krissha Viaje (left) and Jerome Ponce in “Sem Break” —PHOTO COURTESY OF VIVA ENTERTAINMENT
If Krissha Viaje were to enter a relationship, it would be with someone “caring,” someone she can “genuinely connect” with.
And some of those qualities, she admitted, she sees in her screen partner, Jerome Ponce. “He has those qualities. But we still need more time to know if we’re really a match,” she told reporters at a recent press conference for the upcoming horror series “Sem Break.”
While some fans are hopeful that their love team—fondly called “KrisshRome”—would blossom into something more serious, the actress pointed out that it shouldn’t happen just because of what they do in front of the cameras.
“It’s hard to just get carried away by the characters you play. It would have to be something real,” she said. “Relationships aren’t a game. If I get into one, I want to be in it for the long haul.”
Jerome, on the other hand, finds Krissha not only “girlfriend material,” but “wife material.” “Krissha is emotionally intelligent. She cares for everyone. What more for her [potential] partner? She’s always thinking about how to make your day better,” he said.
Misunderstandings
The two actors have grown closer since starring in the hit series “Safe Skies Archer” last year. Even so, small misunderstandings are inevitable. “I apologize immediately if I realize that I have done something he didn’t like, or if I know I did something wrong. It’s as simple as that,” Krissha said. “Our communication is OK.”
“If you don’t want to lose a person, whether it’s your fault or not, still make it a point to apologize,” Jerome added.
The six-part “Sem Break,” which starts streaming on Viva One on May 10, follows a group of friends whose planned trip turns into a series of terrifying events. Jerome plays Arlo, a socially awkward rich kid. Krissha is Mich, an orphaned girl raised by her aunt. They are joined by Keann Johnson, Aubrey Caraan, Hyacinth Callado and Gab Lagman.
Despite being told not to enter the lighthouse near their resort, some defy the warnings and end up getting lost in a maze-like structure. And while they eventually manage to escape safely, they don’t realize someone has tagged along on their way home.
While starring in a romance drama like “Safe Skies, Archer” has its own challenges, Jerome and Krissha agreed that doing a horror project is considerably more challenging. “For you to scare viewers, there has to be other elements present—special effects, scoring, etc. But in ‘Safe Skies,’ the scenes mostly involve just us,” Jerome said.
What makes horror particularly difficult, Krissha added, is acting out scenes with no actual coactor. “Sometimes, you have to act like you’re scared of something, even if there’s nothing there besides the camera. There’s more work involved,” Krissha added.
The new show, directed by Roni Benaid, isn’t all jumpscares and intense set pieces. There are pockets of “kilig” moments, which the two actors already have down pat.
“There’s a part where we do a slow dance amid a very romantic setup with flowers and such… it just happens. It’s the way we look at each other, exchange lines, the nuances,” Krissha said.
In fact, Jerome could be tired or lacking sleep, but once the cameras roll, everything just flows naturally. “We’re comfortable with each other in scenes that involve only us two. Maybe we can master [this genre] sooner or later,” he said.
Overwhelming
The success of their tandem was an unexpected blessing. And it’s heartening, Jerome said, to see Krissha explore and fulfill her dreams.
“We’re happy for each other, for the opportunities given to us and the items ticked off on Krissha’s bucket list… It’s nice seeing her explore, doing things like free diving, going on a solo trip abroad,” Jerome said.
But as excited as they are about the attention they have been getting, it can be overwhelming, Jerome said. “I’m scared that we may not meet people’s expectations. We have to be better, better, better… because there are people hoping that we can reach or inspire more people… It may come to a point where we can no longer give or surpass what they want.”
For now, all they can do is focus on their craft. “We have to take care of each other, so that we can learn more and be better. Whatever path our love team ends up on, I will always root for him,” Krissha said. INQ