On Paula a.k.a. Anne
Patrick describes what he loves most about the Paula-Patrick pairing in Tabing Ilog: "Our love team is challenging story-wise because we have so many problems. Marami kaming pinagdadaanang hirap due to our family problems because our respective families are in bad terms. It is hard for us to be together which also gives depth to my role as James in terms of thinking and character internalization."
How does this forbidden kind of love affect his love for Anne in Tabing Ilog? " It makes me want her more because I can't love her just like that. I have to pass through so many problems." Patrick explains. The love story between James and Anne, as the young actor puts it, is like Romeo and Juliet but in a Filipino setting with Filipino values.
Is the James-Anne relationship for reel or real? In real life, Patrick says that he and Paula are good friends. "Who knows, maybe in the future?" he answers.
On Jodi a.k.a. Lia
In Pangako sa "Yo, Patrick is Jonathan, a catechism facilitator for children in church. Jodi, on the other hand is Lia, the daughter of a rich governor.
"Our love team in the story is great because we are very sweet and have a lot of kilig scenes." Patrick explains. They have a lot of mushy dialogues in deep Tagalog, a lot of looking at each other's eyes, holding hands-stuff young love is made of.
He fondly recalls that in one kilig scene, he was playing in the church and saw Lia going to the confessional box so he sneaked inside the priest's booth. He modulated his voice and acted like a priest. Lia was telling the "priest" that he was in love with a boy but didn't know if he loved her, too. Acting like a priest, Jonathan's dialogue went," Siguradong mahal ka nun!"
Then Jonathan told her he loved her, and then he hugged her," the actor relates. Patrick's first-ever screen kiss was with Jodi. It happened in Wansapanataym. So how did it feel?
"Nakakailang, kaunting hiya in the beginning but we were both professional about it. I thought of her as a friend."
The kissing scene alone took around five takes but he claims it's not because they were not at ease with each other. There were some technical problems daw. Yeah, right. So is it Lia or Anne? He would leave it up to his fans to decide. The verdict? Fans that chatted at the Tabing Ilog website of abs-cbn.com were unanimous in voting for the partnership of Patrick with Jodi. The chatters said it is because of the chemistry between the two which is more natural as compared to the somewhat worked-on pairing with Anne. Add to that the disparate story lines of the two programs. In Pangako sa 'Yo, his role as Jonathan has more kilig scenes with Lia that it is Just so nice to watch the two. In Tabing Ilog, James and Anne have drifted apart.
Patrick describes the two girls off cam: Paula is mature for her age and when I'm with her I'm really quiet." He thinks it's because of their four years age difference. As for Jodi, Patrick describes their relationship as just barkada. "Mas nakakakwentuhan ko si Jodi because we go out together with Baron while Paula and I hardly go out," relates Patrick.
But he is quick to add," I don't mind getting closer to Paula because she is such a sweet girl. I'm not closing my doors-I can't really say that I won't fall in love with her."