MANILA - Before he was cast in "Be Careful With My Heart," young actor Jerome Ponce auditioned for ABS-CBN's reality show "Pinoy Big Brother" not once but twice.

In an interview on the morning talk show "Magandang Buhay" on Wednesday, Ponce confessed that it was really his dream to join the reality television show.

Ponce was at a computer shop when he was discovered by a talent scout, who told him to audition for the reality show in 2010 -- the same batch of eventual winner James Reid.

"Pumila ako ng like 3 a.m. natapos kami ng 12 midnight na. 'Yun 'yung first time, finalist na ako ng Manila, hindi na ako kinolback," Ponce recalled.

He auditioned again for the teen edition in 2012, which crowned Myrtle Sarrosa as the big winner. "Umasa din po ako dahil na-pictorial na ako," he said.

Despite his failure to get into "PBB," Ponce continued to pursue his dream. "Na-frustrate ako pero nasanay na din ako, that's life," he said.

The turning point came when his father met designer Avel Bacudio, who introduced Ponce to a producer at ABS-CBN, who in turn asked the young actor to audition for "Be Careful With My Heart."

"Then dumating 'yung time na may camera na, may location, pinadala na kami ng damit. Para sa akin normal lang 'yon, 'yun pala teaser na. Tapos nakauwi na ako sa bahay, naliligo ako, biglang inere na. Hindi sinabi sa akin na ako na talaga," he narrated.

Ponce said he is just thankful that the hit daytime series opened up many opportunities for him. Currently, he stars in "Wansapanataym Presents: Candy's Crush" with former "PBB" housemate Loisa Andalio.