Showbiz Sweetheart - Bea Alonzo
S Magazine, September 2003
Bea Alonzo is relatively new in tinseltown. Barely two years in the business, she is very well aware that she can’t make make a name overnight. In fact, in that short span, she can count with fingers the number of times she was disappointed. But it’s the disappointments, she said, that drives her more to work harder. She dreamt of being a star since she was a child, now that she’s turning 16 and is just a few steps away from fulfilling her dreams, what reason there is to keep her from moving forward?
The discovery
The teen star is thankful to her discoverer, Mr. RJ Ilagan, who until now serves her as her business manager. “Marami na rin akong auditions na sinalihan, until Tito RJ discovered me and referred me to Mr. Johnny Manahan (ABS-CBN Talent Center head). I auditioned and was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the members of Star Circle Batch 10,” she narrates.
Then came a chance to be in a teen trio who for a time served as co-hosts in the Sunday variety show A.S.A.P. “Kami nina Angelene Aguilar and Pia, kami ‘yung parang underage/new generation A.S.A.P.”
After the group’s short hosting stint, she auditioned for the drama series Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay. She passed. She was paired with John Lloyd Cruz. After a while, and as expected, her name became identified with her screen sweetheart’s name, thus giving birth to the John Lloyd Cruz-Bea Alonzo loveteam.
Bea acknowledges the fact that her team up with John Lloyd has greatly boosted her career. “Mas nakilala ako dahil parang ang dami agad nagkagusto sa team-up namin,” she says. “Ganu’n naman ang advantage ng may ka-loveteam. Nagkakaroon agad kayo ng following kaya marami agad ang makakakilala sa inyo. In my case, naging napalaking tulong talaga ng tandem namin ni John Lloyd.”
She feels lucky for having the wholesome young actor as her love teamate. “He is a gentleman kasi and hindi siya ‘yung tipong magti-take advantage. Plus the fact that he is a very good actor. Ang dami niya nang alam dahil matagal-tagal na rin syang artisita. ‘Yung alam niya, itinuturo niya sa akin. Hindi siya madamot. Kasi kung selfish siya at wala siyang pakialam sa katrabaho niya, hahayaan niya akong magmukhang tanga. Pwede din niyang hayaan na lamunin na lang niya ako sa eksena. But John Lloyd is not like that. Lahat ng maituturo niya, isini-share niya.”
Bea finds her screen partner very handsome and attractive, “kaya madali siyang magugustuhan ng kahit sinong babae.” But she is aware tha John Lloyd has a real-life sweetheart in the person of Ciara Sotto, that’s why she is cautious enough not to come out as “kontrabida” to the pair’s relationship.
“I don’t think I have a reason to be afraid naman,” smiles the teen actress. “I think the fans nowdays are wise enough to understand na ‘yung trabaho ng mga artista, hiwalay sa totoong buhay nila. Hindi porke’t nakikita kayo sa screen, kailangan maging kayo na. Fortunately, hindi na ganu’n ang fans ngayon. Wala naman akong naririnig na mang-aagaw o kontrabida ako sa buhay ni Ciara. Sobrang understanding na ang audience ngayon.
“And even if I hear comments na ganu’n, I won’t let myself be affected. Pumasok ako sa showbiz na ready na ako sa mga consequence na ganyan. Mangyayari at mangyayari ‘yan kahit iba ang ka-loveteam ko. Alam kong marami pang intrigang darating and ready na ako.”
Stable careerAnd she won’t easily give up showbiz for some petty reasons. After all, she’s now beginning to see the fruits of her hard work. “May pinapasimulan na kaming bahay,” she reveals. “May konti na rin akong savings na ang mommy ko at ako ang nagha-handle.” She sees a more stable career in showbiz five or ten years from now. “By that time siguro na-achieve ko na kahit papaano ang goals ko. Kasi I believe na destined ako mapunta sa showbiz. Dito ako nilinya ni God so kailangang pagbutihin ko.
“So years from now, I still see myself in the business. By that time, kailangang kahit papaano, na-recognize na ang kakayahan ko bilang artista. Kahit small acting award, kailangang nakatanggap na ako.”
She admits that’s she has a lot of improvement to do when it comes to acting. “Kailangan ko pang mahasa,” she says. “Minsan nga, ‘pag pinapanood ko ang sarili ko, sinasabi ko, dapat ganito ang ginagawa ko. I could have done it better. Ang maganda sa akin, inu-observe ko kung ano pa ang kulang sa akin and I improve on them. D’yan naman tayo natututo.
“At saka hindi natatapos ang learning process. Hindi lang ako nagte-taping para kumita; hindi lang ako nagte-taping para sumikat. Nagte-taping ako para matuto. I work to learn. I think that’s what’s good about working early in life.”
And fame was never her driving force in joining showbiz. “My main goal is to prove that I can be a good and effective actor. Acting has been my passion ever since. Kahit noong maliit pa ako, umaarte-arte na ako sa harap ng salamin. Lagi rin akong sumasali sa mga school plays.”
It seems that every sign no is telling her she’s on the right track. With lady luck on her side, she might be her mother studio’s next bankable young star after Judy Ann Santos and Claudine Barreto as she debuts soon on the big screen with John Lloyd.
“I want to do more movies and play challenging roles,” she smiles. Even sexy roles?
“I’m not closing my doors but I think I’m still too young for that,” she laughs. “At saka sa katawan ko ngayon, mukhang hindi pa nila ako tanggapin!”