(March 19, 2003)
Patrick's character, James, supposedly leaves for the US because his father who is based there got sick of cancer. James leaves behind his girlfriend, George, played by Jodi.
Explains Patrick: "You know, of course, that Jodi and I are in the cast of the new teleserye of ABS-CBN, 'Darating ang Umaga.' E, masyadong mahirap ang role ko. So I can concentrate more on my role, the powers that be of ABS-CBN decided to temporarily pull me out of 'Tabing-Ilog.'"
How come Jodi has remained in "Tabing-Ilog"?
"Kaya niya ang role niya which I suppose is not as challenging as mine. Pero, baka, eventually, kapag nahirapan na siya sa kanyang role, she will also be asked to take a leave from 'Tabing-Ilog'," Patrick says.
Most everyone agree that Patrick and Jodi are getting to be an effective love team. Surprisingly, though, the two of them are just friends. Patrick does not deny that he is still going steady with commercial model Bianca King. Jodi's romance with the son of Senator Panfilo Lacson is still as strong as ever.
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Speaking of Jodi, she has no idea about the whereabouts of her dad. Neither does she know how he looks like.
"Ang bata bata ko pa ho kasi nang iniwanan niya kami," Jodi confesses. "Ang mother ko naman seldom talks to me and my brother about him. Kami naman, out of respect for our mom, we don't ask her about him."
How does she feel about her father?
"Sabi nila, kung naranasan mo ang magkaroon ng isang ama, doon mo lang mararamdaman ang kanyang pagkawala. In my case, 'di ko nga naranasan ang magkaroon ng isang ama, kaya 'di ko alam kung ano ang damdamin ko sa kanya.
"But I pray and hope that whenever he may be now, he's happy," she says.
One of the talented actresses among her contemporaries, Jodi, besides having two regular TV shows, is an in demand guest in the other programs of ABS-CBN. She was a revelation in her role as a young girl raped by her own father, played by Tirso Cruz III, in last Thursday's episode of "Maalaala Mo Kaya."
In the story, she hates her mother (Sylvia Sanchez) because the latter chose not to do anything when she told her how she was being abused by her father. Unknown to Jodi's character, when her mom confronted her father, he beat her up.
"I must admit that it is one of the best roles I've ever portrayed. Sana nga magkaroon ako ng more challenging projects ng tulad ng ginampanan ko sa 'Maalaala Mo Kaya' 'di lang sa TV kung hindi sa pelikula rin."
Jodi reveals that if she feels some pressure to work harder, it is because she wants to earn as much money as she can. She is the breadwinner in the family, she explains.