Woman Today, September 2003
Could the romance turn from reel to real?
No doubt about it. The combination of Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz is perhaps the hottest thing on primetime today. The tele-series Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay, which gave birth to their ‘make-believe’ romance, is a consistent top rater among ABS-CBN’s programs. And with the clamor of viewers, the show’s plot has been extended to several more months.
Despite the screaming and swooning of fans, Bea and John Lloyd try to keep things in perspective - they are aware that the soap can only go on for so long, and that the romance is only confined to ‘Yuri and Katrina.’ At the end of the shooting day, they must go their separate ways.
But as some rumormongers would put it, ‘How long can John Lloyd and Bea hide their true feelings?’
On the wings
Born to a British dad and a Pinay mom, Bea (turning 16 on the 17th of October) thinks that the success of her and John Lloyd’s loveteam is the result of perfect timing and a perfect project.
Before the loveteam was born, explains the pretty endorser of Johnson and Johnson Essential, “the soap has already gained its following. It was perfect timing, kasi pinag-uusapan na ang show at nagustuhan na ng mga tao ‘yung characters naming dalawa. Siguro talagang s’werte lang kami kasi kahit alam ng mga tao na he has a girlfriend and has (a screen partner) in another show, tinanggap pa rin nila kami.”
John Lloyd has a different view of Yuri-Katrina romance rollercoaster. “I find it mysterious,” says the 20-year-old leading man. “Why would people accept this loveteam, alam naman nila I have a girlfriend and I’m also identified with another hit show. Ano ‘yung nagustuhan ng mga tao?…na until now ay hindi ko alam ang sagot.”
He continues, “To be very honest about it, I didn’t expect things would happen this way because I was initially paired with Rica (Paralejo). And when we started this project, it was explained to me na wala akong ka-loveteam. We only discussed the depth of my character.” He adds that “the loveteam was established shortly before we entered Kay Tagal…Book Two.”
Bea admits she didn’t expect to end up with john Lloyd’s character in the soap. “From the start, nobody told us na magiging partners kami,” she recalls. “Ang alam namig ay magkakaroon ng involvement ang aming characters just to establish a conflict between the two sisters (Katrina and Halena), pero dapat matatapos din agad ‘yun. We never expected that our romance in Kay Tagal…would develop into something this huge. Siguro nagustuhan lang talaga ng mga viewers ang chemistry.”
Two to tango
There is a four-year age difference between the two actors. Did it help them to portray their roles effectively?
“I think it did,” Bea quickly replies, “’coz he’s already mature and I learn many things from him. At habang lagi ko s’yang kasama sa set, na bi-build up na ‘yung emotions ko na parang I have to be that character in the soap, who’s a 21-year law student.”
John Lloyd: “You can say I”ve been in showbiz longer. I guess I’m the more experienced one. At kahit papa’no, in my own way, natulungan ko si Bea about acting technique and other lessons I’ve learned in the business.”
Concerning the reel character who’s more mature than her real self, Bea admits that she initially had the hard time preparing for the part. (She’s only a third year high school student under the home study program.) “It was hard at first, from a 14-year-old nerdy-nerdy in Book One, I suddenly shifted into being a law student in Book Two. Ang ginawa ko, I just watched the movies na may mga law students, and I also observed the lawyers in the cast and how would they act and react. Of course sa tulong din ng aming mga directors, writers and co-stars. We also had a two-day workshop, primarily for the loveteam para hindi kami awkward tignan sa screen.”
Cupid aiming
Since they practically see each other everyday for almost a year now, what are some of the traits they like in each other?
“First time ko pa lang sya nakatrabaho, nakita ko agad na she’s hardworking and eager to learn things. She’s very much willing to accept criticism. At her young age, she shows professionalism,” he says.
“He’s funny at totoong tao, walang pretension. Kaya lang may pagka-moody kaya napagkakamalan s’yang suplado,” she says.
And since everybody knows that John Lloyd is very much involved with Ciarra Sotto, Yuri and Katrina, rather John and Bea admit that they haven’t encountered any problem with the fans. They both believe that today’s TV viewers are more understanding and more mature in accepting that they have lives outside show business.
The question you’ve been waiting for
Is there a chance that the partnership might develop into a more serious relationship in the future?
“We really don’t know,” she responds. “Ang sinasabi ko lang palagi sa kanila…hindi kami nangangako na magkakatotoo ‘yung nakikita nila sa TV. And we always tell them na sa ngayon, magkahiwalay ang professional life namin sa personal life. Although hindi kami nagsasalita ng tapos. Siguro may possibility in the future. But for now, wala kasi he has a girlfriend eh.”
“Right now, okey kami ni Bea magkatrabaho,” defends John Lloyd. “If it will lead into something serious, I really don’t know.” Then he muses a bit, “If…in case…I don’t have a girlfriend right now…I wouldn’t know.”
We ask Bea if John Lloyd is the kind of guy she would want to have for a boyfriend? “He’s the perfect guy, I must say, because he’s a gentleman, he’s responsible, mature and loyal to the girl he loves,” she chirps.
Arrows everywhere
And how long they forsee the onscreen romance?
Bea: “Hanggang masaya kami sa ginagawa namin at nagugustuhan kami ng mga tao, okey lang. Actually it’s our mother studio who’ll decide on the fate of the tandem, not us. I also want to work with other leading men in the future. Pero sa ngayon, gusto ko s’ya muna ang ka-partner ko kasi I’m comfortable working with him. Gamay ko na kung paano ako aarte with him. Kasi kung bago na naman ang partner ko, baka mailang na naman ako tulad noong una…especially sa mga sweet scenes.”
Among the soap operas that John Lloyd has done, he confesses that Kay Tagal…is the biggest break for him so far, and the most challenging. This project, he adds, is very important to him because it’s something that was given specifically to them; and not everyone is fortunate to be given the opportunity to show their talents in such a hot primetime project.
Both, by the way, are the members of the ABS-CBN’s Talent Center. Bea (Batch 10) sees herself as a fulfilled thespian ten years from now. Then there’s the matter of career outside acting. “I have to save for the future. If I have enough money, I want to put up my own school – for pre-schoolers. And hopefully earn a degree in education management. I just love to teach children,” she shares.
John Lloyd (Batch 5) still wishes to be active in show business ten, fifteen years from now. “Sana mas maraming challenging roles ang magawa ko, kahit hindi lead role, it doesn’t matter, basta gusto kong gawin. As an actor, it’s important that I can show my versatility!”