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By Maridol Rañoa-Bismark Updated February 24, 2009 12:00 AM
PHILIPPINE STAR
ENTERTAINMENT SECTION, PAGE C-7
John Lloyd Cruz reprises his role as Miggy Montenegro, boyfriend of Sarah Geronimo in You Changed My Life
MANILA, Philippines - John Lloyd Cruz admits he feels tired. But he’s not complaining.
“It’s a lot better to feel tired than to hang around doing nothing,” he reasons out.
Last Valentine’s Day, when people expected him to be dating girlfriend of three years Liz Uy, John Lloyd was on the set, working. He and his leading lady Sarah Geronimo were busy putting the finishing touches to You Changed My Life, sequel to their hit movie A Very Special Love.
John Lloyd admits he feels the pressure of following-up a highly-successful film. It’s the price he has to pay for being proclaimed SM Box-Office King (and Sarah, the Box-Office Queen), thanks to A Very Special Love (the highest-grossing film in all SM cinemas last year).
“I admit I didn’t want to do a sequel at first. You’re expected to top or at least equal the success of the first movie,” he says. But all his fears vanished after he wrapped up the shoot. The new movie, John Lloyd reveals, is something he can be proud of.
The story is deeper, the romance more intense. Six months after she won her Prince Charming, Laida Magtalas (Sarah) can’t ask for more. She and her boyfriend Miggy Montenegro (John Lloyd) have even more chances to see each other since their respective offices are under one building. But the blissful setup threatens to change one day. The sweethearts get promoted: Miggy is assigned to Laguna. Laida, on the other hand, gets a job offer in Canada.
Sarah and John’s scenes in the movie mirror how close they have become off-cam. Whatever wall there was between them has vanished. John Lloyd would open up about his love life to Sarah and she would confide her problems to him.
“He would tell me stories about his crush and the girls who have crushes on him,” relates Sarah. She, for her part, has a willing ear and a ready source of advice in John Lloyd.
John Lloyd treasures the relationship the way he would “a cherished gift.”
That’s why he is careful not to exploit Sarah’s trust in their romantic scenes. He knows Sarah is the type who trusts people easily. So he’s careful not to break that trust.
For instance, he will not act as if something more than meets the eye exists between him and Sarah off-cam when there’s none. He won’t send her a Valentine gift, knowing that Liz may feel bad about it. Besides, John Lloyd adds, Sarah herself may not appreciate the gesture.
“I’m just avoiding any friction,” John Lloyd explains.
Speaking of avoiding, John Lloyd admits he also wants to steer clear of being linked to only one leading lady. It’s the more the merrier for him.
Thus, John Lloyd would still go for projects with Bea Alonzo, his original leading lady, despite the enormous success of his team-up with Sarah.
“Bea brings out the child in me while Sarah’s effect on me is different. She brings out my protective instincts,” he observes.
This could be because his teamup with Bea goes back a long way; the one with Sarah is still in what he says is the getting-to-know-you stage.
“Working with different leading ladies lets me broaden my range,” he explains.
After You Changed My Life (to open nationwide tomorrow, Feb. 25), John Lloyd will fly to New York. He’ll be shooting a film with Vilma Santos and her son Luis Manzano as his gay lover.
“I’m very excited,” gushes John Lloyd. “It’s my first time to do this kind of movie.”
Yes, he’ll have a kissing scene with Luis and John Lloyd admits he’s not prepared as yet.
“You can never be prepared for a kissing scene with another guy. I just have to remind myself I’m just playing a role,” John Lloyd says.
He only hopes the audience will go beyond the kissing scene and focus on the heart and soul of the movie instead.
“Look at Brokeback Mountain,” John Lloyd points out. “People remember it not for the intimate scenes between the male characters. They’re just icing on the cake. People remember it for its heart.”
Brokeback Mountain was so touching John Lloyd admits he can’t help but cry.
No wonder John Lloyd can’t wait to face this new challenge to his craft. It will show him in a totally different light. And he doesn’t mind. In fact, John Lloyd welcomes it. Now, he’s raring to take the audience on a roller coaster of emotions they’ll never forget. Okay, let’s fasten our seatbelts!
