Every ending carries its own thrill. For JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith, tonight’s "Ghosting" finale on iWant feels twice as exciting.
On one hand, it’s the bittersweet culmination of their first acting project together, while on the other, they’re just as stoked as the fans to find out how the series will wrap up. The team actually filmed two possible endings. As Fyang revealed, the decision on which version would make it to air depends on how the series performed overall.
One ties things up in a way that will surely delight viewers, while the other leaves a door more open for a second season. “If ever na maging successful, merong ending na may aabangan sa Part 2. Tapos may isang ending na tiyak matutuwa ang lahat,” she shared during their interview with Kapamilya Chat.
Either way, both endings promise to deliver all the feels, which is exactly why JM and Fyang consider the finale their favorite scene of the entire series. "Gustong-gusto ko 'yun," gushed JM, with Fyang nodding in agreement.
It’s even more meaningful knowing that "Ghosting" is their very first full-blown acting project. Entering a new world with an unfamiliar set of castmates could have been daunting, but JM and Fyang mentioned that adjusting came surprisingly easy. They instantly bonded with their co-stars, especially Vivoree, Zach Guerrero, and Gello Marquez, with whom they shared most scenes, and that connection translated into their playful banter on-screen.
Fyang revealed, "Most ng lines namin is ad-lib. 'Yung mga tawa namin sa series, totoo talaga siya," and that spontaneity helped her bring out her character Jaja's natural sass. On the other hand, this came as a challenge for JM, as he had to keep his reactions calm and nonchalant no matter how funny the banter got around him, since he was playing Wilberto, a ghost. At times, he would even ask his co-stars how the punchlines were supposed to flow, just so he knew when he should hold back his laughter to stay consistent with Wilberto’s detached demeanor.
Apart from thriving on comedy and romance, the series also worked on showing viewers the realities of young adulthood. "Ghosting" touched on relatable relationship nuances, like the need for reassurance, which both JM and Fyang admit is deeply important. "Words matter talaga," said JM, teasing that Fyang is just like Jaja in always needing validation, which she didn't really deny. "Inaamin ko din talaga na kailangan ko rin ng words of affirmation," she confessed. "Kasi siyempre hahanap-hanapin mo rin 'yong lambing, 'yong gano'n ba. And as a sensitive girly na soft-hearted, every word na sasabihin mo, kahit hindi naman siya nakakasakit, masasaktan ako kaya pag-isipan mo naman."
One more takeaway the story highlighted is how quick people can be to make assumptions based on physical appearance, such as how someone dresses. On this, Fyang believes you should wear whatever makes you comfortable and not pay attention to unsolicited opinions. That means going out in a simple shirt and shorts when she has no work and only needs to run errands.
JM added, drawing from Jaja’s character, that fashion is simply a form of self-expression for many. And he hopes that, like Wilberto, others would learn to understand that the issue is not in the clothes themselves but in how people choose to perceive them. "Sobrang sarado ng isip ng mga gano'ng klaseng tao kasi hindi sila aware sa kung paano mag-express 'yong babae sa pananamit," he thought.
It has only been a year since their batch’s successful run in "PBB Gen 11," yet life has moved at lightning speed, with blessing after blessing and dream after dream coming true. JM and Fyang admit the pace can feel overwhelming sometimes, but in the most rewarding way.
As "Ghosting" wraps up tonight, September 20, on iWant, fans can look forward to more good news. A second part is already in the works. The pair is also gearing up for "ASAP in Vancouver," and they are especially excited since it will be their very first trip to Canada and a chance to both perform and explore the city.