Emerging teen idol Joshua Dionisio, who began his acting career in 2005 via ABS-CBN’s “Palos,” is reportedly being groomed by GMA-7 to become one of its top leading men.

“Sana po magkatotoo,” he says while making it clear that he maintains cordial relations with his former studio that gave him more than a dozen TV assignments, including “Super Inggo,” “Maria Flor de Luna,” and “Maala-ala Mo Kaya.”

Joshua is one of the lead stars of “First Time,” his third project for the Kapuso Network after last year’s “Stairway to Heaven,” where he played the young version of Dingdong Dantes’ lead role, Cholo.

Last December, he and his "Stairway” partner, Barbie Forteza, headlined a four-part episode of the Sunday daytime series, “Dear Friend,” after which they took a workshop to prepare them for a bigger challenge.

“First Time” takes over the timeslot of “Ikaw na Sana,” which concludes on Feb. 5. It is a crucial slot because it sets off Channel 7’s primetime block and serves as a pre-programmer for the “24 Oras” newscast.

“Kailangan daw po na i-prove namin na [we’re the network’s next stars],” he shares during the Feb. 1 presscon for “First Time.”

Although he singles out Dantes as someone he looks up to in show business, the one closest to him is no other than Barbie. He insists, though, that they are only friends and that he isn’t courting his 12-year-old leading lady.

“Crush na humahanga sa kanya,” he finally replies to a line of questioning linking him to Barbie. “Kasi ‘yong mga nakasama ko na 12 years old din, hindi katulad n’ya na independent. Kaya na n’ya dalhin ang sarili n’ya.”

Joshua, who, at 15, swears he hasn’t wooed any girl yet, adds that it’s possible that Barbie may become his first girlfriend when the right time comes.

“First Time” premieres on Feb. 8.