After 'Mano Po 3' where he played the young Jay Manalo, John Prats is doing a new film with Regal, "Happily Ever After," a trilogy slated to open on June 15. He plays the title role in the "Playboy Kuba" episode. It's good ABS-CBN allows him to do films with Regal and the sitcom "Daddy Di Do Du" on GMA-7.

    "My contract with Star Cinema has expired last year, so, I can now do films with other companies," he says. "Aside from 'Playboy Kuba,' I'll also start shooting 'Ako Legal Wife' with Regal as the son of Zsa Zsa Padilla. But with ABS, I'm still under contract until December, so, nagpaalam ako when I did 'Daddy' on GMA. I enjoyed taping the show with them. Kasi, we start taping at 7 p.m. and by 12 midnight lang, tapos na. Ang bilis ng trabaho and it's so nice to work with the likes of Vic Sotto, Ruby Rodrigues and Maxene Magalona. Pero tinigil ko na kasi they told me they'd include me in the cast of the new Ai Ai de las Alas sitcom and in a soap na love triangle kami nina Heart Evangelista and Geoff Eigenmann. But my exit was open ended, so puwede akong bumalik anytime."

    In "Playboy Kuba," he is transformed to an ugly hunchback when he jilted Maxene, who's mom, Irma Adlawan, is a witch who puts a spell on him. "It's a difficult role as I have to put on thick prosthetic makeup on my face para pumangit ako," he says. "I also have to stoop down all the time para magmukha akong kuba. But even if it's hard, enjoy ako working with Director Maryo de los Reyes who gave some great inputs to improve my acting. I'm sure viewers will enjoy our horror fantasy episode."

    John will finish his enterpreneurial course at Thames College next year. After that, he intends to take up filmmaking in New York.

    "I really want to be a director," he says.