MANILA – For the first time, Jasmine Curtis-Smith and her boyfriend Jeff Ortega sat down for a TV interview together where they opened up about their relationship which began early this year.

Speaking on “Magandang Buhay” on Wednesday, Ortega said he and Curtis-Smith have known each other for quite a while now but it was only last year that he had the opportunity to get to know her more.

A photo posted by Jasmine (@jascurtissmith) on Sep 5, 2016 at 12:46am PDT

“I was actually familiar with the friends of her sister. I was close sa sisters nila Georgina (Wilson) and Belle (Daza) kasi they are distant cousins of mine. I used to hang out with them when I was younger. Tapos nakikita ko lang si Jas lagi. May boyfriend siya noon so sabi ko sayang naman. Pero eventually, I caught her at a good time,” Ortega recalled.

After courting the actress, Ortega revealed he actually didn’t ask Curtis-Smith if she could be his girlfriend.

“Hindi siya sumagot kasi hindi ko na siya pinakawalan. Sinabi ko na lang sa kanya, ‘From now on, you’re going to be my girlfriend na.’ Wala na siyang naisagot,” he said.

Curtis-Smith, for her part, said it feels great that everyone in her family actually loves Ortega.

“It is inevitable na 'yung buong family mo magka-apprehension sa taong pinipili mo kasi siyempre iba yung pagkakakilala ko sa taong kasama ko sa pagkakakilala ng pamilya ko sa kanya. Kailangan kung ano 'yung pinapakita niya sa akin, magawan niya ng paraan na maipakita niya sa parents ko or sa sisters ko. Nung nakita ko na yun, nakikilala na nila si Jeff the way I know him, okay na ako,” she said.

A photo posted by Jasmine (@jascurtissmith) on Nov 4, 2016 at 5:54pm PDT

With her family’s approval of their relationship, Curtis-Smith said: “It feels so right na this is happening. I don’t feel guilty. I don’t feel na there’s room for any drastic changes. Happy ka lang at steady. I’m blessed.”

The actress said she is grateful that Ortega came into her life because he constantly reminds her that she has so many things to be thankful for.

“Sometimes, I am so difficult. I know this on my own. For someone else to stay there para tiisin 'yung mga moments kong ganun, thank you kasi hindi ka nauubusan ng pasensya, ng energy. You’re just always trying to make me smile. It’s something that I’ve just been needing in my life, a constant reminder to smile kasi I easily forget na I have so many things to be thankful about,” she said.

Prior to Ortega, Curtis-Smith was in a relationship with singer Sam Concepcion.