After the presscon of Miss You Like Crazy, ABS-CBN reporters talked with John Lloyd Cruz about working with Bea Alonzo again. Just like Director Cathy Garcia-Molina, he also noticed that his long-time leading lady has changed a lot after her team-up with Derek Ramsay and Sam Milby in the movie And I Love You So. “Alam ni’yo sa movie consistent yung galing na pinapakita ni Bea. Totoo! Kahit si Direk, she has been very vocal about it. She's really impressed nung magbalik tamabalan kaming tatlo after One More Chance. Hindi lang dahil nagbobolohan kami pero ‘pag nakita ni’yo yung pelikula I’m sure you’ll say the same thing,” he began.
On a lighter note, the multitalented actor shared that Bea didn’t follow a strict diet this time, as compared to her efforts to lose weight with her last film. “Kapag kasama niya sina Sam and Derek nagda-diet siya. Pero kapag kasama niya ako kumakain siya ng chicharon and pizza. It only goes to show na kapag nae-engganyo ka kumain ibig sabihin masarap yung kasama mo, maganda yung nangyayari, at parang may celebration lagi. Hindi ako nagseselos kahit sabihin mo na six-pack [ang abs nila]. Alam ko ang totoo. Itong ganitong katawan [tulad ng sa akin] ang masarap yakapin. Alam kong yun ang hanap ni Bea,” he exclaimed much to everyone’s laughter.
While it was obvious that the two stars are getting along with the way they tease each other off cam, they’re not the kind of love team who consistently keep in touch when they’re in between projects. “It’s the kind of friendship na kapag magkasama kayo talagang buhay na buhay. Pero kahit hindi kayo magkita ng matagal at nagkasama ulit kayo, nandun pa rin. At least to me, it’s a friendship na aalagaan mo for the rest of your life.” But given a chance, John Lloyd told Bea—who was sitting beside him that time—that he would love to get closer to her. “‘Sana ma-recognize mo yung klase ng friendship na pwede naming (he and Direk Cathy) ma-offer sa ’yo. Kung mabibigyan mo kami ng chance, we're more than willing to make you laugh every day,’” he stated.
Though they’ve been asked countless times already why they’ve never developed romantic feelings for each other all these years, John Lloyd explained that he understands where their fans are coming from. “It’s a question na talagang mahirap laktawan kasi maraming nagtataka kung bakit nga ba hindi naging kami. Lagi naman naming sinasabi na when it happens kahit na anong deny namin hindi namin magagawa. Pero I guess hindi lang talaga nangyayari. And hindi namin kayo idi-disillusion. Pro-protektahan namin yung sincerity na meron yung team-up namin. Kung ano yung totoo, yun ang ibibigay namin sa inyo. Because if love happens between two people kahit anong control gawin mo lalabas at lalabas,” he stressed.
ABS-CBN.com also asked John Lloyd how he manages to look very appealing to women when he’s not really known for being a hunk like some of his contemporaries. “Hindi ko alam. Paggising ko ganon na talaga, part lang ng naturalesa mo,” he replied in a hilariously conceited manner. “Seriously, kung ano talaga yung intensyon na meron ka sa puso mo, yung values na gusto mong protektahan, as long as you keep those intact, sa tingin ko wala ka na dapat intindihin pa. Lumalabas ako ng bahay knowing na may mga taong magha-hi sa ’yo, lalapit sa ’yo, at mage-expect ng isang John Lloyd bilang artista. Pero siguro nasu-surprise sila na ‘pag nakita nila ako in person, I am always willing to show the real me.”
How does he live with the fact that his enviable stardom also begets a lot of controversies along the way? “Depende naman sa ’yo kung paano mo iha-handle, kung paano ka magre-react. Pero kahit papaano, especially kapag malaking-malaki na at nakakaapeko na sa pamilya mo, medyo nasasagi ka ng konti. But then you go back to your priorities. Kaninong opinyon ang mas matimbang? Sa taong ‘di ka kilala or sa mga taong importante sa ’yo at alam yung totoo? Ganun ang mindset ko,” he stated.
ABS-CBN.com - Rachelle Siazon