The Return of the King: Jericho Rosales Is a Timeless Leading Man

It’s a warm Wednesday afternoon, and Jericho Rosales, walks onto the set of our Metro cover shoot like he’s done it a thousand times before—because, let’s be honest, he has. But despite the years, the fame, and the countless cameras he’s commanded, there’s nothing routine about him. Wearing a green Yankees cap, Echo (as he’s affectionately known) greets the crew with his trademark smile, asking how everyone is doing. It’s easy and effortless—he’s not playing the superstar. He’s just Jericho, the same guy who, after decades in the business, still shows up with a genuine warmth that’s as disarming as it is rare.

The set for today is playful—a shallow water-filled platform and Echo is game. He went in, laughing between shots, splashing water here and there, treating the camera like an old friend. It’s moments like these that remind you why he’s lasted this long, not just as a leading man but as a perennial favorite in an industry that’s known for moving on quickly.

After the shoot wraps up, we sit down for an interview. Jericho props himself on the couch, wearing cool shades, and seems relaxed—even though he’s heading straight to another event to promote his comeback series Lavender Fields; his previous series was Halik back in 2019. Despite a packed schedule of photoshoots and commitments, Echo remains playful, his kindness evident as he chats with everyone on set, while flashing his signature smile.

Breaking expectations

But Jericho Rosales in 2024 isn’t just here to smile and look good. “I’m always looking for a challenge,” he says later, once he’s dried off and settled into a chair for our conversation. “Tyrone, my character in Lavender Fields, is a complex guy. He’s simple in what he wants—peace, quiet—but life doesn’t make that easy for him. That’s what excites me about him: he’s layered, and those layers are tricky to play with.” He grins, like a kid who’s just found a new toy.

The excitement in his voice is palpable. And with good reason—Lavender Fields currently sits in the no. 1 spot on streaming platform Netflix Philippines’ Top 10 list of TV shows. The pilot episode, which aired earlier this month, racked up hundreds of thousands of live concurrent views and quickly trended online. Jericho, along with his co-stars Jodi Sta. Maria and Janine Gutierrez, has audiences hooked with the series’ twists and turns. The story begins with Jasmin (Jodi) finding Tyrone (Jericho) or Aurthur to her, wounded in her garden, setting off a sequence of events that dives into the characters’ hidden pasts and complicated relationships.

“Sometimes people think teleseryes are easy,” Jericho laughs. “Pero hindi e. You’ve got to keep it grounded, kahit na it’s emotional or dramatic. For me, the challenge is, paano mo gagawing totoo, how do you make it feel real even when everything around you is larger-than-life?” This, he says, is where the fun lies. “How do you un-teleseryefy a teleserye?”

This thoughtful approach is something Jericho has honed over his 28-year career. He’s not just showing up to play the leading man anymore. He’s exploring, digging deeper, and finding new ways to push himself as an actor. Whether it’s through the quieter, more restrained roles or the all-out physicality required for his upcoming action film, Sellblock, Echo is constantly searching for the next challenge.

“I was offered Sellblock years ago, before the pandemic,” he shares, clearly excited about the project. “It took a long time to develop, and that’s what made it great. We had time to really get into it, to prepare. There’s a lot of action, so I trained for months. That’s the kind of stuff that drives me. I love projects where I get to push myself physically and emotionally.”

#YesYear

This year, in particular, has been a turning point for Echo. He’s dubbed it his “Yes Year,” a time where he’s opened himself up to new opportunities and creative risks. “One of the reasons I took a break before was because I wasn’t giving my dreams a real chance. I had low self-esteem, and I was scared of failing. Pero ngayon? No more holding back. I’m producing, I’m writing, and I’m just saying yes to things that excite me.”

Echo speaks candidly about the self-doubt that lingered early in his career. It’s hard to imagine—an actor of his caliber admitting to low self-esteem—but that honesty is part of what makes him so relatable. “I had to do a lot of inner work, a lot of therapy, to realize na I was holding myself back. But now, I’m all in. I’ve been working on projects I’ve dreamed of for years, and I’m not scared anymore.”

Part of this newfound boldness includes producing, something Echo has embraced wholeheartedly. “I’ve always had a producer’s heart,” he explains. “I care about the people on set, the filmmakers, the actors. Producing gives me the chance to make sure everyone’s having fun and doing their best work. I’m a connector—I know how to bring people together, and producing is just another way of doing that.”

And then, there’s the writing. Though he laughs off the idea of being a “real” writer, it’s clear that storytelling is a passion for him. “I’ve always been writing, in secret,” he admits. “I write songs, lyrics, stories—stuff I don’t always show to people.” 

Mindfully moving forward

For all the new ventures, producing, writing, and saying yes to bigger challenges, Echo remains refreshingly grounded. On set, between takes, he’s the same guy he was 20 years ago: playful, kind, always up for a laugh. And despite the years, the roles, the hits, and the inevitable changes that come with time, Echo has managed to stay ageless—both in appearance and in spirit.

“How do I stay ageless?” he grins when I ask, clearly amused by the question. “Siguro it’s my genes. But really, I think it’s about loving what you do. I take care of myself—sleep, water, gulay, exercise—but more than that, it’s about staying happy. I’m happy where I am. I’m excited about what’s next.”

At 45, Asia’s Drama King Jericho Rosales is a man fully in control of his destiny. He knows who he is, what he wants, and where he’s going. And as he continues to evolve, both as an actor and a creative force, one thing is certain: Jericho Rosales is not slowing down anytime soon.

Photography by Renzo Navarro

Metro head: Christina Lopez

Editor-in-chief: Geolette Esguerra

Sittings editors: Grace Libero-Cruz, Red Dimaandal, Randz Manucom, and Kate Paras-Santiago

Creative direction by Eugene David

Editorial assistant: Tim Marasigan

Grooming by EJ Caro

Styling by David Milan

Videography by Pat Buenaobra, John Paul Olviga, and Gimo Besinga

Set design by Tipping Point Collective

Shoot intern: Elise Garalde

Special thanks to Dreamscape Entertainment and Seattles Best Coffee