ericho Rosales has finally admitted: "Heart Evangelista is my real-life girlfriend!"

In the past, like the other screen loveteams, who always say that the most important consideration as to their not admitting the truth about their relationship with their partners are their fans, Jericho and Heart have kept everyone guessing as to the real status of their relationship.

But during the press conference last Sunday of FLT Films and Star Cinema's "The Manny Pacquiao Story" wherein Jericho will portray the boxer that he admitted about his romance with Heart. According to him, their love story bloomed when they started working together in "Panday." But if he was keeping mum about everything, it was because he was protecting Heart and his fans!

"I think now the fans are very open and broad-minded, unlike fans before. I'm not blaming them, you know how they feel about their loved ones especially their screen idols. They are protective and sometimes jealous. I was just being careful so as not to incur their displeasure, and to protect Heart most of all. Ang unang reaction ng mga fans kasi before was not very good. So para walang gulo at maganda ang relationship namin with the fans, quiet na lang kami. Heart and I are both of age now so okay lang for us to come out about it," he explained.

It's just unfortunate that in "The Manny Pacquiao Story," Jericho is not being paired with Heart but with Bea Alonzo. It could be remembered that Bea and Heart had some differences in the past and rumor has it that they're still not in good terms.

"Bea is a good actress," was Jericho 's only comment when he found out at the press conference that Bea Alonzo will be playing Manny Pacquiao's wife Jinkee in the movie.

Jericho said he did not think twice when the role Manny Pacquiao was offered to him. He gave the producers (Mommy Rose Flaminiano foremost) the thumbs-up, signifying his great desire and interest in doing the title role in the filmbio of the boxing champ. Like all his fellowmen, for Jericho Manny is someone Filipinos can truly be proud of!

"Para sa akin, hindi na kailangan ng consideration o pag-iisipan pa ang offer na ito. Napakagandang project talaga. Manny Paquiao made all of us Filipinos proud. Lahat ng Pinoy proud sa pagiging Pinoy lalo na with Manny Pacquiao's winning and giving honor and pride to the country. The making of his filmbio is a significant project. It's challenging and very interesting to all of us Filipinos. It's nice to be working with Joel Lamangan too," he further said.

"The Manny Pacquiao Story" will be directed by Joel Lamangan from a screenplay written by Roy Iglesias.

Jericho also stressed that he would do everything to give justice to his role. If needed he could even use prosthetics, contact lenses and even cut his hair and straighten it for the sake of authenticity for the film!

"Pinakamahirap na part dito yong tsibog. Hopefully yung attitude ko toward food mabawi ko pa rin sa training. Hindi ako kasi sanay mag-diet, Pinoy ako kapag kumain at praning ako pag di ako kumakain. But with this film, kailangan ko good sleep, proper training - because I'm gonna basically live his life," he pointed out.

To sum it all up, Jericho 's so excited and is filled with renewed energy about his latest movie project.

"Lahat ng offer sa akin lately may puwesto sa pillar ng pagiging Pinoy at lahi ng Filipino like ‘Panday' and now this film on Manny Pacquiao!"

So why is he blessed in his career?

"Maybe I've been praying a lot and I've been working hard," he replied.

A landmark movie that's expected to teach an enduring lesson as it entertains, Joel Lamangan said "Moviegoers can expect lots of surprises. The movie will reveal aspects of Manny's life that the public doesn't know."

Beyond the movies and television, Jericho and his band called Jericho 's Jeans are making waves in Malaysia and Singapore . Their debut album under EMI Records was even simultaneously released there and in Singapore , Hong Kong , Indonesia and Brunei before the Philippines . According to him, it might take a couple of months more before their album "Loose Feet" becomes available in the country.

His band is also scheduled to rock Kuala Lumpur and Sabah this March and then Singapore will be next.

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