The ABS-CBN Talent Center is presenting a new love team in Patrick Garcia and Jodi Sta. Maria, who are featured in the soap opera Darating ang Umaga. After being paired in various ABS-CBN programs like Star Studio and Maalaala Mo Kaya, Patrick and Jodi were then brought together in the soap Pangako sa'Yo and the youth program Tabing-Ilog.
Their constant togetherness has made Patrick and Jodi closer to each other, bringing them to a nice comfort zone as costars. "It's nice to work with somebody whom you are comfortable with," said Patrick, who plays a poor boy who falls for a rich girl in the recently launched teleserye.
"I feel blessed to be paired with Jodi because I like working with her," continued the young actor, adding that he's not sure if he would have the same chemistry with another actress. Having shared plenty of screen time with Jodi, Patrick said that it's become a breeze to work with her "since kilala na niya ako."
If ever he would be given the chance to work with other young stars in the ABS-CBN stable, Patrick hopes it will be somebody as understanding as Jodi.
For her part, Jodi said that she is both excited and anxious over the big break that Darating ang Umaga represents in her still young career. She acknowledged that being given a major role in a teleserye is an opportunity that not all young actors enjoy, and she hopes this will be the start of bigger things to come. Besides Darating ang Umaga, Jodi is also working with Patrick in the movie Moral from Star Cinema which will open in theaters soon.
Since Patrick and Jodi are working together, it's not unlikely for them to fall for each other. How does Patrick view this possibility?
"We don't want to think about it. If it's going to happen, let it happen naturally," said the young actor. Does Talent Center prohibit him from admitting that he has a girlfriend? "No naman. For me, I don't want to be plastic to the fans. It's bad to lie to the fans just to be popular. I don't think it's worth it. I want to be truthful and I don't want to tell lies."
Jodi is starting to get noticed for her potential as an actress. People are talking about her performance in a Maalaala Mo Kaya episode a couple of weeks ago, saying that Jodi ought to be nominated for her turn.
The young actress is also aware that a number of young stars who once cultivated wholesome images are now taking the bold-movie route, like Katya Santos, Maui Taylor and Andrea del Rosario. Will Jodi be as daring and follow in their footsteps when the time is, well, ripe?
"I don't want to be definite with my answer and say that I can't do what they are doing. I won't say that I won't go sexy. If the time comes and I get offered to do a mature role, I might give it a try -- but not at the moment," said Jodi.