JK a revelation in A Love to Last

MANILA, Philippines — JK Labajo is not about to go unnoticed even while his co-stars in the ABS-CBN primetime soap A Love to Last all excel in the acting department. He displays quite an impressive acting performance knowing that he was not an actor first but a singer.

His portrayal of Lucas Noble, the son of Ian Veneracion’s Anton and Iza Calzado’s Grace, can easily make one hate him or love him. Lucas’ moody side shows in the slightest nuances of JK’s facial expression and body language, although Lucas is becoming less temperamental nowadays.

JK sheepishly smiles when told about how his acting has been earning notice and praise from televiewers and netizens.

“Thank you, thank you. I’m so flattered,” begins JK. “I really don’t know how to take compliments like, for example, someone tells something good about me, I just can’t say much but thank you. But I really appreciate the good things, and, well, the bad things, everything.”

His stirring portrayal of the character, JK shares, has something to do with his heartbreaking experiences during his younger years. The slightest recall of how he had lost his mom at an early age, easily makes the 16-year-old singer-actor teary-eyed. “I guess, aside from that, it easily saddens me when I thought of what I’ve been through na mga bagay na di dapat ma-experience ng isang 16-year-old na tulad ko.”

Thus, JK demonstrated a heart-wrenching performance in one of the soap’s remarkable scenes where Lucas couldn’t do anything but to say goodbye to his mom Grace who will be leaving for the US due to her dad’s serious condition. 

That scene was also the most memorable for him saying, “It feels great to experience having a mom even if it’s just for a show. I felt it was for real. Ang saya ng pakiramdam ng may nanay.”

However, JK assures he has a pleasant disposition as opposed to Lucas whom he describes as “laging mainit ang ulo.”

With co-stars Julia Barretto (left) and Hannah Vito during the presscon

Asked if Lucas was one of his friends, what advice would he give to him, JK says that he would perhaps punch Lucas for his “not so kind” behavior. “I would tell him to just be happy for his dad having found a new love. He has to accept it and move on because it does not mean na end of the world na kumbaga and eventually, it will happen that his dad will fall in love again. ‘Yung pagmumukmok n’ya wala ring patutunguhan so yeah sasapakin ko talaga si Lucas (laughs).”

Although A Love to Last is his third drama outing — after having appeared in Pangako sa ‘Yo and Hawak-Kamay — JK believes “dito ko na-feel ‘yung legit acting na wow this is how acting feels like.”

Iza, who also co-starred with JK in Hawak-Kamay, has also noticed how he has grown up and improved as a young actor. “I’m very happy to see him going this path at sana magtuloy-tuloy na.” 

Does it mean that JK will turn his back on singing?

“No naman po. Never mawawala sa akin ang pagkanta. I just focused on acting because I don’t think I can attend to my singing (career) and acting at the same time since I don’t have enough rest. So I’ve decided to focus on acting,” replies JK, who was a finalist in The Voice Kids Philippines.

Meanwhile, A Love to Last is now on its last three weeks of airing and what better way to thank their supporters is through songs that continuously send kilig to televiewers. JK and his co-stars Ian, Bea Alonzo, Iza, Enchong Dee and Hannah Vito will treat fans via a show titled Love Goals: A Love to Last Concert on Sept. 8 at the Kia Theater.

Ian, of course, will be performing most of the songs that have added passion to his and Andeng’s (Bea) love for each other.

(For tickets, log on to www.ticketnet.com.ph or call 911-5555.)