Weeks after his last soap opera Pasion de Amor ended its eight-month run, Jake Cuenca is already preparing for another television show this year. The 29-year-old actor will star in Because You Love Me with up-and-coming leading lady Yen Santos and Gerald Anderson, to be directed by Dan Villegas (English Only, Please, #Walang Forever).
Because You Love Me is Jake and Gerald’s reunion project after headlining the 2008 drama Tayong Dalawa, the show that turned them into television A-listers.
Nothing’s final yet (they just had their story conference last week) but Because You Love Me will be set “in the world of triathlon,” with Jake playing a top triathlete from a very rich family. He will train Yen to become a triathlete as well. Of course, expect a rivalry of sorts between Jake and Gerald over triathlon and love.
Coconuts Manila and others members of the press talked to Jake after the story conference for Because You Love Me. Here’s an excerpt:
Your role in Pasion de Amor was a bit daring. Will you be showing a bit of skin here as well?
Of course. Kasi, of course, atheletes kami. There’s nothing more sexy than seeing a girl run or a guy run, sweating. That’s always sexy.
You went to the US in 2014 to study acting (he took acting programs at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York). Are you planning to go back to NY and study again?
I just went to New York. Parang, I didn’t get to do the same as what I did before na pumasok talaga sa school ulit. But this time around, marami na kasi akong nakilalang actors and acting coaches, so I had a chance to do some workshops with my acting coach in the States. Doon pa lang, humingi na ako ng konting tips with this role.
How do you apply what you have learned in New York?
I apply it to everything. With acting naman, I’m always down to learn. I’m always enhancing my craft. For me, I act like it’s my first time. I love acting. It’s my craft. It’s what I love to do. It’s what I’m gonna do until the day I die. From now until that point, mag-aaral ako. I will further enhance my skills. I owe it to my audience to always improve and always show them new and interesting characters.
How different is this role from the previous ones you’ve done?
I think this is gonna be a very honest role. Sabi ko nga kay direk Dan, this role is close to home. Makikita n’yo yung totoong personalidad ni Jake. Makikita n’yo yung paggawa ko dito galing sa puso, very organic.
How’s your love life? (Jake recently broke up with model Sara Grace Kelley. In an Instagram post recently, the actor he will always love Sarah unconditional despite the split)
Wala, wala. My love life is a bit down. But I’m happy. Ako naman with my ex, I’m really happy for her. Everything she’s accomplishing, I support her. If she needs me, I will help her out. I think now’s the time to work. Sobrang blessed ako to be doing all this work. Iba’t ibang oportunidad yung pumapasok sa akin. Good guy, bad guy. I’m just gonna be thankful with what I have and thank the Lord for all the blessings.
Do you need to be single in order to do well in your career?
No way, kayang kaya yan. Actually, love inspires you to be the best that you can be. Pero, like, siguro andun ako sa proseso na minamahal ko ang sarili ko. At bago ako magmahal ulit, kailangan mahal ko muna sarili ko.
What are the conditions na kailangan i-accept ng taong magmamahal sa iyo?
It’s kinda hard to give an answer kasi, kumbaga, ang kapal ng mukha ko kasi ang dami ring masasabi sa akin, with my past relationships. There’s a lot of things you can pick apart from me. So if someone loves me and accepts me for who I am, I think that’s just amazing for me. Ako, I have no conditions. I know what I like. Kahit may flaws yang taong yan, may turn-offs, mamahalin ko yan no matter what.
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