Since being announced as part of the cast of this year's Metro Manila Film Festival Regal Entertainment entry Shake, Rattle, & Roll: Evil Origins, popular love team Fyang Smith and JM Ibarra have been vocal about their excitement to be part of the classic Pinoy horror film franchise for the first time. During their presscon for the film last October 27, Fyang shared how not much has really changed between her and JM.
“Nakasali kami sa isang reality show which is PBB and nung mga panahon na ‘yun hanggang ngayon, best friends talaga kami, super close friends. Isa po siyang maginoong lalake,” she shared.
“And paglabas naman ng Bahay ni Kuya, hindi naman nagbago ‘yung bond namin. Especially kasi, siguro nung nasa loob kami ng Bahay ni Kuya sinabi namin sa sarili namin na kung sino man ‘yung magbabago, sasakalin (laughs). Kasi parang kung magbabago ka, nag-promise ka sa loob na kung ano man kami sa loob dapat ganun kami sa labas, mas maging strong ‘yung bond namin sa labas. And napanindigan naman namin siya up until now,” she added.
Fyang maintained that she and JM have stayed true to their promise then, and have since continued to grow together.
“Siguro ‘yung bonding namin ngayon is mag-aral ng script. Talagang tulungan na ‘yung bonding namin ngayon. And feeling ko, ‘yun din ‘yung napansin niya sa akin. Feeling ko nature na namin siya eh, na walang magbago talaga. Basta nasa kaloob-looban na namin ‘yung closeness namin,” she said.
The Shake, Rattle, & Roll: Evil Origins actress also shared that she and JM really made sure to not let showbiz get into their heads. “Feeling ko, na-build kasi ‘yan nung nasa bahay kami ni Kuya. Kasi we’re very close friends, and nung time na nasa loob kami ng bahay ni Kuya parang hindi lang kaming dalawa. Kaming apat, kaming tatlo, kaming lahat na magkakasama sa loob ng bahay ay kami na din ang nagdadamayan,” she recalled.
It was also there that they have developed a closeness that goes beyond words. “Sa loob ng bahay ni Kuya parang kaya ko siya kausapin mata sa mata. May mga ganun kaming eksena sa bahay ni Kuya na — alam niyo ‘yung mga secret talks? — na parang may gusto kang sabihin pero kailangan mga mata mo lang gagamitin? Parang ganun lang,” she explained.
READ: EXCLUSIVE: JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith open up about their longest time apart
In fact, Fyang revealed that she considered JM as one of the biggest blessings in her life because of PBB. “Ang pinagpapasalamat ko, bukod sa madaming trabahong natatanggap ko and blessing, nandudoon siya sa buhay ko.”
“Siya ‘yung pinaka biggest plot twist ng buhay ko, yung pinaka unexpected,” Fyang stated.
Fyang candidly shared how happy she was that JM is part of her life.
“Sobrang happy ako na dumating siya sa buhay ko. Ganun type of peg, ganun type siya sa akin. Ganun ‘yung impact niya sa akin. Totoo. Sobrang happy ako nung dumating siya sa buhay ko. Isa siya sa mga pinakaunexpected na taong dumating na hindi ko akalain na magiging malaking impact sa buhay ko, magiging malaking tulong sa buhay ko. Isa sa mga naging importanteng tao sa buhay ko,” she admitted.
Working closely together on projects like Ghosting and Shake, Rattle, & Roll: Evil Origins, Fyang shared that she already knows how to cheer JM up when he is not in the happiest of moods. “Kunwari pag alam kong wala siya sa mood, parang doon lumalabas ‘yung eagerness ko na inisin siya, kulitin siya, pag wala siya sa mood — kasi ayoko na wala siya sa mood. Parang ako na lang ‘yung mapagod para sa kanya. Ayokong nalulungkot siya, so every time na nakikita ko siyang naka-headset, tatanggalin ko yan, kukulitin ko siya. Tapos ‘pag napikon ko na siya, solve na ako (laughs). Yes, ganun lang. Pero wala naman ‘yung major na away. Wala pa naman so far. Feeling ko hindi naman magkakaroon kasi wala namang time na mag-away. Itutulog na lang namin kesa mag-away pa (laughs),” she said.
Watch Fyang Smith and JM Ibarra in Shake, Rattle, & Roll: Evil Origins which is an official entry to the 2025 MMFF. The festival will open on December 25, Christmas Day, in cinemas nationwide.