Yassi Pressman and Andre Paras (MNS photo)
Many on-screen partners become entangled romantically in real life, but not Yassi Pressman and Andre Paras.
The two have worked together on several projects, including “Diary Ng Panget,” “Wang Fam,” and their newest movie together “Girlfriend For Hire.” – and while they find each other attractive, too – they remain friends, nothing more and nothing less.
Like what many of the young stars say these days, the focus is on career.
“We’re focusing on work. What’s good about it is maganda ’yung feedback ng mga fans kasi as artists, we really want to entertain people. I’m really happy they love it. Sa pagka-develop (sa isa’t-isa), wala pa kasi we’re focused on our work muna,” Andre said at the press conference of “Girlfriend For Hire.”
Yassi said their busy schedules keep love at bay.
While she sees Andre as “gwapo, matangkad, mabait” she said, “Mahirap po kasi sa schedule namin ngayon. So sa work lang kami nagkakasama. Minsan pumupunta siya kasama ’yung friends ko. Pero hindi siya ’yung every day na kailangan naming mag-spend ng time together kasi grabe din ‘yung (taping schedule ng) soap niya at events namin.”
The Viva artist said she is “in love” but with family and work, not with any man. After going through a heartbreak before, Yassi has become more cautious in falling in love and having a relationship.
“Mahirap ma-in love. Na-in love na ako dati nang grabe kaya po kailangan na bago ka mag-desisyon na ma-i-in-love ka, dapat you’re 100 percent sure. Hindi pwedeng padalos-dalos. Ingat-ingat din sa puso. Madaling ma-in love pero madali din masaktan kaya dapat choose wisely.”
Aside from his love team with Yassi, Andre also has a love team with Barbie Forteza on “That’s My Amboy.” Yassi doesn’t mind that Andre has another onscreen partner.
“’Yung sa amin ni Andre, ’yung suporta ng fans namin laging andiyan. Kahit ’yung simula pa lang, andiyan sila palagi. Siguro ‘yung blessing kay Andre, mas nakikita ko ’yung love team nila as a blessing for him. Ang dami nilang projects. Sabi ko nga, ‘Ang gwapo kasi ng (ka-)love team ko, in-demand siya.’ Hindi ko siya nakikita na conflict,” she said.
Top-billing “Girlfriend For Hire,” Yassi and Andre admit feeling the pressure. They are aware that comparisons with other love teams are inevitable, including that of their contemporaries James Reid and Nadine Lustre’s.
“Sa totoo lang po, sobrang nakaka-pressure, dito sa industriya, malaki talaga ang pressure. Lalo na mabigyan ng ganitong opportunity na mapagkatiwalaan ng management,” she said. ‘‘Alam namin na maraming expectations, lalo na sa mga readers ng libro na talagang sobrang dami. Inaasahan namin ’yung suporta nila, so doon pa lang happy na kami na susuportahan nila kami.”
At the very least, Andre is confident of their performance in the movie.
“We really work hard for this. Nag-brainstorm kami, we talked about kung ano kailangan gawin at i-add galing sa book. I’m sure na we will make the readers proud because I’m confident to say that we really worked hard for this. It’s not that easy to make a film like this. I’m not that pressured kasi I’m confident,” he said. (MNS)