Joshua Dionisio and Barbie Forteza receives a warm welcome at Baguio

FIRST TIME stars Joshua Dionisio and Barbie Forteza went to Baguio's Panagbenga Festival and, last weekend, had a mall show at SM San Lazaro. Those who were with them can't believe how warm the public received them, repeatedly shouting their names to prove that "First Time" really has countless of viewers.

"Kami rin, nagugulat sa grabeng reception sa'min ng tao," says Joshua. "Di namin akalain ni Barbie na sobrang mamahalin kami ng tao. Pati nga bahay namin sa Mindanao Avenue, alam na ng fans at pinupuntahan ako roon."

So what makes them click with the public? "I think they like yung pagiging natural namin," says Barbie. "Kasi what they see on TV, yun talaga kami. And they tell us bagay na bagay talaga kami as a young love team."

How close are they now? "Very close po, compared when we started sa 'Stairway to Heaven' na suplado ang dating sa'kin ni Joshua kaya tahimik lagi, masyadong seryoso. Pero ngayon, makulit na siya. Sana patuloy kaming suportahan ng viewers, lalo't paganda nang paganda ang story ng 'First Time'. Habang mas nagiging sweet kami ni Joshua as Cyndi and Lukas, sad naman ang best friend ko, si Jake Vargas who plays Baste so he confronts Lukas kung may gusto ba talaga sa'kin and they will fight. Ang mother ko naman, si Ana Capri, natumba dahil sa'kin and had miscarriage. Sa galit niya sa'kin, she tells me hindi niya ako tunay na anak."