MANILA, Philippines – Brian Poe Llamanzares, Senator Grace Poe’s son, surprised actress Jasmine Curtis Smith during the press conference for her new show My Fair Lady on Thursday, September 3 at the Manila Peninsula Hotel.

In an interview with reporters, Brian, who took a leave from his duties as a reporter for CNN Philippines, said that he has always admired Jasmine. According to Brian, he never thought he would make such a bold move to meet the actress.

“Actually, I honestly I didn’t think past giving the flowers. So when I was onstage, nabigay na yung mga bulaklak (I gave the flowers already), I was like, I didn’t know what to say,” Brian said.”

I never though I’d get that close to her and be able to say that I actually wanted to meet her,” he added.

Brian said he hopes to get the chance to get to know Jasmine very soon. 

“Honestly, I hope I’d be given an opportunity by her sister [Anne Curtis] and her family to get to know her.

“I wanna know who she is. I don’t want the showbiz side. I wanna know who she really is,” he said.

Brian Poe Llamanzares on Getting to know Jasmine Curtis Smith. pic.twitter.com/rqpb4uF5ej

— alexa villano (@alexavillano) September 3, 2015

According to Brian, he always wanted to meet Jasmine. Both studied in Ateneo but Brian graduated batches ahead of her. 

“Buti na lang, a friend of mine helped to set this up, so I got to meet her,” he said. 

When ask why such as bold move to go to the press conference, Brian said: “Why not? She’s single now. I’m single.

“I just figured that this is my only shot. It was this presscon or nothing.”

Brian is aware that people will make an issue of his visit to the press conference, since he’s not part of the show. 

“They’ll always have something to say naman no matter what. I’m sure they’re gonna say all sorts of things about it. But I really just want to get to know her.

“Sa tingin ko naman, this is my only shot, so I took it,” he said.

Jasmine was previously in a relationship with Sam Concepcion. The two broke up February of this year.  Brian meanwhile dated Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition 4 winner Myrtle Sarrosa who is now a member of the Star Magic Angels. The two broke up a few months ago. 

On mom Grace

Although Brian’s mom Grace has yet to formally announce whether she will run in 2016 for higher office, Brian said that he is much more concerned about his siblings with the all the criticism thrown again her.

“Hindi maiiwasan na may mga (You cannot avoid that there are)  haters, may mga bashers, mga black propaganda. I was saying earlier in my other interviews ko na that’s what we were worried about naman talaga for my sisters, who are still in college, in grade school.

“And we just hope that all these people who are commenting negatively realize that my mom is a mom. That she has a family and that the things they post online are also read by my sisters,” he said.

Brian also said that his mom is still looking at her options at this point.

“I keep reminding her na kahit mahirap ngayon, isipin mo na lang na (that while it maybe difficult, just think)  whatever decision you make, you are responsible for the country after 2016.”

Brian on mom Sen. Grace and on the issue of being a foundling. pic.twitter.com/4K2Iz9YsR3

— alexa villano (@alexavillano) September 3, 2015

As for the issue about his mom being an adopted child, Brian said he hopes that people will stop, saying she never denied it from the start. (READ: In Iloilo, Grace Poe finds new clues to real parents)

“My mom’s a strong person talaga. Tuloy-tuloy yung issue na iyan. Ayaw mabitawan ng mga kalaban niya, (Her enemies won’t drop it) and I just think, for my mom, there’s only so much you can take even if you are a strong person. When it’s something so close and so personal as an issue like that and we’ve said that if you have a friend and that friend was telling to your face na ampon ka (you are an adopted child) or you are a foundling, what would you feel? (WATCH: Grace Poe cries as she talks about her parents, adoption)

“Imagine multiplying that a thousand times over the Internet, on the radio, on TV listening to it everyday. It takes a toll and the thing I admire most about my mom, yes she was near tears that night, pero she was able to bounce back and go to work today and go to all of her events and keep pushing for those things that she believes in,” he said. – Rappler.com