After first gaining popularity for his role as Pareng Jomar in the 2006 hit kiddie superhero series Super Inggo, Jairus Aquino is now busy being part of teen show LUV U playing the role of school jock Frederick Jake Lagdameo. Jairus said Frederick's personality is not too far from his own. “Parang wala ring pinagkaiba kasi ako bilang isang best friend, ako yung tipo ng napapasubo. Kasi kung ayaw ko, ayaw ko talaga. Ganun ako sa kaibigan ko. Pag may gusto siyang mangyari na trip or what, humihindi talaga ako eh. Yun lang ang pinagkaiba. Kasi ako disciplined ako sa mga kaibigan ko, para maging role model din na okay ako, okay din sila,” he told Push.

Jairus said it is also not a hard role to play for him because of his real love for sports especially basketball. “Talagang player talaga ako ng basketball. Second year high school na ako sa Angelicum College. Dito naman sa show ako ang isang athlete na hindi naman bad boy, good boy ako na napapasubo lang dahil sa barkada,” he said.

Jairus said he is used to playing different positions on the court. “Sanay ako sa dalawang posisyon. Pag malalaki yung kalaban, I play shooting guard. Pag small naman po, I'm a small forward. I started playing basketball when I was 12 years old pero hindi pa talaga nung time na yun hindi pa talaga ako mahilig eh. Nahilig na lang ako nung nag-13, 14 years old na ako, so mga a year pa lang din,” he shared.

The teen actor said it was just a coincidence that he was cast as a school jock in LUV U. “Hindi siguro nagkataon lang. Actually yung role ko dapat artist pero pinalitan kaya mas nadalian ako. Kasi siyempre kung ano yung ginagawa ko outside showbiz, yun na rin yung gagawin ko inside. So parang okay naman siya,” he shared.

Jairus said that even with extra-curricular activities like sports, he does not have any problem balancing school and a showbiz career. “Actually sa varsity ang gusto talaga nilang kinukuha is home study kasi ang pasok namin is twice or thrice a week lang. Ang practice namin is thrice a week after school. So okay naman tapos pag may games, every Saturday and Sunday lang pero minsan may games pag weekdays so nag-a-adjust na lang ako na papasok ako ng ganito kaaga tapos uuwi ako ng ganito para maglaro,” he admitted.

Now that he has become a teenager, Jairus said he is ready to tackle more grown-up roles in his next projects. “Ready na naman siguro ako kasi nakikita ko kuya ko, and at the same time yung mga friends ko hindi na rin naman mga kids so ganun,” he explained.

After mostly doing guest roles in Kapamilya shows like Wansapanataym and Maalaala Mo Kaya, Jairus said he is excited to be part of a show with his peers and friends in the industry. “Sobrang excited kasi sobrang happy, hindi na ako mahihirapan makipag-adjust kasi nakilala ko na sila, close close naman kami so sobrang saya. At saka ngayon lang din ako gumawa ng ganitong show na kasama ang mga kabarkada ko,” he said.

Jairus became a new addition to the second season of LUV U along with Nash Aguas, Kobi Vidanes, Sharlene San Pedro, and Mika Dela Cruz.

The 14-year-old actor also said he is still good friends with former Super Inggo co-star Makisig Morales. “In touch kami ni Mak pero lately hindi pa kami lumalabas. Pero nagkakausap pa rin kami ni Mak. Hindi naman magbabago yung friendship naming ever since,” he admitted.

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