Maja Salvador and Awra Briguela got to discover each other’s quirky side while taping the latest game show Emojination, a collaboration between TV5 and APT Productions, which airs Sundays on the Kapatid network. The contestants joining the Emojination decipher emoji puzzles and answer questions related to them.
According to TV5 president and CEO Guido Zaballero, “Emojination is a fun and exciting game show that brings the universal language of emojis to life. We are thrilled to offer this innovative new show to our viewers and we look forward to the excitement and laughter it brings to every Filipino home every weekend.”
Both Maja and Awra had worked before in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano but Emojination is the first show where they got to collaborate as co-hosts.
“Maliit pa lang si Awra, I’m like an older sister to him,” recalled Maja in a media conference. “He was little Awra at that time. Now, isa na siya sa mga… saludo na ang mga Gen Z sa kanya because of his beauty and style.”
“This is the first time that we will be together in a game show, which is different from the series (FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano) that we had done before when he was still younger. You will see our naughty side (in the new show). I think that we have built our chemistry as co-hosts, so it’s exciting,” the actress-host added.
Awra also shared how he is very lucky to have Maja as his “ate.” “She would take care of me,” he said of his co-host. “On set, she would treat me as her ‘child.’ Look, I’m even wearing her Versace heels right now. She really pays attention to me, even my outfit and nails.”
“I’ve really felt her love for me since I was little, even in our FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano days. She allowed me to use her artista van and so I am very happy to work with Ate Maja (again),” he continued.
While on set, the two would bond over coffee. “Awra is at the age where he eats a lot. He needs to eat a lot before putting on his makeup. He also drinks coffee kasi kulang pa yung energy niya,” Maja told The STAR. Awra would also wait for Maja, so that they could have coffee together.
“When she arrives, (Maja would ask me) ‘What do you want? Let’s order.’ Ayan Ate, I’ve been waiting for you,” Awra chimed in. “We also have the same shoe size. Kaya lahat ng ‘di niya gagamitin, ako ang gagamit.”
Besides her fondness for the game show, Maja also looked forward to her taping day with Awra because of the latter’s infectious “energy.” “I really like the energy that he gives. I feel that our taping day is not complete if I don’t check his outfit. Or, sadyang pakialamera lang talaga ako.”
Likewise, Maja was able to pick up some Gen Z slang from the young comedian. “I also need to (learn that), like new words and trends. I need to adapt and to apply that to our game show. Kasi mamaya baka biglang meron siyang sasabihin and then, I can’t relate. Hindi pwedeng mahalata ang age gap namin.”
If Maja and Awra were to post an emoji on their respective social media accounts to describe the status of their love life, Maja said she would display a church, ring, party and blessed emojis, while Awra would put up sparkles emoji, white heart and a butterfly.
Just last year, Maja announced her engagement with boyfriend Rambo Nuñez. On being blessed in her career and personal life, she said, “Maybe, it’s a sign of aging. When I was younger, I also went through sacrifices and kung ano yung kailangan kong unahin.”
“That’s our story (with Rambo). Years ago, we were together but naging hindi kami… Our relationship didn’t continue (at that time). I need(ed) to sacrifice our relationship because I had to work. I went through that, which is OK lang din pala. Now that I am at this age, whatever my age is now, 25 (laughs),” she said.
“Since I am at the (right) age, the time will come na you can have both. Everything is OK because you personally would know how to balance it (this time).”
Rumor has it that the couple will wed in Bali, Indonesia. When queried about it, Maja just kept mum and didn’t give further details.
On the other hand, Awra, who admitted that he is single but has a “fling,” shared that he is more “private” now when it comes to his personal life. “Since that happened with my first boyfriend na sobrang naging brokenhearted ako, I am more private (now). I want it to be low-key and private but not a secret. It’s like we can (still) go out.”
On the advice he would often receive from his mentor-turned-manager Vice Ganda, he shared, “So far, (Vice) would always say to me to just enjoy and gawin mo lang na ikaw. Kasi kinuha ka (for the game show) dahil ikaw yan.”