JOLO  REVILLA  AT  HIS  PRIME:  BREAKS  UP  WITH  LOVI  POE

MANILA, NOVEMBER 6, 2009 (MALAYA) Jolo Revilla confirms that he and long-time sweetheart Lovi Poe has broken up.

In a pocket interview yesterday, the star of "Pepeng Agimat" admits that yes, it has been more than a month since their relationship went pfft.

"Pareho naming desisyon ‘yun para na rin makapag focus kami sa careers at sa family," he says.

"Walang third party," he insists, despite talks that Lovi has been dating Ronald Singson, who was linked to Sunshine Dizon and Angelu de Leon.

"Kaibigan ko si Ronald," says Jolo. "If ever man totoo, masaya ako sa kanila. Pero tao rin lang akong nasasaktan."

Thankfully, Jolo has the ABS-CBN project, the second in the "Agimat: Ang mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla" series, to busy himself with.

So although he may still be smarting from a heartbreak, he does not look it.

He is fit, buffed and primed for his biggest break, set to air tomorrow on ABS-CBN.

He has never looked better. In dropping 30 pounds in three months through a strict diet and exercise, the 21-year-old has also shed his teenybopper image and is looking manly in his 5’8" frame.

"Pinaghandaan ko talaga ang ‘Pepeng Agimat’," he says at the gathering arranged by his aunt, Andeng Revilla-Ynares, "Syempre ayokong mapahiya sa mga tao ko dahil lolo at tatay ko ang gumanap nuon.

"Pinanood ko ang pelikula ng lolo ko sa DVD. Dun sa Pepeng Agimat ng tatay ko, I played the brother of my dad’s sidekick."

He knows he has big shoes to fill as his father, Senator Bong Revilla, Jr., and his grandfather, ex-Senator Ramon Revilla, are screen luminaries both.

"Nag focus ‘tong ‘Pepeng Agimat’ namin more on family," he says, "Horror-drama-action ito. Pasasayahin naming ang mga tao kung dapat at patatawanin din naming kung kailangan."

ABS-CBN really made sure "Pepeng Agimat," directed by Don Don Santos, is special as Jolo says it will be full of special effects and big action scenes. Melissa Ricks plays Jolo’s lady love, who happens to be an aswang, while Ping Medina is the villain. Comedy Queen Ai Ai de las Alas is playing Jolo’s mom.

In a special role is Jolo’s dad, Senator Bong Revilla.

It may just be a coincidence that his career is on an upswing following his break up but another good thing now is Jolo has more time for other things, most notably his four-year-old son Gab, who stays with him following an arrangement with Gab’s mom, Grace.

"Gab and I go out once a week. Namamasyal kami," he reveals. "Anytime naman that his mom wants to see him, she can."

Although a single parent, Jolo is enjoying it to the hilt. "Mahirap kung mahirap pero masaya kasi palagi kong kasama si Gab," he says.

He says having his son has made him a better person.

"Malaking responsibilidad ang magkaanak. Hindi biro at malaking pinagbago ko nung dumating siya," he says.