MANILA -- Around this time last year, Jerome Ponce was trying to patch things up with his ex-girlfriend Elisse Joson, who was at the time a celebrity housemate on "Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky Season 7."

Big Brother allowed Ponce to enter the famous yellow house to talk with Joson. Ponce, who was still very emotional at that time, even confessed he still had feelings for her.

According to Ponce, he only broke up with Joson so he could focus on his work. At the time, he was part of the top-rating daytime series "Be Careful With My Heart."

• (READ: Why Elisse said goodbye to Jerome)

Although she admitted that she was still hurting, Joson emphasized that she had already moved on and did not wish to settle things with Ponce. "Things have changed. Wala na," she said.

Fast-forward to the present and Ponce is set to work with Joson in the upcoming teleserye "The Good Son." This time, however, Joson has a new leading man, Mccoy de Leon of the group Hashtags.

Double pressure

At a blogger's conference on Thursday, Ponce was asked about working with Joson and de Leon.

"Relax lang," he said. "Wala pa rin naman kami masyadong eksena at nakakapagkuwentuhan naman kapag magkakasama na kaming lahat. Magkaiba lang talaga ang tent namin."

Ponce also admitted that his role was supposed to have been played by Elmo Magalona and that he had had to audition for it.

"Taon na rin ang binilang ko dahil walang trabaho, puro guesting lang. I grabbed the opportunity at ako naman po ang napili," he said.

Because of this, he said there is greater pressure on him to perform well, considering that it is his first time to work with most of the his co-actors, as well as director Manny Palo.

"Sumugal sa akin si Direk. Una, hindi niya ako kilala. Pero sumugal siya, kaya 'yon ang pinanghahawakan ko sa ngayon," he said.

Joson, meanwhile, said she is grateful for the trust of the cast and crew. But above all, she is thankful for de Leon, who serves as her source of strength.

"Lagi niyang pinaparamdam sa akin na he's always there. Parang kakayanin ko kapag kasama siya," she said.

• ('Mahal mo na ba si Mccoy?' What Elisse answered)

"The Good Son" will premiere on September 25, replacing "A Love To Last," which will air its finale on September 22.