JakBie: Happy couple on & off screen

MANILA, Philippines — Barbie Forteza and Jak Roberto are a happy couple and a happy onscreen tandem. This is shown in their GMA 7’s Wagas Presents Wait Lang… Is this Love? rom-com weekday series. They debunk the notion that lovers can’t get along at work.

“Sobrang gamay na namin ang isa’t-isa (We know each other well),” said Barbie of working with Jak in a presscon. Prior to this, they both starred in projects such as Kara Mia and Laut. “Is it an advantage to work with someone you are involved with? Luckily, oo naman. There’s someone who will take care of you. There’s no feeling of awkwardness to each other (nor a wall between you and that person), kapag meron kaming gustong gawin sa eksena para mapaganda (ito), we just collaborate.”

The feeling is mutual, too, for Jak. In Wagas, perhaps due to its genre, they have the free rein to approach their roles as compared to their characters in the fantasy-drama Kara Mia.

“We didn’t have the chance to give it a (fun approach or to show our) funny side because (the theme the show explored) was really serious,” he said. “When (the opportunity to do) Wagas came, I told myself that this was the chance (we had been waiting for) that we could play with the characters (or explore them), because the characters are (somehow) similar to us, makulit lang, lalo na yung character ko, sa kanya naman (as for Barbie’s role), nadagdagan lang ng sungit, we’re more comfortable portraying them, hindi kami na-bo-bother sa mga lines namin. We can do ad-lib (to make the dialogues) funnier, (we can afford to do it) because our director is open to suggestions from the stars.” Wagas has Barbie as Yummy Bubuyog, who is no-boyfriend-since-birth 21-year-old, and Jak as a handsome and mischievous childhood friend Eugene.

Anyway, that’s a sneak peek into the creativity that works on the Wagas set. It is conducive for people to thrive with what they do. People respect each other’s space and find a common ground where they can work together. This reflects JakBie’s rapport on- and off-screen.

“We don’t feel drained (exhausted) when we’re around each other,” said Barbie. “We both try to be understanding, (we know) when to give (each other) space, alam namin kung kailan kanya-kanya muna, kung kailan work, kailan ang personal time (we know when it’s for me-time or for work). Of course, when a couple is (working like taping scenes) and going through something, I think it’s difficult to hide (what they feel). Mabuti na lang napakabait ni Jak.” This perhaps can be attributed to the young Kapuso couple’s understanding that it takes two to tango for a relationship to work.

Asked about tips for couples, especially the millennials, to keep a healthy relationship, Jak said: “Mahalaga yung respeto sa magulang nung nililigawan (Respect to your girl’s parents is important). Your relationship with your girlfriend is naka-base pa rin sa parents. Kumbaga mas unahin natin yung magulang, that’s based on my experience.”

Barbie considers this courtship very Filipino, which is not a cultural thing, but an exemplar of good manners.

“For me, even if we live in this digital age, when people would text, and make IG comments, it matters most when we talk to our parents… they are the ones who will protect us. Wala namang problema kung ikuwento nyo yung crush nyo, yung boyfriend nyo, yung nanliligaw (sa inyo).”

How do they describe their budding relationship? Jak said that he couldn’t label it a millennial kind, but they just “go with the flow. Pinaka mahalaga yung may basbas ng magulang yung relasyon, mahirap magtago (It’s better that your relationship has the parental blessing).” Barbie shared that their parents trust them for they know that the couple doesn’t have any vices and doesn’t go out with friends.

As for their endearing traits, this is what Barbie and Jak had to say: “When a guy courts a girl, he always puts his best foot forward, effort,” she said. “We’re two years na, (and) he (remains) the same (and is consistent). Effortless ang pagiging gentleman niya.”

Jak said of Barbie, “She’s supportive… caring… she’s expressive and she says what she doesn’t like and what she likes.”

All right, JakBie has essayed dramatic roles. But the tandem doesn’t consider Wagas a walk in the park.

“To be honest, walang trabahong madali (there’s no easy work),” said Barbie. “Walang genre na madali, kahit sabihin mong rom-com (pa yan), it has variations.” In the coming episodes, JakBie’s Yummy and Eugene will be seen in dramatic, action scenes. Their storylines become more exciting.

“Napapadali lang (ang lahat) dahil sa mga taong katrabaho mo (Work becomes easy because of the people you work with),” she added.

(Wagas Presents Wait Lang… Is this Love? airs before Eat, Bulaga.)