To share the screen with acting luminary Maricel Soriano is enough of an achievement for any younger actress, but to build a real-life connection with her takes the honor much, much higher. Elisse Joson must feel so blessed to have found a friend in the one and only Diamond Star. Watch their insightful chikahan in this video from Maricel’s vlog channel.

The convo kicked off from a little kumustahan where Elisse expressed her joy with her career and personal life. She admitted to feeling a bit pressured, but she knows that tests only yield more meaningful happiness.

Their closeness started on the set of Pira-Pirasong Paraiso and has since grown more beautiful even after Maricel exited the series. Looking back, Elisse admits that she and the show’s other young lead stars Charlie Dizon, Loisa Andalio, and Alexa Ilacad were intimidated by the veteran actress’ arrival. She asked crew members who once worked with Maricel how she’s like off-cam, and they only had assuring words to tell.

Elisse has been getting praise for her role as Hilary in the afternoon drama, and she’s thankful for that, especially since she had chosen the right project. She wanted her comeback vehicle after giving birth to daughter Felize to showcase her other side as she embarks on a new era in her career. The more challenging, the better.

“Hinihintay ko po talaga na makabasa ako ng materyal na pagbalik ko sa trabaho, ako mismo maninibago, ‘yung ako mismo macha-challenge... Naisip ko po kasi, siyempre, parang ibang kabanata na rin ito sa buhay ko,” she said of what made her accept Pira-Pirasong Paraiso. Maricel compared this generation’s dynamic to her time where they had lesser opportunity for rest making at least 10 films a year, “Puro subsob kami sa work. Wala kaming tsansa na makipag-boyfriend.”

Another factor that made her say ‘yes’ was her castmates, “Alam kong makakasundo ko sila. Parang malaking factor din po kasi kung sino ‘yung makakatrabaho mo. Ang tagal ng itatakbo ng trabaho n’yo weekly tapos hindi kayo swak,” she mused. “Luckily, at sobrang blessed po namin kasi swak na swak kaming apat.”

Maricel agreed, adding that she’s amazed by the quartet’s camaraderie and humility, “Bongga sila kasi consistent ‘yung friendship nila. Consistent ‘yung pagsasamahan nila.” There’s no place for competition in their friendship.

From there, Maricel got curious about Elisse’s showbiz journey, which was unplanned. The then-US-based Elisse just came back to the Philippines due to a family emergency when she joined Star Magic VTRs for the experience. But destiny came knocking. She was invited to the Star Magic Ball and workshops and was given small roles in Kapamilya shows. What she considers her biggest break was joining Pinoy Big Brother after her scene-stealing appearance in a fast-food commercial.

Her time inside Bahay Ni Kuya was one of the most colorful in her life, as it was every bit exciting and liberating. “Only child po kasi ako tapos single mother ‘yung mom ko. So, very alaga po ako. So, nu’ng pumasok ako sa PBB, parang nakawala ako. Excited ako na, ‘Ay wala akong restrictions dito.’ Doon ko first na-realize na I get to show who I am and decide kung ano’ng gusto ko talaga.”

Her company inside the house also made her stint extra memorable, “’Yung mix namin ng grupo, ang ganda din po kasi walang nag-aaway... ‘Yung sa amin, good vibes lang tapos tawanan kami nang tawanan.”

Of course, it was where her friendship with McCoy de Leon evolved into an on-screen and eventually real-life romance. She rehashed, “Hindi naman po sadya. Nagsimula kasi ‘yun sa nanghiram ako ng suklay sa kanya. Wala naman po akong intention kasi siya ‘yung nakita kong may suklay. Sobrang wala pong ibig sabihin. Pero ‘yun pala, pinapanood ng mga audience tapos meron silang na-feel do’n.”

“Friends naman po talaga kami ever since before pa ng PBB,” she said of McCoy. And this friendship, Maricel believes, will keep McLisse stronger as time passes. Whatever happens, they can always go back to where they started.

Now as first-time parents, they’re admittedly facing more struggles. “Kasi no’ng mag-jowa pa lang kayo, enjoy. ‘Yung hindi pa kayo magkasama lagi, magde-date lang kayo so lahat ng masaya, lahat ng maganda, doon mo makikita,” shared Elisse. “Pero no’ng nagkaanak na po kami, doon mo mare-realize ‘yung mga pagkakaiba namin, pagkakaiba sa paniniwala, kung paano mag-decide. Doon namin nakita ‘yung mga problema.”

One of the greatest lessons she gleaned from their relationship is that every problem can be solved when both partners are committed. As the oft-quoted Filipino adage goes, “’Pag gusto, may paraan. ‘Pag ayaw, may dahilan.”

And their commitment was put to the test when Elisse got pregnant. She said that she felt a mix of emotions from fear to excitement. “Pangarap ko po talaga na maging isang ina. Hindi ko lang in-expect na ngayon na ‘yung timing. Nu’ng nalaman ko po, I was actually happy. Tapos meron lang pong konting takot kasi nu’ng mga panahon na ‘yun, dire-diretso po ako sa trabaho. Parang nu’ng time na ‘yun, du’n pa lang po ako nabibigyan ng magagandang role. Siguro sa part na ‘yun, doon ang takot. Siyempre, hindi din naman po kami kasal, doon din ‘yung mga worries.”

“Aside from that, mas nangibabaw po ‘yung excitement ko kasi gustong-gusto ko po talaga maging mommy,” she smiled. If there’s anyone who understands what Elisse felt, it would be Maricel, who faced the same situation before. Maricel recalled, “Kababalik ko lang din. Tapos pagbalik mo, buntis ka. Pero God is good kaya nakabalik pa rin si Inay.”

In the middle of their conversation, Elisse’s adorable daughter, Felize, would run to her and charm Maricel with her cute antics. To this day, Elisse could feel the overwhelming sense of love and affection that surrounded her the first time she held Felize.

“Parang lahat ng pinagdaanan ko during the pregnancy, nag-sink in lahat. Kaya parang mate-tears of joy ka. Tototo po ‘yun,” she gushed. “Hindi po talaga madali lalo na po ‘yung pregnancy ko sa ibang bansa, hindi ko rin kasama si McCoy nu’n. So, ‘yung stress level na wala siya, siyempre, nalungkot po ako.” She said that McCoy couldn’t fly due to quarantine protocols at the time.

Elisse, who describes McCoy as the stricter parent, believes that nothing else but her little family matters. People can say what they want, and bash them all they want, but she is too happy and content to pay attention to negativities.