Ashley Sarmiento
& Marco Masa
Built to Last
Ashley Sarmiento and Marco Masa are in no rush to find out where their friendship is going. What matters most to these best of friends is that they appreciate the here and now, and that they inspire each other to be the best versions of themselves.
Text by Kristian Eric JavierPhotos by Gilian Clare CabudilShot on location at Fiesta Carnival | Special thanks to Leeroyd Pelaez
Ashley Sarmiento and Marco Masa are some of the few teen actors who knew each other even before they started in showbiz and later formed a great friendship as they went about building their careers.
Ashley was 5 and Marco was 7 when they started out in the showbiz industry, but not in projects or TV dramas. Instead, their careers started when they auditioned and got accepted in VTRs and TV commercials. And those auditions were where their friendship first started to bloom.
According to Ashley, her first memory of working with Marco was when they starred in a youth-oriented show together in 2016. However, their parents revealed that they have actually met and worked with each other during VTR auditions.
Marco recalls in their interview with GMA Network.com, “Ayon din sa kuwento ng mga parents namin, ’yung parang pinakanatatandaan nila na kinuwento nila sa akin, nagkasakit siya (Ashley), ta’s magvi-VTR kami, and nakisabay sila at some point.”
Ashley chimes in teasing Marco, “Rich kid kasi siya, so may car na sila nu'n kaya nakisabay na kami. Pero nagkasama na rin kami sa advertisement ng print ad.”
- ASHCO -
Even though they’ve met and worked with each other numerous times, Marco said that it was through their first TV project together, the youth-oriented show in ABS-CBN, where they grew closer. After that, Ashley and Marco starred separately in different projects, appearing either as the main characters, or the younger versions of the main characters.
It was not until they starred in the hit action-drama Ruru Madrid-starrer Black Rider that they were finally able to work together on a project. Ashley recalls, “’Yung first series namin together was Black Rider. Actually, may in-audition-an kami pareho din na love team pero siya lang ’yung nakuha kasi magaling na ’to e, batak na ’to, e.”
Ashley here is referring to the hit Philippine adaptation of the Korean series Start-Up Philippines, which was top-billed by Alden Richards and Bea Alonzo. Marco played the younger version of Alden’s character, Tristan “Good Boy” Hernandez. Ashley recalls, “Tapos sobrang excited ako nu'n kasi alam kong nag-audition din siya.”
Ashley is particularly grateful to the creative forces behind Black Rider for giving her the opportunity not only to be included in one of the biggest primetime shows in GMA, but also for allowing her to work with Marco again.
Doing physically demanding scenes was not entirely an unfamiliar territory for them. Both Ashley and Marco love sports and the active lifestyle for as long as they could remember. Marco actually introduced Ashley to billiards and golf. There is one thing that they’ve always wanted to try doing together, and that is firing or shooting.
Ashley reveals that they’ve been talking about shooting for the longest time now, but due to their busy schedules, they haven’t had the chance to do so. They want to experience it for themselves, especially now that more and more celebrities have tried the sport.
Marco adds, “Oo, more experience, and dahil na-curious din ako dahil sa movie ko nga, nakahawak ako ng baril and siyempre since mahilig ako sa mga action series, sa mga action movies, magandang ma-try ko rin siya, 'yung pag-firing.”
Talking about their dynamics as best friends, Marco and Ashley admit that it’s hard for them to find the right three words that best describe their friendship.
For Marco, his friendship with Ashley is easy-going and fun. “Ako, if ide-describe ko 'yung friendship namin I would say solid. Solid, tapos crazy, and fun.” For Ashley, their friendship is, “Fun, laughtrip, and adventure.”
There was no one moment when they knew they would end up as good friends. Looking back, they think that it had something to do with their similar traits and likes.
“Wala siyang actual moment na alam kong magiging good friends kami ni Marco. Parang nadala lang siguro ng time na parang na-discover namin na 'Ay, magkasundo kami,' ang dami naming similarities,” Ashley says.
Marco adds, “And palagi rin kaming magkasama.” Having the same kind of humor was a huge factor in their friendship, to which Marco added, “Nagkakasundo kami.”
“Wala siyang actual moment na alam kong magiging good friends kami ni Marco. Parang nadala lang siguro ng time na parang na-discover namin na 'Ay, magkasundo kami,' ang dami naming similarities.”
- ASHLEY -
“Ako, if ide-describe ko 'yung friendship namin I would say solid. Solid, tapos crazy, and fun."
- MARCO -
With their “everlasting” friendship, it’s no surprise that Ashley and Marco have a lot of great memories together that it’s hard for them to choose their favorite memory because, according to Ashley, all of them are “Hahaha” moments.
There is one memory that stands out, though. This one unforgettable moment of theirs happened when they visited a popular water park. The young actress says that it was their first non-work-related out-of-town trip together with their families.
With a huge grin on her face, Ashley turns to Marco, “Kuwento ko ba? Oh my gosh. Kasi crush ko siya (Marco) nu’n, ta’s alam ko sinabi ni Xander, ’yung pinsan ko, na crush ko siya, tapos sabi sa’kin ni Xander na ayaw mo daw sa’kin kasi daw pangit ko daw, tapos umiyak ako nu’n pauwi.”
In his defense, Marco interjects, “Parang hindi naman gagawin ni five, six year old Marco ’yun.”
Little Ashley cried her eyes out until they got home. She even had a song for Marco at the time, which was “Never Forget You” by Zara Larsson. Marco admits that he doesn’t remember anything about the fateful day. Ashley got to ask Marco about it again only years later when they got older and closer.
“Sinabi ko ’yun sa kaniya nung nagkita ulit kami sa taping, ta’s sabi niya, wala nga raw siyang sinabing ganu'n. So Xander, kabahan ka na. It’s you, it’s your fault,” Ashley says with a laugh, clearly showing that the memory is no big deal to her anymore and that it’s only something that she and Marco laugh about these days.
Ashley and Marco’s closeness truly comes through with every banter. It also shows through the little things they know about each other that others do not. For instance, the teen actress knows that he would end up crying if he laughs way to hard, while the teen actor knows that she has a tendency to let her intrusive thoughts win.
Ashley recalls how easy it is for Marco to tear up from laughing, a fact that the young actor has learned to use to his advantage. Marco would resort to such “unlikely technique” if he needs to cry during an emotional scene in Black Rider. Marco recalls, “Actually, sa isang eksena, natawa ako nang sobra. E sa eksena na 'yun, support namin, siyempre kailangan medyo emotional 'yung eksena, pero natawa talaga ako, so tumalikod lang ako sa camera. Pag-harap ko, umiiyak na 'ko, kunyari inaarte ko na lang na umiiyak ako.”
Marco then turns to Ashley and reveals that one hilarious moment that she let her intrusive thoughts win while taping a scene. He says, “Siguro may mga nagagawa siyang bagay-bagay na out of this world. Basta ang dami. Tapos kinagat niya 'yung daliri niya sa taping ng 'Black Rider.'”
Giggling, Ashley interjects and corrects him, “Hindi ko kinagat, dinilaan ko.”
Marco fake rolls his eyes at Ashley and say, “Mas malala pala, sorry.”
Ashley reveals that their co-stars Miss Rio Locsin and Ruru Madrid saw her do it. They even asked if her finger tasted good. But looking back now, Ashley can’t seem to remember anymore the reason she did it.
Marco, on the other hand, knows why — that’s just how Ashley is. And that’s what he likes about her and the friendship they’ve built over the years: authentic, honest, no pressure, no rush.
They don’t want to think about the future just yet, or whether or not their loveteam (and friendship) would last for many years. For now, Ashley and Marco like to enjoy each other’s company. Let’s just be happy for them.
“Kasi crush ko siya (Marco) nu’n, ta’s alam ko sinabi ni Xander, ’yung pinsan ko, na crush ko siya, tapos sabi sa’kin ni Xander na ayaw mo daw sa’kin kasi daw pangit ko daw, tapos umiyak ako nu’n…”
- ASHLEY -
“Siguro may mga nagagawa siyang bagay-bagay na out of this world. Basta ang dami…”
- MARCO -
Shoot producer: Gabby Reyes Libarios | Art Direction: Kaye Castillo
Styling: Ivor Sta. Maria (Marco), Andrew Lacia (Ashley) | Hair and Makeup: Dexter Gonzalgo (Marco) and Rafael Francisco (Ashley)
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Ashley Sarmiento and Marco Masa: Built to Last
Published :January 15, 2025 12:54 PM PHTAshley Sarmiento and Marco Masa are in no rush to find out where their friendship is going. What matters most to these best of friends is that they appreciate the here and now and that they inspire each other to be the best versions of themselves.
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