John Lloyd and Bea Press Room

JLC: Find You Niche, Learn What You're Good At

2008-02-02T14:25:00.001-08:00

John Lloyd Cruz: “Find your niche, learn what you are good at, and develop it! ”

by: Tinna S. Bonifacio, Jobdb.com Celebrity Profile

Philip Salvador, his co-star in Maging Sino Ka Man , called him “a brilliant actor; one of the best of his generation”. Intense and brooding, but immensely talented—that is John Lloyd Cruz. The 2007 Star Awards Best Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Gabriel ‘Eli’ Roxas in Maging Sino Ka Man has trod a long and difficult path to fame, and it’s only now that his sacrifices have finally started to pay off.

Getting his first break in ABS-CBN’s youth-oriented shows like Tabing Ilog , and graduating to more demanding dramatic parts like that of hotshot young lawyer Yuri Orbida in Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay (where his love team with Bea Alonzo was born), John Lloyd’s career is a lesson in patience and a living embodiment of the saying that “The best things come to those who wait.”

Here, John Lloyd shares the words he lives by and the secrets of his success.

You have been an actor for so long, playing many different roles. What is the most difficult thing about your job?

Ang pinakamahirap is that as an actor, you deal with emotions. Sometimes those emotions are very heavy, and it’s hard to let go even after you leave the set. Kaya siguro minsan napapagkamalan akong suplado ng mga tao . What they don’t realize is imposible talagang di ka maapektuhan ng role, lalo na kapag mabigat na drama .

Do you sometimes feel that you’re misunderstood by people because of your job?

I get that a lot. Di ba nga, meron silang tinatawag na ‘John Lloyd mood’? When I’m on the set and I’m internalizing a role, there are times na hindi ako makausap . I take my work seriously.

Is that really part of your work as an actor?

I guess. It comes with the territory. It might sound like nagsusuplado na naman ako, but I don’t expect everyone to like me, or to understand the way I do things.

Where does your motivation for your work come from?

One thing’s for sure: I don’t work for the awards. The acting awards are just a bonus. If people recognize your craft, that’s the main thing. Pero hindi awards ang dahilan kung bakit ka nagtra-trabaho . It should never be the case, otherwise you lose sight of the real reason for being here.

Your meteoric rise in the last few years has people calling you a big threat to the career of many of your fellow ABS-CBN talents, notably Piolo Pascual. How do you feel about that?

I’m just big; I’m not a threat. (Laughs). In all honesty, malayo pa ako sa naabot ni Piolo. He’s done a concert at Araneta Coliseum; I haven’t. I can’t even sing or dance. And seriously, mataas ang respeto ko kay Piolo, both as an actor and as a person. I don’t see myself as being in competition with him.

You have successfully established your own identity as an actor, apart from Piolo. How did you do that? What would you say is the secret of your success?

I think that what it boils down to is realizing and accepting what you can and can’t do. Piolo can sing; I can’t. But I can act. It’s important to find your niche, learn what you’re good at, and develop that.

Who are the people who have helped you succeed in your career?

A lot. Wala naman kasing perpektong artista. There is always something to learn from every person that you work with. Like in Maging Sino Ka Man , I’m privileged to work with really great actors like Tito Ipe (Philip Salvador) and Tito Boyet (Christopher de Leon). Ang dami kong nakukuha sa kanila bilang artista at bilang tao . And I always value what I learn from them. Sometimes, I even learn just by observing them at work.

What advice would you give to those wanting to follow your footsteps in this business?

You have to have a conscious desire to keep wanting to be better. That’s why I never see myself as being in competition with other actors; I’m in competition with myself. Each day, you have to want to better yourself. That’s the only way to succeed.

ALL THINGS NEW

2008-01-16T22:21:00.000-08:00

by Ronna Capili
StarStudio Magazine, Nov. 2007

John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo take on mature roles for their upcoming movie

Two of Philippine television's biggest young actors and arguably the hottest onscreen tandem are set to release their newest movie, and viewers just can't seem to get enought of their chemistry. John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo have admirably managed to keep both their real and reel life love interests thriving, and six years later, fans are still asking for more. This time around, however, Lloydy and Bea have taken on more mature roles for the movie One More Chance.

Years go by

After four teleseryes and four movies, Cathy Garcia Molina, the upcoming movie's director says, "What will make the audience watch them this time?" In the glitzy world of show business where transition from tweetums roles to more serious ones is a mkae-or-break event, Direk gives a bit of a teaser: "Hindi na pwede 'Boy-Meets-Girl' type of movie because everyone knows their story and mature na sila." And mature, they are. Bea just turned 20 last month, while Lloydy is now 24.

Loving you

In their teleserye Maging Sino Ka Man, the two actors had a love scene, but it was only implied. "TV is restricted, and film shows what television cannot," says the Direk Cathy who also helmed You Got Me and You are The One. One More Chance follows the relationship of Basha (Bea) and Popoy (John Lloyd) who start out as college sweethearts until they become stable professionals. When asked about how the actors were prepared for the role she says, "Kinailangan maging mas matapang and mas daring (si John Lloyd and Bea)," and quickly adds, "They were supportive (of the film)."

Molina also directed John Lloyd and Bea for their movie, Close To You, and she shares that it was the mutual trust and respect for each other that got the two to take on more mature roles. "I assured them na we will do it in the best way, na hindi malaswa or nakakahiya, and that scene is needed."

Two by two

Close to You was released two years ago and Direk Cathy says that Bea and John Lloyd's rapport is now different. "Iba na yung comfortability nila." She even says that their "friendship went a step higher. I'd say probably two to three steps higher." Could it culminate into a real romantic relationship? Perhaps that should be left to destiny and where it will take them. For now, we can expect that the movie will "give character, but even in story and structure." And for now, we can get our kilig doses of Lloydy and Bea on screen.

View behind-the-scenes photos from One More Chance here.
Join the forum to talk about the movie.

Clearly Real

2008-01-06T15:44:00.000-08:00

CHALK Magazine, October 2007 Issue
by: Wanggo Gallaga

One might forget that these veteran stars on screen are still young- John Lloyd, 24, has bee in the industry for the past years, while Bea Alonzo, 20, has been in the industry for 7 years. It's a long and prosperous career, longer than most celebrities survive in an industry where new celebrities pop out from the woodwork on a monthly basis. But the pair's dedication to their craft, their professionalism, and their hard work have given them a fan base that has remained loyal to both actors, as an on-screen couple, and as individuals.

"I never wanted to be an actor. It just happened," says John Lloyd. "I didn't realized I was acting. For me, at the time, it was just work. Later on na, after Tabing Ilog, did I love it, and it became my passion."

Bea perks up and flashes a winning smile, "I knew when I was little that I wanted to be an actress. I want to be able to explore life, playing different roles," she said. Bea manages to bring out reserves of energy for the interview and answers quickly.

MAKING THINGS CLEAR

So while a new movie is underway, one which they are very careful not to say much about, John Lloyd and Bea also share big endorsing duties for Clear Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. "They have managed to pervade the lives of Filipinos in a personal way," shares Jacqueline Yuengtian, Unilever's assistant brand manager on why they shose the tandem as perfect ambassadors for Clear. "They have proven their capacity to evolve their images and keep getting better in their craft, so we feel that they are the perfect embodiment of the vision of Clear as we try to expand the anti-dandruff solutions for Filipinos."

Both young actors are known for their honesty, their determination to always be at their best, and how they choose to endorse only things they believe in. Bea shares, "Bago ako mag-endorse ng isang brand, kailangan ko muna siya i-try. I wouldn't endorse a product na alam ko naman na I'm just folling you or just for the money lang talaga," Clear marks their first time either actors endorse a personal care product.

Both actors have been using Clear ever since. "We were delightfully surprised to discover that JL was already using Clear Men even before we spoke to him on endorsing, while Bea has been an avid fan of Clear Complete Soft Care since she tried it!" Yuengtian said.

CRYSTAL CLEAR

While most celebrities crash and burn when their personal lives are revealed, and hinder potential success with their on-screen partners, Bea and John Lloyd have managed not only to thrive together as a couple on film and television but they have managed to secure a private life that does not affect their career or is invaded by the hungry press and fans who want to know everything about their idols.

"I feel so happy and we're lucky that we have those kinds of fans," Bea shares, acknowledging the unwavering support of those who have ketp the love team strong. She continues with, "Sobrang proper timing that the fans are so smart and broad-minded that they know that we are artistas, but we have our personal lives," John Lloyd is also grateful to the fans. "I think the projects that we get also help. Our love team is material driven. Bea adn I are so blessed that we get good projects," he says.

It's an unspoken agreement that the two have made with the press and their fans. They will give as much as they can but what they chose to keep to themselves should not be made public. This mutual respect has given the two celebrities much--careers that are going strong, personal lives that are not taken out of context and respectable public images.

CLEARLY A NEW CHALLENGE

Bea and John Lloyd have also taken a stand towards their own personal care; constantly doing everything they can to become better at what they do.

"I am my own critic. Alam ko kung ano yung flaws ko," John Lloyd admits. He says he reads books on acting and he likes to study his craft. John Lloyd keeps fit by playing badminton and follows a South Beach diet when needed. He admits to not being very attentive to the needs of his hair. He admits, "Frankly and honestly, I don't really do much with taking care of my hair. I'm a guy, what can I do?" After all, Clear is all he needs to handle the needs of his scalp. He adds, "I think Clear is an ultimate blessing to men. Clear Men completes everything a man's scalp needs to have that perfect-looking, dandruff-free hair." Bea is also on the South Beach diet and goes to the gym. Many have noticed how much weight she's lost and she quickly remarks,"Sa tingin ko, sa industry na pinasok ko, you have to use your body. It's a tool," She also admits that "That's one reason why I decided to lose weight. I wanted to take this industry and my work seriously," On her free time, Bea likes to pamper herself. She laughs as she admits, "Maarte ako, I like going to salons. I like to pamper myself." Bea remains confident that her locks are still gorgeous since she's using Clear, even on those days when she is too busy with shoots for trips to salons.

CLEAR-CUT GOALS

With an impressive list of successful projects together, John Lloyd and Bea are prepared to make rather drastic shifts in their lives, "It would be fun to do a character na mahirap intindihan ng audience ko," John Lloyd says with a smile. "I've been in the industry for years and all my characters have been safe."

He mentions that he'd like to try to play a gay character, to do something different from people's expectations. Bea, on the other hand, would love to be in a musical. "I love singing. I love to dance. And I love to act. That's why I want to do a musical but there's no market for that, so the other roles I'm interested in would be to do a serial killer role or The Virgin Mary."

But no matter what drastic shifts these two young veterans in the crazy world of show business decide to take, their honesty to and their respect to their fans, the hard work and dedication they put in their endeavors, and their own personal care will ensure that people will always look up to them, hoping for their continued success and growth. Clearly, John Lloyd and Bea have kept things real, which has made them big stars.

Lloyd, Actually

2007-09-14T23:22:00.001-07:00

Mega, September 2007 Issue

by: Michelle Ancheta

Get to know John Lloyd's crazy side as he dishes about love, fame and what he really thinks is sexy.

While most men give rings as proof of their commitment, others have to recover their past, inherit vast amounts of wealth and survive a coma just to say, "I love you". That is, if you're John Lloyd Cruz. In the hit TV series, Maging Sino Ka Man, John Lloyd plays the character Eli, a young man who goes through insurmountable hardships for the sake of his one true love, Jackie (Bea Alonzo). But while the series ended with the couple "living happily ever-after," the appearance of the ominous dark character (Rosanna Roces) seems to suggest otherwise.

In reality however, John Lloyd's life couldn't be more perfect. Being in the industry for almost a decade, he has mastered the tricks of the trade that has earned him the respect and recognition reserved only for the creme de la creme of actors. With a fan base ranging from pubescent teenagers to working women, to retired mothers and even (gasp!) my 90-year-old lola, there's no denying that John Lloyd exudes a charm like no other. Luckily, meg was able to take in some of his charm in this exclusive interview--which inevitably began with the question...

What do you look for in a girl? Character, mystery, interest.

What do you first notice when you see a girl? Hindi talaga ako yung guy na nano-notice first yung physical [appearance]. Pero I don't know, skin tone? Mas unique, mas okay. Medyo on the extremes eh, either kulay ng Brazilian or a little bit on the whiter side, like mga Julianne Moore. I don't know, there's something about freckles na I find very sexy.

How do you know when you really like a girl? If I like a girl hindi ko siya kayang lapitan.

But then how do you get a girlfriend? Pa'no nga ba? (Pauses to think) Hindi ko rin alam eh! (Laughs)

Everyone knows you're very busy, but you still manage to maintain a relationship. How do you do it? I strongly believe sa sense of individuality, especially for [teens]; you should respect your being an individual and aslo dun sa boyfriend mo. Para hindi rin ma-suffocate yung growth. You're still trying to establish your personality and it's a long journey bago mo talaga ma-establish yung sarili mo. Take it easy.

How about you? Do you think you've established who you are? Lahat naman ng nagbibigay ng advice hindi naman nila nagawa e (laughs). Pero that's what I learned, so yun ang masasabi ko. Kung gusto nilang sundin pwede, pero kung ayaw nila and they want to learn the hard way it's up to them.

Now that you're older, have yo discovered anything new about yourself? Nadiscover ko na one can never be too mature for his age kasi parang ang dami mo pa ring hang-ups. Pero ang laki ng nadevelop sa akin and at 24, masasabi ko na kilala ko na yung sarili ko and I'm not trying to be someone I'm not.

Was there ever a time when you weren't comfortable with yourself? Before I reached my 20s medyo awkward, kasi you're trying to fit in. Actually now, may instances pa rin na nangyayari na ganun pero since alam mo na yung gusto mo at alam mo na kung sino ka, parang hindi worth it yung damage. 'Di kagaya nung younger years mo na mapapabarkada ka sa mga maling barkada. Akala mo back then ang cool-cool pero ngayon it's different, kasi alam ko na yung pupuntahan ko diyan.

You seem to be mature for your age. Was there ever a time when you did something crazy? I'm a crazy guy. Feeling ko 'pag pinakawalan ko talaga yung utak ko baka hindi ko ma-handle. Sa mga artista kase, when you try to live your life in a very celebrity-like way, hindi mo na namamalayan na parang you're losing yourself. Ako naman how I live my life, sobrang layo sa pagiging celebrity. What I'm saying is artista ako, pero ako pa rin yung magsasabi how I'm supposed to live my life.

If you weren't a celebrity, what do you think you'd be? I remember my first ambition was to be a soldier, tapos scientist, tapos (like a) typical guy, I wanted to be a pilot.

Is there a dream role you'd like to play? Wala talaga akong dream role. Pero my only thing with regard to [roles] is to be able to portray the most number of characters in this world kahit na yung mga unknown characters.

You've been in the industry for a long time. How do you keep your fans interested? Hindi ko talaga alam. Mind boggling talaga yung appreciation ng tao. Ako siguro, I try to live my life as an actor, to polish my craft kung paano ko gusto. Kasi sinasabi ng ibang mga artista na "Hangga't gusto ako ng tao, nandito ako." Actually baliktad e, hangga't gusto mong magtagal, it's in your hands, it's your call. Hindi [fans] yung magsasabi, andiyan lang naman sila para magbigay ng opinyon sa lahat, to judge you. Pero ikaw, it will depend on how you would want to be judged.

What's your mantra in life or the best advice you've ever received? I read it in an interview with Chris Cornell (of Soundgarden, then Audioslave), he said something like, "Even if you already have exactly the life that you want to have, you still have to change to survive."

Heartthrob

2007-08-07T00:24:00.001-07:00

YES! Magazine Special Issue featuring 100 Most Beautiful Stars
August 2007

On John Lloyd Cruz

The almond-eyed John Lloyd Cruz has many of the physical features that Filipo fans look for in a leading man, says director Lauren Dyogi: "Maputi sya, 'Yong height nya, hindi siya maliit. Soft ang features ng mukha niya, maamo. Most of all, maganda ang mga mata ni John Lloyd. Nagsasalita ang mga mata niya."

Direk Lauren, who handled John Lloyd in the movie All About Love and the soap opera Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay, adds that the actor's personality contribute to his appeal: "Enigmatic kase ang personality nya. He's very quiet. Tahimik lang siya, so hindi mo talaga alam kung ano ang nasa isip niya."

John Lloyd may not have the hunky build of other make stars. In fact, he looks like he still has his baby fat, Lauren points out. "But what puts him in the heartthrob category, first and foremost, ako ang paniwala ko--para siyang si Aga Muhlach. Being a leading man, dalang-dala niya 'yong being in a romantic lead in a dramatic mode...Hindi siya 'yong pa-cute lang. Hindi teenybopper ang appeal niya. May intensity at saka may lalim ang portrayals niya."

The Sweet Face

2007-08-06T23:57:00.000-07:00

YES! Magazine Special Issue featuring 100 Most Beautiful Stars

August 2007

On Bea Alonzo:

Bea Alonzo's physical features belie her youth. At 5-foot-7, she's taller than most actresses her age (she's only 19), which allows her to avoid the potentially awkward height disparity with her leading men - Piolo, Sam and John Lloyd.

It's this distinct combination of physicality and sensitivity, of full-bodied figure and angelic face, that has enabled her to play characters much older than she actually is.

When she was just 15, with no stars on her shoulder yet, she ably portrayed a 21-year-old lawyer in the teleserye that made her famous, Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay. When she was Piolo's female lead in the movie Dreamboy, she was so effective people forgot she was barely 18--much younger than Piolo's usual leading ladies, Claudine Barretto and Judy Ann Santos. In Pacquio: The Movie, people saw the self-assured Jinkee Pacquiao and not a gangly teenager.

A criticism leveled against many young actors is their credibility (or lack of) in the roles they portray. Bea is living proof that youth has nothing to do with bringing out the truth in acting.
As for that face, it is "really beautiful," says actor Richard Gomez, who picks her as the young stars he would like to do a film with.

Steady Sweetheart

2007-08-03T23:05:00.001-07:00

Cosmopolitan, August 2007

Tougher than she looks and wiser than her years, hotter-than-ever young actress Bea Alonzo bravely takes on grown-up dutires, admits to past mistakes, and maps out a future where she has it all.

Even without makeup and under the harshest light, her striking Eurasian features give away why Bea is one of the most sought after young actresses in the country. With her seeming perfection, naysayers are quick to assume, "fake 'yan." But in reality, she is as real as it gets--no camera tricks, no bullshit.

Public Property

Aside from that, tabloid rag readers will aslo be disappointed to know that Bea is still devoid of any diva affectations and that she's still bent on being a serious actress in the mold of her idol Maricel Soriano. "I admire her for being in total control of what goes on around her," Bea explains. "And when she says, 'no,' it's really 'no,' I still need to learn how to do that."

At this point in Bea's career, pretty much everything has been written about her: her Filipino mother and British father breaking up; her being discovered in a quaint beauty contest in Pasig back when she was 13 and still known as Phylbert Angellie Ranollo; her team-up with John Lloyd Cruz in Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay; her fear of dogs and love of chocolates; and her rumored budding romance with Mico Palanca.

Whether she likes it or not, Bea's life is examined by anyone and everyone from the most ruthless showbiz snoops to the average couch potatoes who idolize her. One wonders if she has managed to keep a part of herself from being dissected by showbiz pundits.

Tougher Than She Looks

Bea has come a long way from being a precociously talented 14-year-old ingenue with an unnerving ability to transform into someone else onscreen. Everyone's still talking about how the young Bea had to play a 21-year-old law student in her first ever prime time outing.

Now--at 19 going on 20 and six movies and several sopa operas later -- Bea has only gotten better at fleshing out different characters. She's also gotten quite great at just being herself. The statements she makes now are so real, no-nonsense, sometimes even downright feisty.

Asked to make an assessment of herself now, she confidently says, "I can say that I've really matured a lot. On the other hand, I do miss the old me. I miss being innocent. At some point, you can't help but get jaded because of how some things are in the business. I became more emotionally guarded and determined na hindi talaga ako magpapalamon sa mga sitwasyon."

The last statement, of course, is indicative of how well Bea has dealt with the cutthroat world of showbiz, and that she's more than just a cliched pretty face.

"When I turned 18," she recalls, "I heard a lot of talk. They said iba na raw ako. At that point, I was still dealing with the transition into being an adult. I had to get used to added responsibilities. Maybe hindi lang talaga nila naiintindihan ang pinagdaanan ko. Eventually, I just decided to let them be. I thought, 'Well, this is me and I am changing right now so you have to accept me."

Self-Sufficient Star

This is an understandable plea from someone of her star status. Besides, if there's anyone who's entiteld to be cut some slack, it's Bea.

For starters, she has more on her plate than the typical 19-year-old. "I'm proud to be my family's breadwinner," she shares. "That's why I'm thankful for having this job. I work very hard to eventually have stable finances. I love that I earn enough money to support my family. I get up everyday and look forward to working. I never have this thought na mag-iinarte ako kasi ito ang trabaho ko."

Another thing also surfaces as one spends more time with Bea: She is way older thtan her years. When pointed out to her, she merely shrugs before revealing matter-of-factly, "Siguro ganito ako dahils sa mga pinagdaanan ko nung bata ako. I came from a broken family. My mom was only 19, the same age I am now, when she had me. She had to work, so I had to be sent to live with different relatives. Lumaki ako na palipat-lipat ako ng bahay. I felt like nobody took care of me emotionally so I had to take care of myself. I didn't want people comforting me. I just need to think things through by myself."

While admittedly self-reliant, that doesn't mean that Bea didn't experience adolescent angst. "Of course, it also crossed my mind to rebel whenever there were problems. I am not perfect. I went through a rebellious phase. I did things that I'm not proud of," she shares. "But it was a short-lived spell. My work was affected. I came in late for appointments. But I was lucky that the production assistants assigned to me just let me be. They understood me and forgave me."

Surviving Showbiz Stress

Aside from that bit of teenage drama, to date, Bea has not been involved in any big showbiz scandal. And she likes it that way. She does what she wishes, but knows her limits. "I'll do what pleases me, as long as 'di naman ako gumagawa ng masama. I figured that I'd be happier if I didn't let my fear of public opinion influence how I lived my life," she says.

Bea's one of the few young stars who can say as much, probably because she remains grounded in reality. She knows that attaining success takes hard work and discipline. "There's a lot of pressure when you're one of the lead stars in a movie. You'd be worried about it being a flop. Kasi sa kultura natin, kung ano 'yung last movie mo 'yun ka. Kung nag-flop 'yun ay flop ka na rin," she muses. "Iniisip ko na lang na tama na sa akin 'yung nakagawa ako ng magandang project."

Aside from wholeheartedly appreciating her success, she also maintains a unique perspective that fuels her commendable work ethic: "I choose not to compete with anyone. I only compete with myself. I think if you're constantly looking over your shoulder, that's when you become vulnerable to insecurities. You make it possible for your insecurities to take over you."

Quiet, Please

It's admirable for a lady in her teens to be this insightful, but it's expected since Bea's known to be the introspective type. In fact, even her dowtime is spent contemplating on her own. "There are days when 'di ko talaga gustong makipag-usap kahit kanino. Nasa kwarto lang ako, nagbabasa ng book. I feel that I need time to meditate, to think about the things that I've been doing, and to examine the things I may have done wrong," she explains. "It's my way of detoxifying from all the stress and any bad things that have happened."

Admittedly, Bea is a tough nut to crack. "Wala talagang nakakabasa sa akin," she confirms. "Even my mom can't read me. She and I are so different. She's always chattering like Ai-Ai de las Alas-- always telling stories and cracking jokes. I like quiet."

We suppose it's this same reticence that keeps Bea tight-lipped when the standard, "How's your love life?" query comes up. "Love life? Meron naman. Happy ako," she finally admits after some prodding, "I want to keep the relationship private, though. Kasi 'pag mas maraming tao involved, mas magulo," she clarifies.

For now, at least, Bea is more comfortable talking about her reel loves. Aside from the imminent continuation of her soap opera partnership with John Lloyd Cruz in Maging Sino Ka Man, she's also set to star in a movie with Sam Milby later this year.

Future Perfect

These days, Bea is up for even bigger projects. "My work is so time-consuming, I only get two or three hours of sleep when I'm taping," she laments. "But I love my job. I also love my fans. It's my duty to be extra nice to them no matter what because they go out of their way just to get a glimpse of you. Baka isang beses ka lang nila makita so unfair naman na sa isang beses na 'yun ay tatarayan mo lang sila. I've realized that you have the capacity to make people happy with just a wave or a smile."

Bea has the rest of her future mapped out. "By the time I turn 30, siguro kailangan nag-pa-plano na akong mag-aasawa o nag-asawa na ako. Dapat marami na akong investments," she shares.

While Bea knows she has yet to leave her mark in showbiz and that "hindi ko pa talaga nararating lahat ng gusto kong marating," she's realistic and accepts that she won't constantly be in the limelight. "I'm not going to be in showbiz forever. I want to be able to work abroad. I want to work in advertising; I feel it's an industry where I can excel. Imagine, before, dalawa lang gusto ko. I said I'd either be an actress or a housewife!"

Whether as a star or when reaching for one, we don't doubt that Bea can do it. Proof of this is her love team with John Lloyd, which has gotten so big that they have rabid fans cheering them on to make their reel romance real. (For the record, the two are really just friends) Plus, there is also Bea's increasing number of endorsements-- she's the face of a skincare line, a clothing boutique, and most recently, a shampoo brand. And foremost, there's her spotless reputation.

Everything is falling into place for the young star. It seems like Bea's living out one of her favorite quotes from Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist: "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it." In Bea's case, it looks like the world's only too happy to help her get what she wants.

This Good Boy Wants to Change the World

2007-08-03T00:41:00.000-07:00

Philippine Daily Inquirer
by: Pam Pastor
August 3, 2007

JOHN LLOYD CRUZ DOESN'T think he's sexy. In fact, Bench's offer to make the 24-year-old actor their next big endorser came as a surprise to him.

"Sa tingin ko lahat ng Bench models may common denominator. They ooze with sex appeal, which I don't have."

The countless camera-armed fans who mobbed the huge Bench store in TriNoma, where this photo shoot was held, obviously don't agree.

But Cruz may have a point. After all, he has been picked to be the face of Bench's new campaign: "Good Boys Wear Bench."

"See?" he says, laughing.

Bench's big boss Ben Chan explains, "John Lloyd was chosen specifically for our clothing line and another product which we are set to reveal later. John is good-looking. He is a matinee idol and a wonderful dramatic actor. More importantly though, he has a clean image that embodies the good qualities of a Bench endorser."

Lifestyle brand

Cruz is happy about this new endorsement. "They treat you like family," he says of bench. But more than that, he has total confidence in the brand. It is not just a clothing brand anymore, he acknowledges, but a lifestyle brand. "They have food, even wipes. Lahat ng kailangan ko as an artista mahahanap ko dito sa store nila, which is great. And hindi nagsa-suffer yung quality ng products nila. Yung clothes maganda ang quality and style, very updated. Magaling."

The actor is a fan of Bench's pique shirts, which he feels fits his taste for basic and classic clothes. "A lot of times, you'll see me wearing preppy clothes. I'm very comfortable with that style."

But he has no problems experimenting with color and style either. "It all depends on my mood. I believe pink is also for men. My style can be provocative, I like to challenge rules. I love skinny jeans and I love neon colors. Through the years, na-liberate yung fashion sense ko."

Soon, images of Cruz will be plastered all over Bench stores in malls around the country ---a full circle moment for the actor whose road to stardom started inside a shopping mall, too.

Flashback

It was 10 years ago when an agent first spotted John Lloyd in a mall where the then 14-year-old was about to watch a movie with two friends. Because this was during the time the very controversial story of a manager who took advantage of his talents was circulating, Cruz tried avoiding him at first.

The talent scout's persistence paid off. Cruz's acting career took off, and with enough hard work he was soon a household name. He has made a number of movies, has raked in acting awards and his soap operas have kept viewers glued to their television screens.

There are many, many things he loves about being an actor -- but you might be surprised what they are. "Fame comes last," says Cruz. "Di mo na iisipin yan eh. I love studying people, human emotions and human interaction. Kung hindi ako naging artista, hindi ko made-develop yun."

Although he expresses frustration with some of the things he has to deal with in the movie world, like people who have no respect for his privacy ("Sana lang mas maging open-minded yung mga tao na kahit artista kami, we're human. We deserve our privacy. It's our right and priviledge to be human beings.") and how he's had to sacrifice time with his family ("Having time to be with my family has become a luxury for me, but they understand"), Cruz remains grateful. After all, the good things outweigh the bad.

He is thankful that he's in an industry that allows him to touch people.

No matter what a big star you are, he notes, you're this small. He holds his thumb and forefinger half an inch apart. When seen you in the global context, you're just a tiny speck, he says. But what amazes him is that as a movie star, he is able to reach people in a special way. When the going gets rough, when he's dead tired, he says, he relives those moments and he is refreshed.

He recalls one unforgettable moment in San Francisco.

"A woman who was probably in her 40s approached me at the ABS-CBN International Head Office in San Francisco. Hindi sya makasalita, nakatingin lang sya sa 'kin, tuwang-tuwa sya, hanggang maiyak sya. Pati ako muntik maiyak. First time mangyari sa akin yung ganun."
Cruz is such a hot star ABS-CBN has cast him in another soap opera called "Maging Sino Ka Man Book 2" with Bea Alonzo, who is co-starring with him in another movie.

"It's a light romance. Ang dami na naming nagawang movie ni Bea. With this one, we're trying to aim for a different approach. I'm excited but at the same time I know it will be challenging. After doing so many soap operas and four movies with Bea, ano pang maibibigay ko?"

Leaving a mark

Perhaps that's one thing that sets Cruz apart from other actors his age. While others are enjoying the fame and the perks of being a celebrity, he is constantly questioning himself, his industry and his abilities.

He says he wants to make movies that will show what is beautiful and what is ugly in this world. He's not content to make movies that merely make people laugh. "You can always do more," he says. "Yung pag lumabas sila ng sinehan, parang nag-leave ng mark yung movie mo. Parang gusto nilang may gawin dahil sa pelikula mo. Hindi mo naman mapipilit lahat ng tao to do something. But one out of ten would be good enough."

It is Cruz's desire to give more meaning to his acting career. "Sana mas mabigyan ko pa ng much more sense yung reason kung bakit ako nandito. Hindi lang yung artista ka, sikat ka, gawa ka ng movie, gawa ka ng album."

You only live once and you're only an actor, he adds, so he wants to be given the chance to do as much as he can. Not merely to earn millions, he points out. He says he wants to leave a mark, to make a difference in the lives of as many people as possible. "I want to change the world," he says. And this might sound cheesy coming from any other person, but his next words were rife with sincerity.

"I want to be more involved with life, to share what's good, to travel doing that. I want to go to the most depressed areas. That's where you'll feel your purpose. I want to do more good things for other people. That's how you pay your rent here on earth. Sabi nila every time you're helping, you're touching people's lives. Pero meron pa akong gustong ma-achieve. Kung kaya naman, bakit hindi?"

In the meantime, Cruz will keep doing what he's been doing --touching people with with his movies and television shows, spending free days relaxing at malls and devoting time to his family.

"You get impatient sometimes. But in my mind, I know there's something very beautiful at the end of the line and gusto kong umabot dun," he says.

If Bench can put this good boy's outlook in a bottle and sell it, then the real world-changing can begin.

To view photos of John Lloyd's Bench endorsements, go to gallery.

Photos scanned by: schoolmarm
Article originally posted by: gefjon

Maging Sino Ka Man Review

2007-06-06T21:20:00.000-07:00

Sunstar Cebu, April 1, 2007
By Evelyn R. Luab

PEOPLE who know me well, know that I go for certain TV series, like West Wing and Boston Public when they were still in season. I enjoy a good script, a fast pace, clever repartee and innuendoes. I have a group of friends who also enjoy the same things I do.

May we surprise you with the fact that we got caught in the web of this very popular T.V. novela Maging Sino Ka Man?

This program has been running on for some time now. Actually we want Ellie (John Lloyd) and Jackie (Bea Alonzo) to finally kiss and make up. We want poor JB (Sam Milby) to be happy again, in business as well as in his love life.

In an effort to keep this program going, the plot goes in and out of the labyrinth path of pathos (Christopher de Leon’s previous anger at his wife and daughter) of happiness Celine’s (Anne Curtis) and Bryan’s love life (Ryan Eigenmann) of fear, etc.

A great number of us drop whatever else we are doing during the nine to 10 time slot to watch where the story is going next.

The blood that runs through our veins is the same blood that hankers for the simple things in life. We enjoy seeing Boy gets Girl in the end or vice versa.

We want to laugh and cry with the characters. In short, mubo ra ta ug kalipay. (We are easily pleased.)

Imagine, after a trying day of solving complicated, difficult problems involving finances, office intrigues, sibling jealousy, land grabbing, etc,, we are offered a refreshing play where one simply enjoys the beauty of a true-to-life simple plot where most of the time, we can guess what will happen next.

For many senior citizens who really do not know what to do with themselves, we now have a goal each day. We wait for nightfall to come, then armed with a plate of popcorn or peanuts we sink in an armchair to empathize with Jackie or Ellie whose love life runs the gamut of so much pain, misunderstandings, jealousy and what have you.

Actually, I laud the think tank that came up with this program.

In these present times, the scavengers, at the moment, really have nothing to look forward to. However, when they can sit down in front of a neighbor’s TV (Oh yes, Virginia, especially in depressed areas, one does find a few TV sets in homes which only measures 10 ft. x 8ft.) they forget the stench where they came from. All they remember are the anticipated questions they have formed in their minds. Will the evil Oca finally get his revenge? Will Ellie finally forgive Jackie. Will Celine continue loving Bryan?

The Filipino is still a wonderful race. We are able to assuage aching stomachs brought on by hunger. We are able to overcome problems, such as the loss of a son or daughter to drugs. We are able to forget, even if just for an hour or so, the fact that we have to wear out our soles again the next day in job-hunting. However, in the meantime, we shall enjoy Maging Sino Ka Man, then talk about it after the program. For a while we forget that for many of us, tomorrow will continue to be bleak. Praise God for complicated story lines, for good actors and actresses for people who help us to be happy even for a little while.

Out On A Date

2007-06-01T23:32:00.000-07:00

StarStudio Magazine, July 2005

StarStudio arranged a date for John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo and got more than what we expected: he teased her, she touched his cheeks, he squeezed her hand. They also gave us their most revealing interview ever.

Round this time of the year, we always come up with a big John Lloyd-Bea story. The first time we did it, we dressed them up as newlyweds, with a bridal gown, tuxedo and the inevitable buhatan ng bride as part of the mock wedding package. Bea was 15, Lloydy was 19. It was all done in the spirit of the nationwide anticipation for what would be the climax of their first romantic vehicle, Kay Tagal Kan Hinintay. She was very shy and reserved; he was meek and, even then, quietly intense. We asked them what their dream wedding would be like-if he was the stubborn lawyer, Yuri, and she the fierce ingenue, Katrina. Before the camera started clicking they were like strangers to each other, the chemistry sparking only as soon as they sat down for the cover photo.

As prelude to their hit movie Now That I Have You last year, we thought of giving their second cover story a sexier feel. The accompanying article would explore the possibilities of that million-peso question: Puwede ba silang magkatuluyan in real life? At the shoot done at Iceberg's on E. Rodriguez, Lloydy was the first to arrive but would wait awhile in his car. Thirty minutes later, Bea comes in, greets everyone in sight in her usual kimi manner, and would sit down on the makeup chair. Enter John Lloyd who walks through the entire length of the ice cream house without ever acknowledging his partner's presensce. For the length of the shoot, they never said a word to each other, except when they finally sat down together to pose. He would tease her to loosen up a bit in front of the camera. Bea was not in the mood for kulitan. And John? Before the shoot proper, he told us he was a bit down, troubled, but wouldn't say why. In that cover story, StarStudion would reveal that everyone's favorite love team doesn't even know each other's cell phone number.

Fast forward to June 2005, just weeks after Ikaw ang Lahat Sa Akin premiered. The venue: Cafe Breton in Quezon City. The big idea: to shoot them paparazzi-style as if caught on a secret date. She arrives first, with an entourage of five. She is still the mahiyan Bea we know, the smile frugal, her arms firmly pressed to her torso. She came from another pictorial. John would arrive half an hour after, fresh from an entire day of sleep. This time, he went straight to Bea's table where she was being made up, and sat beside her. We gave them the questions and explained that we wanted them to interview each other, so that the text would seem like a transcription from their date.

"Nice try," John Lloyd said with a bit of sarcasm.

Like last year, it takes a while for Lloydy to warm up. One difference now, however, is the absence of tension in the air. They have whispered conversations in between takes. She listens to him intently even as she looks elsewhere, and his head is bowed down as he speaks. It's an intimacy shared not only by the closest of friends, but by two people who are very private and secretive.

By the time we finally sit down for the interview at Cheesecake, etc across Breton, they were both game to indulge us on our "date", but we played moderator anyway. And we were surprised - by their honesty and intimacy. The way she would touch his ears, the way John Lloyd looks at her and ask, "Do you want to know about my past?" The way she (we think) admiringly looks at him while she listens intently to Lloydy talk about the woes of the world. The way he would squeeze her hand to stop her from asking about his past loves. If they have become this close now - and we've watched this couple for three years - we can't wait 'til next year.

This is John Lloyd and Bea as you've never seen them before.

Fluid Beauty

2007-06-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

Preview Magazine, June 2005
by: Joey de Larrazabal

I have a short amount of time to talk to Bea Alonzo in between takes of her photo shoot. People are running setting up around the pool on a hotel’s windy rooftop. We sit facing each other like old high school chums. Her admission that she’s a “shy girl” is obvious from her quiet smile and the fluffy white towel she holds tightly around her shoulders, and compounded even more by her beatific good looks. As soon as I ask my first question, however, words spill from her mouth in an uninterrupted stream of pure and unbridled enthusiasm.

Her eyes shine and her excitement is contagious as she talks about things that drive her. Her zeal for acting, her respect for the people she works with, her dreams to travel to far off lands: All this is conveyed with an honest and unapologetic happiness. All her passions can be traced back to her love of people. She acts both to affect other peoples’ lives as well as to live them. “I love touching other peoples lives,” she says. She also likes to feel what other people feel, which is what she enjoys about the role she plays. “With every character I play, a different side of me comes out,” she says.

Her love for geography, cultural studies and travel also stems from this. “I love seeing other people that have their own beliefs and principles”. She just recently took a trip to the U.S. and excitedly lists Europe and Katmandu as next on her list of must-see places. I ask when and she sighs and replies that it depends on her work schedule. As she ponders the eternal struggle between work and wanderlust, she quickly pipes up, obviously never one to be discouraged, “That’s why I love reading!” In books she finds the escape she needs when a busy schedule keeps her from leaving the country. Paolo Coelho is her favorite author she earnestly confides. “Read Eleven Minutes!” she urges me when I admit I have only read The Alchemist. “Eleven Minutes and By The River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept are my favorites, “she says.

Fashion is evidently not as thrilling a topic as books are. “I like to shop, but I’m not necessarily into fashion.” She valiantly tries to convince me that fashion is not on her list of the most pressing matters of the earth. Good for her! With a look that says, “don’t ask me any more fashion questions, please have mercy!” she insists that her own personal style is simple and comfortable, consisting of “jeans, a comfortable top, flip-flops or rubber shoes, and a tote bag.” She gets more excited at the thought of pampering herself at the spa-something she treats herself to when work gets too stressful. “I’m a spa addict.” As a testament to this, she tells me of her own honey and milk facial treatments that she concocts at home, followed by a slathering of ice. “I stick to natural stuff as much as possible because I’m allergic to creams, “she says.

Is it all glamour and parties for the new princess of Philippine romantic comedy? She laughs sheepishly and says she usually spends her free time with her family, at the spa, or at the church. She describes a day in her life as “Work, work, work!” As she makes this declaration she is beaming with excitement, making me think that we should all be so lucky to love our jobs as much as she does. “It’s an adventure!” In the name of good acting she has ridden a whale and climbed a tall jump pole. Both she describes as two of her best experiences in showbiz, although she admits that the whale was indeed a bit frightening. “But I’ve come to realize that they’re (just) like babies,” she adds.

It is obvious she is ecstatic with the direction her life is taking. Not that she had a fairy godmother wave a magic wand, and, boom, “CELEBRITY!” No, Bea is where she is through a combination of determination and fate. She was discovered in a beauty pageant when she was only 13 and auditioned for ABS-CBN’s Star Circle when she was 14. It was no easy climb to fame though. In the beginning, she juggled both school and acting. She recounts waking up at 5:00am for 7:00am classes and having to go directly to the Star Circle workshop after school. She also had to deal with her mother’s reservations about showbiz, which she quickly overcame. “I refused to eat!” she admits, with a mischievous smile. Despite long hours and tough times, she persevered, declaring now that it was “destiny”. When asked if she always wanted to be an actress, she answers without hesitation, “Yes.”

Cast in roles befitting her freshly scrubbed, angelic appearance, Bea has played innocent ingénues dreaming of love and happily ever after. But she longs to stretch her acting muscles. When asked what her dream role would be, she names two: “A serial killer and the Virgin Mary”. I pause to digest this. A serial killer? Is this the same girl who played the bubbly Betsy in Now That I Have You? The same girl who plays the romantic Cyd in Dreamboy? One and the same apparently. She is itching for the challenge to “portray a dark character”, something totally different from the roles she is usually given. And the Virgin Mary? As a devout Catholic, this would be a role that is close to her heart. For now, she tells us to “expect a new Bea” in her new TV series Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin.

The candor in her face as she talks is disarming. It’s not something you come across too often, especially in the rough and tumble world of show business. When asked what she would be doing if she weren’t acting, she replies simply, “(I would be) working in a fast food chain and studying at the same time.” Her honesty astounds me. She dreams the dreams of an idealist but lives the life of a realist.

The lighting is finally set up and the photographer is ready. They call her back to the shoot. She smiles as she enters the pool, ignoring the chilly night air. As she sinks into the cold water and turns her head to the camera, gone is the excitable 17-year-old. In her place is a mysterious siren whose thoughts are hidden behind a pair of unreadable eyes. The transformation is immediate and startling, leaving me to think that the day she plays a serial killer may not be too far away.

The Truth About Bea and John Lloyd

2007-06-01T17:21:00.000-07:00

StarStudio Magazine, June 2004
by: Marvin Aguila

Off cam, they run out of things to talk about. They don’t even have each other’s cell number. But, together on screen, they just sizzle. What’s keeping John Lloyd and Bea from making it real? Arnel Ramos supplies the answers.

John Lloyd Cruz breezes through the door of L.A. Sizzling Café and you can tell he’s a miser with smiles. Even Bea Alonzo, when they first met in 2002, thought he was suplado. Once he has warmed up though and he does smile, it comes across as, well, sincere.

He is Bea’s exact opposite. She shows up, half an hour later, greeting and waving to everyone warmly. She talks to us the same as the last time we saw each other two to three months ago. Walang katapusang kamustuhan. And she calls us mare, mind you!

First thing we notice they hardly talk to each other. “Halos araw-araw na ba naman kaming magkasama naubusan na kami ng pag-uusapan.,” Bea quips. Second thing, they’re both in black. And before highly imaginative minds entertain the idea that they did it on purpose, it may come as a disappointment to learn that there is no way they could have briefed each other on the color they would be wearing for the shoot.

How could they when, in the first place, they don’t even have each other’s cell number? “I never asked,” Lloydy reveals but he does not elaborate. “Alam mo ba, lahat na yata sa set may number ng isa’t isa, kami lang yatang dalawa’yung exception.” Bea shares, sounding amused.

On screen, it may be difficult to picture one of them without the other. But once the cameras stop grinding, Lloydy and Bea seems to treat each other like they’re only a few notches above being total strangers. But to the more perceptive , this parang-hindi-kilala ang -isa’t -isa stance could, for all we know, be their own sly way of misleading us as to how they really feel about each other.

Towards the tail-end of the shoot, small gestures of (we’d like to think) suppressed affection manifest. The usually pensive Lloydy (”Don’t mind me. I’m feeling a bit down tonight’) loosens up. He makes faces for the camera, displaying a more playful and yes, more endearing side of him. At one point, he brushes of Bea’s locks off her face using his bare fingers. “Kilig ko naman?” Bea’s cousin Arlene turns to us. We were quietly swooning, that’s why.

Lloydy does not remember what Bea was wearing when he first saw hr, a 15-year-old showbiz wannabe discovered from some obscure small town beauty pageant whom Talent Center was grooming to be his new screen partner. ” My memory is not too good” But rejoice, Lloydy at least recalls the first question he threw at Bea —”Ilang taon ka na ?” Bea smiles at the remembrance, ” Oo nga,” she confirms. Bea was a year shy of turning 16 then and yet she was to potray the role of twenty something law student Katrina Argos to Lloydy ’s cocky young lawyer Yuri Orvida. The project? Their breakthrough teleserye, Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay.

The then experimental loveteam has since gone places. With the top-rating It Might Be You and the forthcoming big-screen team-up Because of You, theirs is unquestionably the loveteam of the moment, leading the pack at a safe distance. Even with Ciara Sotto out of the way (Lloydy and Ciara broke up last year) , the crucial question remains the same. Why can’t it be them? ” Kanta ‘yun, ah!” Lloydy laughs.

Could there be a grain of truth to the rumors flying about that Lloydy is trying to win back another ex of his Kaye Abad? So untrue, Lloydy declares. “We’re still friends. Pero not friends as in we share problems. I guess I can’t be friends with any of my ex’s, “Lloydy says but makes the last statement back.

Lest he be misunderstood, maybe Lloydy really meant was that it really is hard, especially for former lovers, to hope that things will be the same again. After all, it holds true even for those whose private lives don’t get watched by a nosy, sometimes overhearing public every single hour of the day.

Ciara Sotto he’d rather not discuss. He begs off and again, we sense Lloydy’s trademark discomtiture over these extremely personal matters. Instead ask him about his family and the craft of acting and you’re assured of a frontrow conversation.

If we are to buy the idea that Lloydy is currently unattached, where does the problem stem from then? Could it be because of Cholo Baretto whom Bea openly admits is the most patient and loyal of her textmates? “I entertain him. Malapit siya sa family ko. Pero wala pa ring assurance. I tell him that he’s free to court other girls. And if he finds one that he likes more, I’ll be happy for him.”

So where do all these leave us? ” They’re not close; they don’t bother to know each other’s cell numbers. Does … mean that the possibility of a real-life romance between Lloydy and Bea is nil?

Perhaps forcing the idea isn’t helping forward the story to the fans’ desired end. For now, maybe it’s enough that Lloydy thinks Bea is beautiful, “Maganda siya, di ba?” Lloydy asks as he gazes towards Bea’s direction. “Beautiful nga sabi nila”. And that Bea thinks it was gentlemanly of Lloydy not to have taken advantage of the two scenes where they had to lock lips in Kay Tagal. “First kiss ko ‘yun sa TV at sa totoong buhay. John didn’t make it traumatic for me.”

As Lloydy himself pleads, “Hayaan n’yo na lang kami ni Bea. Kung magkakagustuhan kami, mangyayari na lang ‘yun.” Okay then, we’re willing to wait.

It Might Be Her

2007-06-01T17:01:00.000-07:00

Teenstar, 2004

by: Diana Casacop

John Lloyd Cruz isn't someone who's born with a silver spoon in his mouth... rather someone who is born with talents coupled with charisma to make it a star.

Unlike his screen parther Bea Alonzo, this actor has an impressive record of shows tucked in his belt. He's been part of Palibhasa Lalake, ASAP, Kaybol, G-mik and Tabing Ilog. The latter is where he was able to first showcase his acting range, more so when he joined soap princess Judy Ann Santos in Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka.

Ask why he's in showbiz, he'll tell you because he needs to-- at the same time curious to know how it is to be in the work of show business.

"I never dreamed to be in show biz. I wanted to be a soldier, a marine, and then a scientist, but my fond dream is to be a pilot. When I go back to school, maybe I should take up a course in flying.

He had undergone extensive training in acting, personality development and physical enhancement to actually fit in. Now, he does a lead part in ABS-CBN soap It Might Be You-- after the higly successful Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay. The said soap taught him so many things in acting and gave the biggest break in his career for it made him an instant popular. John Lloyd, along with Bea, has a box-office movie to boot (My First Romance). He, too, got a lot of endorsements after-- Urban Bags, Outland Sandals, Blue Soda, Libresse, Sarah Lee, Silka-- and still counting. What else could he ask for?

Reality check, one can't have it all. If you have fame, you can't have a good, lifetime relationship. They say, that's the prize show biz personalities, at least most of them, get. Should we say that now includes John Lloyd?

Everything was going smoothly, with Ciara Sotto, the ever understanding and supportive former girlfriend of John Lloyd. The ex-couple tried not to be affected by the favorite tandem on TV thing, but that's how show biz goes. As I said, on can't have both fame and someone to hold on.

Said to have been trying to win Ciara back, JOhn Lloyd is happy to be doing another movie (of course, with Bea, which has a working tie of Because of You), getting good ratings again with It Might Be You and being voted, along with Bea, as the Most Popular Love Team in the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Foundation. Surely, Talent Center is all smiles for the two. Just how in the world were they able to build chemistry with two persons who have a four-year gap?

Mystery must have been playing behind the loveteam, disclosed John Lloyd. "Ang dami pang hindi alam ang mga tao between me and Bea. Let's admit that we have a chemistry. When we execute it's as if it's for real."

Really, as if for real?

"Yes," Bea's quick reply. "Even before Lloydie and I were like that, but we're much okay now. We're becoming comfortable with each other. Just like that. We never takl about ourselves or the intrigues."

Okay, they are not lovers; tell hten just how close they are right now.

"I believe there's a certain level of closeness and certain level of maturity, 'yung maturity ng relasion n'yo. Meaning, talagang we're good friends. We are not close, but she's my friend," John Lloyd said.

He said they met at the audition. He kinda felt awkward because she is just new then, "I thought parang bata," he admitted, but adding that through the soap's (Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay) workshops, he got to know her and has seen the teener's ability to act a role more than her age.

Will they be partners for real? John Lloyd said, It takes time and a long while. They just have to leave it open.

With Bea, she can't tell, but she believes in the so-called destiny-- if you're destined to be partners, no matter what happens, you will still end up with each other.

Should destiny tell John Lloyd "It Might Be Her" after all?

"I just hope, if we ever end up together, there would be no pressure from the outside, he ended."

Is he saying this basing on a past relationship?

Born Beauty

2007-06-01T16:26:00.000-07:00

Chalk Magazine, September 2004

Bea Alonzo's beauty secrets include ice, honey, and an attitude every bit as gorgeous as she is

"I'm the wrong person to ask," Bea Alonzo exclaims emphatically when I tell her it's our beauty issue. She’ll have to confess all her kikay secrets. “You’ll be bored with my answers. I like it simple, effortless.” It didn’t take long for her to warm up to the topic though and before she knew it, she was owning up to two beauty indulgences: the salon pamper treatments and her quirky beauty tricks. Not that she needs to resort to so many of those tricks anyway. What makes Bea beautiful is the most obvious: her bright disposition, her warm, caring attitude, that sincerity about her that had her saying hello to random people who walked by our office to get a glimpse of her. If that old saying “Beauty is as beauty does” is true, then beauty is as Bea does indeed. – Nana Caragay

Q: How did you get started in showbiz?

A: Even as a kid, I used to act in front of my mirror I was a really active student in high school, joining plays, participating in beauty contest… My mom wasn’t so supportive of my joining pageants though. It was during this really small beauty contest that I was spotted by Oscar Peralta, the designer. From there, I started doing workshops, and I became part of Star Circle Batch 10. My mom eventually allowed me. After all, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime, and she didn’t want me to look back and have regrets.

Q: What were your early showbiz experiences?

A: I was in a show called “K2BU” with Shaina Magdayao, Angelene Aguilar, and Pia Romero. Kiddie-kiddie lang talaga. My first role in a soap was “Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay”. That was really a challenge-at first I played this nerdy 13-year-old, complete with braces and headgear. The headgear really hurt! Then I had to play the 20-year-old law student-and I was only 14 at the time! Sometimes during tapings, there would also be flashback scenes, so in the morning I would play this law student, and at night I had to put the headgear back on and be 13 again!

Q: How did you manage to pull that off? Do you see a little bit of yourself in each character?

A: Each character I play, it always seems to show some part of myself. There’s Cielo (her character in another top-rating soap, “It Might Be You”). She’s strong-and I have some of that in me, like when I want something, I really won’t stop until I get it. And then there’s Betsy (from her movie with John Lloyd Cruz, “Now That I Have You”), where I get to show my comic side.

Q: Tell us about making the movie.

A: Masaya! I wouldn’t mind even if it doesn’t earn money. It’s already a blessing for me. What I really gained from it was great friendships. I even miss the crew! After making that movie, I could say that Lloydy (that’s what she calls her loveteam partner, John Lloyd Cruz) and I became so much closer. He really liked the character I played-to this day, he still calls me Betsy!

Q: What does it feel like to be a part of one of the country’s hottest love teams?

A: (Blushes) We are? (laughs) I’m happy kasi masaya siyang kasama. He’s never taken advantage of our situation. We’re the same in that we don’t like pretensions. We didn’t give in to the pressure to act sweet toward each other even off-screen just because we were a love team.

Q: So what is your off-camera relationship like?

A: After making the movie, parang ngayon ko lang siya nakilala. Mas masaya. We formed a real friendship. Now we can joke around with each other during scenes where we have to act sweet. Before, talagang di kami nagpapansinan. I guess we were also conscious, because at that time, he still had a girlfriend. He didn’t want her to get jealous, I didn’t want to be accused of trying to steal him. W e wouldn’t even say we were friends, because for us, the term “friend” is just so precious. Until yesterday, we didn’t even have each other’s cellphone numbers!

Q: Is that true? But you do now?

A: It happened because of “Good Morning Kris”. He was supposed to receive a text message from me that he had to read on-air. I said, “How am I supposed to text him if I don’t have his cellphone number?” People were amazed! So because of that, they gave me his number. I told him, “I’m erasing this after the show!” (laughs) I do have his number now, but really… We see each other everyday, why would we need to text?

Q: What about real-life romance?

A: I believe in destiny. If he’s really the one for me, then we’ll end up together somehow. But I can say that he’s boyfriend material-responsible, faithful. I’m not allowed to date now, but I believe in old-fashioned courtship. The guy has to visit me at home… Ayoko ng nasa labas.

Q: Who do you think is beautiful?

A: Catherine Zeta Jones. I like her face. And Drew Barymore. Even if she’s medyo chubby, she still looks sexy. Frustration ko yon, kasi mataba ako. (laughs)

Q: What do you consider beautiful about yourself?

A: Physical… Lloydy likes my eyes, for Direk Lauren (Diyogi, who directed their movie), my legs. Personality, I’d say it’s my being patient.Q: Makeup or natural? A: Lloydy and my mom like me without makeup. But some people say I look better with makeup on. Personally, ayoko ng makeup. The best thing about playing a 13-year-old was that I didn’t have to wear any!

Q: What are your beauty secrets?

A: You know what works for me? I put ice on my face after removing my makeup. My skin’s sensitive and I get allergies, so it closes my pores before they put makeup on me. When my skin’s dry, I mix honey and milk, leave it on my face, then wash it off. I use Johnson’s face powder, Body Shop liquid blush, Carmex lip balm, and Shu Uemura eyelash curler.

Q: Plans for the future?

A: I don’t see myself in this business forever. Eventually I want to finish my studies, have a family… Maybe just do one movie a year.

Q: What’s your dream role?

A: To play either a serial killer… or the Virgin Mary!

John Lloyd Spills the Beans on Yuri

2007-06-01T15:56:00.000-07:00

Dream Wedding (continuation)
StarStudio Magazine, June 2003
by: Tinz Fregilla

(Based on an interview with John Lloyd Cruz who plays Yuri in Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay.)

Were you able to find out that Katrina had a crush on you when she was still young?

No. Hindi ko nalaman na naging crush niya ako.

But when you saw her eight years after did Katrina revealed it to you?

Hindi rin. Hindi ko kasi alam na siya si Katrina Argos.

Since you didn't recognize her as Katrina, did you feel something special for her?

Yes, iba kasi siya. Siya 'yung naka-break noong mga lines ko na "ngayon lang ako ulit nakaramdam ng ganito." Na after eight long years, eto magmamahal na naman ako. Sa loob ng period na 'yun noong magmula namatay ang tatay ko naging player ako.

Was it not because of Heleana?

Hind e. Basta wala nang importansiya sa akin ang mga babae. Na ang perception ko sa mga babae na darating yan mawawala din.

Even with Katrina, you were just playing or you fell in love the first time you saw her?

Katrina Argos caught my attention. It was love at first sight. Kahit napahiya ko na siya sa harapan ng classmates niya kasi nag-debate kami noon about the amendment of the constitution sa lecture hall nila.

Pinahiya mo siya but you came to the University a couple of times just to see her?

Actually, hindi ko naman siya napahiya. I just proved my point that I am correct. Binalik-balikon ko siya kasi iba siya. Hindi siya katulad ng mga ordinaryong babae na nakikilala ko. She's a unique gal. It was the first time that I was turned down by a girl and that never happens. 'Yung talaga ang naka-attract sa akin. So I decided na balik-balikan siya.

It was love at first sight but you didn't know that she was Katrina Argos?

Bago ko nalaman ang totoo matagal din kaya pala sobra na lang ang pagtatago niya and with that I was already freely falling in love with her.

When the truth came out were you hurt or walang lang kasi player ka naman?

Matagal ko din bago nalaman ang totoo. So noong nalaman ko without her knowing e na-shock siya. Kaya pala madami siyang excuses everytime I would like to visit her at their house. Ako rin nga na-shock kasi 'yung minamahal ko ngayon ay sister ng ex-girlfriend ko. Nag-away talaga kaming dalawa.

In short nasaktan ka?

Yes, because that time I was ready, so ready for a new relationship. So kung kailan naramdaman ko ulit biglang mawawala na naman.

Describe Katrina 8 years ago?

Ang pangit niya. You won't mind her. Wala talaga kasi that time Heleana caught my attention.

You weren't interested with her even before?

Interesado naman akong makilala siya. I remember when I used to visit Heleana at their house, tumutugtog si Kat ng piano so naririnig ko. I was amazed with her talent in playing the piano. Sobra siyang mahiyain and aloof siya sa mga tao actually sa lahat kahit bisita. For sure kapag may bisita tumatakbo na 'yan sa roon niya.

Why did you mind her after 8 years?

Noong first time ko siyang nakita sa lecture hall. Pak! A totally different Katrina Argos. Wala nang braces and she was able to overcome her shyness may confidence na. Iba na talaga siya maybe because of all the trials that came her way na rin and from our debate she stood by her argument. Possibly one of the factors that changed her was me. Actually, kilala niya na ako si Yuri na hate na hate niya tapos tumatak pa sa isip niya na sinaktan ko 'yung ate niya, di ba? Pero inspite of that minahal pa rin namin ang isa't isa.

So what's the most cherished moment with her?

When I asked her to join me at our outing. Wala talaga kaming problema dun at hindi kami nag-iiyakan. 'Yung bang free kaming gawin lahat na hindi kelangang magtago. But it was the moment na naiyak siay and she was telling me that she loves me tapos sabi ko bakit lagi kang umiiyak kapag sinasabi mong mahal mo ko nakakalungkot ba akong mahalin? 'Yung pagsama niya sa outing only means one thing na handa na niyang tanggapin na maging kami.

How far would you go for Katrina?

All the way. Handa akong ipaglaban ang pagmamahal ko sa kanya.

Bea Speaks Up for Katrina

2007-05-28T21:57:00.000-07:00

Dream Wedding (continuation)
StarStudio Magazine, June 2003

Is Yuri your first crush when you were still young and he was your prom date?

Crush ko siya kasi may paghanga ako sa kanya dahil ang alam ko hindi niya kayang saktan ang Ate Halaena ko. Prom date ko siya pero plain paghanga lang.

After your first meeting have you decided to do a revenge for your sister?

First time ko siyang nakita sobrang inunsulto ko siya sa harap ng classmates ko. Nagkasagutan kami dahil pumasok ako ng late pero sa totoo lang na-insulto ako dahil lawyer na siya. Sa pagtatalo pala namin hindi ko alam na nagustuhan niya ako at binalik-balikan niya ako sa University after ng lecture niya. Sobrang nainis ako sa kanya kasi ang kulit niya. Kaya doon ako nakakuha ng idea na pwede ko siyang paghigantihan at paglaruan.

So when Yuri left your sister you believed that it was Kyla's fault and you blamed Yuri for all the pain that your sister has gone through?

Yes, naniwala ako si Kyla ang dahilan. Galit ako talaga kay Kayla at Yuri.

Did it ever cross your mind that you might fall for Yuri?

No, pure revenge lang magpapanggap ako ng Summer at hindi si Katrina Argos.

But you fell in love with him? What happened to your revenge?

I felt there's so much to know about Yuri and I've realized na marami pa akong hindi alam tungkol sa break up nila ni Ate. Mabuti pa rin siyang tao pero takot siyang ipakita dahil feeling niya hangga't pinapakita mo na mabuti ka maraming problemang darating.

How was your first date?

First date may halong galit at wala pang kilig. Sa fishball cart kami nag-date gusto kong ipamukha sa kanya na dito siya nanggaling.

Tiningnan ko kung hindi lumaki ang ulo niya kasi popular na siya, Pero dito ko naramdaman na may feelings ako for him but in denial pa rin dahil naisip ko ginagawa ko 'to para kay Ate. Noong natuluan siya ng fishball sauce tapos nahawakan niya 'yung kamay ko na-feel ko na gusto ko siya.

So your first date was okay, nasundan pa ba 'yun?

Ya, second date naming, nagpaganda at pinaghandaan ko. This time pumunta kami sa isang resto ng mga rich and powerful. Akala ko mayabang siya hindi pala. May batang namalimos hindi ko binigyan pero binigyan niya ng tinapay kasi pala may nakatanggong pagkain sa kotse niya imbes bigyan niya ng pera yung mga streetchildren pagkain na lang. Natunaw 'yung puso ko noon.

When did you finally admitted that you fell fo rhim and there's no more denial?

There is still denial because he is my sister's ex-lover. Sobrang memorable 'yung second date dahil naramdaman ko kung gaano niya kamahal si Tatay Mierdo. He is ready to give up everything for Tatay Mierdo even his fame.

So the anger changed into love? But how about your Ate Heleana?

Yes, napalitan at siya pa rin si Yuri na nakilala ko. Second date ko naisip na kailangan ko na itigil ang pagkikita namin baka lalo pa akong ma-in love sa kanya na hindi talaga pwede. Pero ang kulit niya talaga dahil pinupuntahan niya ako sa University pinipilit niya na pwede kahit sa akin hindi talaga. Siya 'yung tipong taong hindi titigil hangga't hindi nakukuhan ang gusto niya.

Did you ever feel na hind totoo ang mga sinabi ni Yuri noong nag-date kayo?

Nakita ko kasi siya na may kasamang ibang babae. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko pero nasaktan ako. Hurt talaga. Tapos naisip ko hindi totoo lahat ng mga sinabi niya sa akin plus the fact alam kong playboy siya. But umaasa pa rin ako na totoo kasi nararamdaman ko na totoo lahat ng sinabi niya.

How did you reconcile? Who made the first move?

Assistant niya ako that time sa firm and may kaso ng mag-asawang naghiwalay pero love pa rin nila ang isa't isa. Tapos nagbati 'yung mag-asawa sa harapn namin at naisip namin paran ganito kami. After noon lumapit siya sa akin tapos nag-sorry sa mga nangyari. Pero inamin niya sa akin hindi niya sinasadya lahat ng nangyari. So nagkabati kami pero may denial pa rin sa mga sarili namin na hindi talaga pwedeng maging kami.

If you denied that you love Yuri, what provoked you to admit that you love Yuri?

Sila Sugar at Dave yung kasama namin sa firm ang naging tulay namin. Pero pinipigilan namin 'yung sarili namin ma-in love. Pagdating ni Kyla na-feel ko dapat sinagot ko si Yuri. Natakot ako kasi first love niya si Kyla. Nagseselos ako at nagsisisi ako.

You still hate Kyla and felt that she's a threat in your life?

Ya, what I didn't know gagwa pala siya ng way para maging kami ni Yuri. Tinapot niya ako sa firm kung mahal ko si Yuri sabi ko Oo mahal ko si Yuri e andun pala si Yuri sa likod namin. Pagkasabi ko umiwas ako kasi natauhan ako na hindi pwede kahit maging kami walang patutunguhan.

What are your kilig moments with Yuri?

Sa University doon ko lang napatunayan na siya pa rin ang dating Yuri na kilala ko at walang nagbago. Tapos sa firm 'nung first time niyang sinabi sa akin na mahal niya ako. "Mahat kita Katrina Argos at wala akong pakialam sa Ate mo at ipaglalaban kita." Hindi ko talaga makalimutan nung nakatulog ako sa shoulder niya tapos paggising ko nakatulog na rin siya. Ang ginawa ko tinitigan ko yung mukha niya gusto ko tandaan bawat part baka hindi na maulit. Hang hinahawakan ko 'yung mukha niya bigla siyang nagising sabay nasabi ko, "Mahal kita Yuri, mahal na mahal kita."

E napaiyak pa ko kaya sabi niya, "Hiuwag ka umiyak at bakit kapag sinasabi mo na mahal mo ako umiiyak ka? Bakit hindi ba ako masayang mahalin?"

What gift from Yuri that you treasure most?

Binigyan niya ako ng stone bago umalis ng beach. Sabi niya wedding ring namin 'yun. Pagbigay ng stone sabi niya, "Take this stone as a sign of my love." Tinago ko 'yun at baka 'yun ang magbigay ng luck sa amin.

Do you regret anything you did for Yuri?

No, mahal ko siya. I feel secure when I'm with him and I know with all the trials that will come our way kaya na namin dahil mahal namin ang isa't isa.

The Dream Wedding

2007-05-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

StarStudio Magazine, June 2003

by: Jerome Gomez

We just couldn't wait to see the end. So StarStudio's Jerome Gomez give you what you've all been clamoring for - Yuri and Katrina finally exchange "I do's."

It's 7 in the eveing. With beer within easy reach and beside it, chips on a bowl, I rest my legs on the coffee table in front of the television. It is dreamtime.

Despite the drama that is "Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay" playing on the telly, my mind wanders to bouquets of white roses, a bride barefoot on the sand, a groom in a black tux. The snippets keep flashing in my mind, as if to say Yuri and Katrina cannot go on living like this, endlessly being taken away from each other. I decide to give in to the flashes and create my own dream- ending to their saga.

The scene: A wedding. At dusk. On a beach. Yuri and Katrina.

After all the partner-swapping, the bursts of tears and bombings, the tragedies and joys, my friends, Yuri Orbida, 24, perhaps the most admired of his generation's batch of lawyers, and Katrina Argos, 21, one of the most promising law graduates this year, inks their lifetime contract at dusk in a most intimate and solemn wedding ritual in an exclusive island in Zambales.

Only the closest members of their family - led by the groom's long lost mother Lorea Orbida and stepfather Dimitri Mijares - and select friends are present. And the lovely young couple say their "I dos" amidst the lapping of waves, white rose petals (roses are Yuri's favorite flowers) littered on the sand, with the sunset as backdrop. It is so romantic. And unusual.

While the two did send invitations- in the form of a very simple handwrittern notecard- three days before the wedding itself, there was no information as to where the ceremony will take place, "just to make sure there will be no bombings or kidnaps or some soap opera-type sabotage," says the groom who, despite the "crazy" last-minute preparations remembered to bring a black tux. Black, he once told me, is his favorite (non)color; although this evening, he might as well change his preference to the color of blush. "I am so overwhelmed with happiness," he will tell me after the ceremony. The bride, clutching a bouquet of white roses, wears a beautiful white chiffon dress that dances with the wind. Bride and groom are barefoot.

But what makes this wedding more unusual is the choice of participants for the entourage. Katrina's brother, Nikos Argos, will walk the bride down the aisle. Helaena Argos, the bride's older sister, Orbida's former girlfriend, is the maid-of-honor. And while the groomsmen are indeed me, Dave Imperial and Anilov Mijares, the best man is a woman: Kayla Reneza, another ex-girlfriend who has since become the groom's closest confidante. Bridesmaids are Katrina's clostest friends Gwen Martinez and Lilibeth dela Cruz. There are no principal sponsors to speak of. "We wanted Saddam and Bush for ninongs buth they are not available," the groom joked on the phone a day before.

Flashback: Eight years ago.

The couple first me when Orbida was going out with Kat's elder sister. While there was no attraction on Yuri's end, Katrina already had a bit of crush on the young man. They would meet again at a special lecture that Orbida would deliver in the university she was studying in and Katrina would eventually be an intern at his law firm. He would profess his love during a company outing and, finding nothing close to a ring to symbolize his feelings, he gave her a stone he found on the beach.

"Yuri is creative, a closet romantic," says a friend. "Ang history ng journey ni Yuri as a man, napakalawak. When I first ment him, he was almost too perfect: he's a loving son, ang pangarap lang niya matupad lahat ng pangarap ng tatay niyia para sa kanya. Pero matalino siya so nagpursigi siya." And then tragedy struck. His father was shot to death and thought he almost lost his mother until they got reunited recently. Naging matigas siya. Ayaw niya na maging involved ulit emotionally to anyone kase takot na siyang maranasan ulit yung nangyari sa kanya before so he became a womanizer, Until dumating si Katrina, na-open 'yung heart niya ulit."

"Kat is intelligent," offers a member of the bride's family. "She dreamt of so many things when she was a kid. She was interested in so many things. She's strong, very articulate, very smart, persevering. Over and above everything, very protective of her family, and she's a very loving sister. She's feisty, she's a fighter." This is perhaps why Orbida got enchanted, and finally gave the big proposal last month.

Final Scene: Happily Ever After.

And here they are now. While a yacht was what Orbida wanted originally as the setting of the reception, he yielded last minute to the request of his bride: little huts floating on the water. On the shore, there are ice cream and fishball carts, the sorbeteros and fishball vendors all wearing a tux. The party will last to the wee hours, champagne will flow, there will be lots of dancing, and everyone will have a grand time. It will be an affair to be remembered forever. And my long wait will be over.

Theme song fades in.

The Real Score

2007-05-27T19:38:00.000-07:00

John Lloyd & Bea - the Real Score

S Magazine, June 2004

If there's one strong selling factor that a loveteam ought to have, it's chemistry. When two stars don't have it, it's more likely that they won't make it. Chemistry on screen is essential to stir the curiousity or tickle the fancy of the viewers. It's something that can't be forced or developed on the concerned artists. Chemistry flows naturally, weaving magic on the silver screen, connecting the reel to the real. Because the stars complement each other very well, fans create an illusion that what's actually happening is an extension of their characters on screen.

Bankable Loveteam

In the history of local cinema, many well-loved screen tandem did extend their cinematic romance in real life. Worth mentioning are Pancho Magalona-Tita Duran, Romeo Vasquez-Amalia Fuentes, Fenando Poe Jr.-Susan Roces, Tirso Cruz III-Nora Aunor, Edgar Mortiz-vilma Santos, Albert Martinez-Snooky Serna, William Martinez-Maricel Soriano, Gabby Concepction-Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera-Pops Fernandez, and the late Rico Yan-Claudine Barretto.

At present there's one loveteam whose popularity dominates the scene. Whether it's the boobtube or the movies, John Lloyd Cruz & Bea Alonzo are a hit among the viewers. Perfectly complementing each other, their team-up is one of mother studio ABS-CBN's most bankable. They're launching vehicle titled Because of You is about to be shown.

But it's a fact that success wasn't given to them in a silver platter. John lloyd has already made a name for himself way before Bea. Originally part of the Koolits (w/ Marc Solis & Baron Geisler), the handsome hearththrob got identified first with Kaye Abad. Their teen drama Tabing-Ilog (where John Lloyd clinched his maiden acting trophy) was a consistent toprater for five years.

Meanwhile, Bea was a member of Star Circle Batch 10 and wasn't quite successful when her first major TV program, K2BU, was short-lived.

However, when ABS-CBN gambled on the freshness of their screen partnership through the grand soap Kay Taga Kang Hinintay, gradually they developed a huge following which didn't escape the eyes of ABS honchos.

After the show ended, the two were given their own soap to headline: It Might Be You which is a certified toprater. As Lawrence and Cielo, they light up the screen daily like florid storm. Their twinbiller, My First Romance (together with John Prats & Heart Evangelista) shown during the last quarter of 2003, was a modest hit and became Bea's showcase to win the Most Promising New Actress trophy in the recent Star Awards for Movies. Obviously, they're lucky for each other. What can they say about their present success as a loveteam?

Avers Bea, "Siyempre, happy. Hindi naman lahat ng young stars nabibigyan ng breaks na katulad namin ni John Lloyd ngayon. It's just flattering. Considering that at first, hindi ganu'n kaganda 'yung reception ng fans. kaya naman iniingatan namin ito."

"That's true," adds John Lloyd. "We're very much aware that this is not forever. Hindi namin alam kung hanggang kailan kami susuportahan ng fans. This is the reason why as much as possible, we want to give them A-1 entertainment. Utang namin sa kanila ang success namin."

"Hangga't may mga taong naniniwala sa tandem namin, gagawin namin ang best namin para mas magustuhan nila kami. Ipapakita namin na hindi lang kami concerned sa popularity kundi sa pagpapabuti rin ng craft namin. Personally, gusto kong makagawa ng mas challenging roles especially after kong manalo ng award," stresses Bea.

What do you think is the secret formula of their current fame?

"Siguro, it's the rawness of our team-up. Wala kasing conscious effort sa part namin para lumabas na sweet kami sa public. Hindi kami gumagawa ng gimik para bumenta ang loveteam namin. Sa amin, what you see is what you get. Ginagawa lang namin ang trabaho namin. Blessed lang siguro kami with good chemistry from the looks, acting, timing, etc. Siguro 'yun ang dahilan kung bakit kami nagki-click," observes John Lloyd.

True Romance

Many opined that they'll make a gorgeous pair off-screen. Are there really chances of true romance between them specially since the 20-year-old matinee idol has just recovered from a failed relationship with Ciara Sotto?

"Actually, inaamin ko na mas kumportable kami ngayon kase nu'ng una. We don't feel awkward na. Wala nang ilangan masyado," says the beautiful lass.

For John Lloyd:

"Bea's a pretty and nice gal. Huwang muna nating pangunahan. Naniniwala kasi ako na para maging successful talaga ang isang loveteam, there shouldn't be string attached. Mas healthier kung 'yung relationship n'yo nagbu-border lang sa professional level. Ayokong paghaluin 'yung lovelife sa career. As of now, ang focus ko talaga ay 'yung career ko. Isa pa, you'll be able to keep the mystery and keep people guessing if you're on or not. Kapag gano'n, intact pa rin ang interest ng fans. Pero hindi ko naman sinasara ang pinto, who knows?"

"Tama siya. Bata pa naman kami, eh. We still have a long way to go," seconds Bea.
What are John Lloyd's traits that appeal to Bea the most?

"Actually, talagang boyfriend material si John Lloyd. He's sweet & responsible. I like the way he treats his family and values his privacy. Kung gusto mo siyang patawanin, drop your showbiz side. He's truly a nice person, down-to-earth. Mapapakain mo nga 'yan ng tawilis, tuyo at fried rice. Walang reklamo," she says.

He's 20 and Bea's 16. Is he the one adjusting to her or vice versa specially that he's known for being serious?

"Pareho," quips John Lloyd. "Kahit na matured ako in my way of thinking. I still have my funny side naman. 'Pag kulitan, kulitan talaga. Sinasakyan niya madalas ang mga joke ko. Ganu'n din ako."

Trekking the road to junior superstardom, John Lloyd and Bea wish to entertain the fans for a long period of time.

"Thankful kami na kahit hindi kami talagang mag-on, sinusuportahan pa rin kami ng publiko. OUr screen chemistry is great and we'd like to use it to full advantage. Only time will tell kung magiging kami eventually. But as of now, kumportable kami sa present state namin. Sana lang, susuportahan nila kami hanggang sa dulo," the two optimistically sums up.

Falling for Bea & John Lloyd

2007-05-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

Woman's Journal, February 2004

Great chemistry. Complimentary good looks. Today’s hottest loveteam in showbiz, Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz leaves their fans breathless as they give life to a romantic ideal simply by being together.

They were first seen as a couple of young lawyers in the ABS-CBN 2 soap opera Kay Tagl Kang Hinintay. The fact that Bea and John Lloyd were filling supportive roles did not detract from their star power. Projecting great chemistry as a twosome further turned up the wattage even as John was publicly known to be romancing young actress Ciara Sotto.

It is surprised no one, then. When they eventually starred in their own soap. And predictably. It Might Be You hit an all-time high in the TV ratings game. Televiewers see in Bea and John Lloyd the same age-old appeal of successful love teams the likes of Guy and Pip, Robin Padilla and Vina Morales, Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa.

In local teen parlance, it’s called kilig factor. Whatever it is, it is what revs up their motors. Read on and bask in the feeling of romance with Bea and John Lloyd.”

Bea Be Good

This enthereally lovely 16-year old actress has definitely gone a long way since she first popped up in Tinseltown two years ago. From minar roles and guest appearances in TV programs, she’s become the next promising act to watch. Televiewers first saw her in Kaytagal, convincingly essaying the role of a mature lawyer. It was inevitable that she would soon cull her huge share of fans. Now, Bea can be seen regularly on the variety show ASAP Mania and playing her very first starring role in It Might Be You. Indeed behind the sweet façade is a girl who is eyeing the Big Time – and making sure she gets there, too.

1. What is about you that not many people know about? I’ve always been the quiet type, except when I’m around friends kasi may pagkamakulit ako when I’m with them.

2 How do you feel about the success of your love team with John Lloyd? I’m so happy kasi I wasn’t expecting it to work. Sobra yung blessings na nabigay sa amin.

3 What do you like to do on your spare time? I’ve started playing badminton with my brother and my cousins. When I’m not doing that, I’m at my computer surfing the net for articles on currents events.

4 How would you describe yourself as an actress? Hardworking and determined to achieve my goals.

5 How similar are you to your character Cielo in It Might Be You? In a way makulit din ako. And siguro yung closeness that she has with her family.

6 Do you have beauty/diet regimen? Does starving qualify as a diet regimen? Hindi, joke lang. As for my beauty regimen, wala naman. I just make it a point to remove my makeup on every break in my tapings. Minsan. I put ice on my face para lang ma-relax.

7 What type of music do you go for? R&B and love songs, especially the acoustic type.

8 Who were your crushes when you were a kid? Classmate ko sa grade school! May tuksuhan pa nga eh.

9 Who’s your biggest international celebrity crush now? Tom Cruise

10 How do you know if you really like someone? When he’s always on my mind. And when magtatampo ako pag hindi niya ako i-text palagi.

11 What should a man have in order to sweep you off your feet? I don’t really look at a man’s physical attributes. I’d like someone who’s responsible, and who will love me for who I am and love my family as well. He has to be sweet. At saka gusto ko yung lagi akong ite-text, kasi that’s how I’ll feel that I’m special.

12 At what age do you think you’ll marry? Hindi ako nagse-set ng age. I’ll marry when I’m responsible enough to have a family of my own, and if I realize that he’s a right guy.

13 What do you like best about John Lloyd? Walang pretensions. And he’s responsible, especially when it comes to his obligations for his family. He’s also very professional.

14 How do you deal with the bad stuff in showbiz? I try not to mind the intrigues. In fact, I take all bad comments as a challenge. When I entered showbiz, alam ko naman what I was getting into.

15 Do you see yourself staying long in the showbiz?I hope, pero I don’t see myself sa show business forever na. Gusto ko rin mag-explore ng ibang field. I’m only 16, I still want to do other things para I don’t get stuck and become bored by what I do.

The Truth About John Lloyd Cruz

Since he was first sighted by a talent scout at a mall seven years ago, John Lloyd’s life has taken a truly fortunate turn. But it wasn’t until he took on the dark role of vengeful Yuri in Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay that he would gain a strong recall among televiewers. Going tandem with Bea in this soap propelled the young couple straight to stardom, and there has been no looking back since. Although he obviously loves his work, a closer look at the 20-year old John Lloyd reveals a simple man who’s real stickler for dishing out the truth. That, for sure, is one un-showbiz trait that makes him stand out among his contemporaries.

1 What is it about you that that not many people know about? When you read in the newspapers and see on TV, halus ganun na ako. Sinasabi ng iba masyado akong seryoso pero that’s the only other side of me na nakikita nila. I could be lighthearted naman eh, especially when I’m enjoying time with my friends.

2 Who was your biggest crush when you are a kid? Kaye Abad, in the defunct Ang TV. Hindi pa ako artista at that time.

3 Who’s your biggest international celebrity crush now? Keira Knightly, the actress in Pirates of the Carribean. And Jennifer Connelly, sobrang wow.

4 How do you feel about the success of your loveteam with Bea? I would define it as a “mysterious success”. Kasi the trend in the Philippines is that when you’re part of a love team, dapat sweet kayo, dapat kayo talaga, or at least nililigawan mo yung girl. But with this team-up, hindi namin kinailangan yon. No pretensions. Kaya rin siguro nag-click, kasi hindi manufactured.
Yung blessing ng chemistry, that’s important in a love team. Lagi ko nga sinasabi, chemistry is not something that you can create. It’s something that naturally comes out.

5 So what’s the score between you and Bea? Are you just friends? It’s hard to define eh. You can say that she’s my friend pero ganun lang ba yon?

6 Can you see yourself doing comedy? Off-cam, yes. Sabi nila pwede daw. Kaya lang I lose my beat when I’m in front of the camera. Ang comedy pa naman is 50 percent timing.

7 How similar are you to your character in Lawrence in It Might Be You? Actually, at this point, Lawrence’s personality is not yet fully defined. Magulo pa siya. But the rebellious attitude that he is showing now, medyo malayo ako dun.

8 What do you consider your best physical asset? I don’tpknow (laughs). Kung manggagaling sa akin, mahirap magsalita. But some people say that girls get attracted to me kasi may pagka-shy type daw ako – yung sheepish ba.

9 What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve done to attract to someone’s attention? Hindi ako ganun eh. If I see someone I like,I would just sit in a place where I can better watch her.

10 How do you know when you really like someone? Kapag gusto ko siya, lagi kong kausap or ka-text. You can’t deny it when you start wanting to feel her prescence, to read her text messages, and to hear her voice.

11 What’s your method of wooing a girl? I like sending gifts and flowers. Ang sarap ng feeling when I see her using what I give, because it means na-appreciate niya yung binigay ko.

12 What do you like to do on your spare time? I love watching movies. My favorite place is Podium. Kung walang magandang movies, I’m with my friends and my cousin. We go window shopping in malls or hang out at a friend’s house.

13 What is the one dish you would ask for at the drop of a hat? Isa lang? Favorite meal ko kasi breakfast, especially the native Pinoy breakfast – sinangag, tuyo at saka scrambled egg with mustasa, tomatoes and onions. Masarap yun.

14 When you’re blue, what type of music gives you a lift? When I’m sad, I’m sad eh. I dwell on that sadness. Walang magagawa sa akin yung, “Let’s go out, huwag ka magmukmok dyan.” That won’t work, definitely. I want to stay quiet, I want to be alone, and I want to think. Although sabi nila it’s not healthy, brooding can cause illness. Ewan ko, ganun ako eh. So naturally pag dating sa music, medyo puno ng angst yung mga pinakinggan ko.

15 What do you love/hate about being a celebrity? Like any normal person, sometimes you’ll love and appreciate attention. But sometimes, darating ka din sa point na you’ll hate it. Kasi you also need your quiet moments. Kaya gusto ko mabura sa isip ng tao yung thinking na pag artista ka, you have to appear like you’re happy all the time when, deep inside, hindi naman talaga. Niloloko mo yung sarili mo at ang ibang tao.

16 What is it you like best about Bea? Ever since we starred in Kay Tagal, nakita ko na sa kanya yung determination. Talagang kahit hirap na yan, hindi siya sumusuko. And she’s very eager to learn, she’s very hardworking. For a girl her age, that’s pretty nice.

Romance According to Bea and John Lloyd

1 Where will you be on Valentine’s Day? And who will be with you?

B: I’ll be with my family. Siguro we’ll have dinner out lang. Besides, I don’t think my mom will allow me to go on a date on Valentine’s day.

J: I’ll be with my single friends.

2 If money were no object, what would give your loved one’s on Valentine’s Day?

B: Gusto ko simple lang, yung parang more on the thought. So, I’d probably give my lola a plant, kasi she loves taking care of plants.

J: May special someone ba? Wala eh. I’d give my love kasi hindi ako materialistic.

3 If you could fly to another place for Valentine’s Day, where will you be – and why?

B: I’d want to go to the beach, siguro Boracay. Gusto ko yung peace na nahahanap sa beach, yung parang when you’re with you’re loved one, the only thing you’ll hear is the sound of the waves. Sobrang peaceful, I’d also want us to watch the sunset together.

J: Gusto ko marating yung Amampulo in Palawan. Ang ganda eh. Saka ang feeling ko it’s well-preserved. It’s nice to talk kung may kasama ako. Malayo siya sa Manila at sa lahat ng gulo.

4 What song makes you feel romantic?

B: “Because of You,” “Before I Let You Go” ng Freestyle, and “When I Kiss Your Mouth”.

J: Siguro yung kanta nila Lea Salonga sa Broadway show na ginawa dito. I can’t remember the title.

5 What’s your favorite all-time romance flick?

B: Notting Hill

J: It may be corny to you, but it’s Notting Hill. Ilang beses ko na yun napanuod.

6 Do you believe you have a soul mate waiting for you somewhere?

B: I believe in destiny, that every person is fated to meet someone who’s meant for her/him. I know there’s someone out there waiting for me, whom I’ll truly love and who will love me in return.

J: Naniniwala akong merong somebody na para sa ‘yo talaga. I also believe na pag dumating yon, hindi mo alam. Siya yung tipo na mahaba ang pinagdaanan n’yo para malaman mo na siya talaga para sa iyo. Hindi yung masyadong serendipity.

7 How do you know it’s love?

B: When you always think about him, and when you’re prepared to sacrifice everything for that person.

J: It’s love when…yung tipong wala ka nang pakialam sa lahat. Ready ka to give up anything and everything para dun sa love n’yo.

8 How would you know it’s over?

B: Siguro pag hindi mo na siya maintindihan, that means that you don’t love him anymore.

J: When you stop fighting for it. That’s a big sign that it’s over.

9 What’s the most romantic thing a girl/boy has ever done for you?

B: Meron na ba? Siguro when this guy gave me a rose in front of everyone. Secret kung sino. Pero I think it would have been romantic kung binigay niya sa akin in private.

J: Wala pa, although I wish someone would give me flowers. I find that romantic sa babae.

10 What’s the silliest thing you’ll ever do for love?

B: I’d give up everything. Siguro when I love someone, I would love him more than I love myself, which is probably wrong.

J: I’ll just give a scenario: I’m with a girl and we’re walking down the street of London. Di ba sa London maraming flowers na binebenta sa parang bangketa? Then I realize I only have Philippine pesos in my wallet. So just to please the girl, kaya ko magnakaw ng flowers. Kahit mahuli ako at makulong sa London.

Bea and John Lloyd Talk About Each Other

1 Describe Bea/John Lloyd in one word.

B: Mysterious.

J: Beautiful.

2 What’s the physical feature you find most attractive in Bea/John Lloyd? The personality trait?

B: Eyes. As for personality…hindi ko pa masyado kilala si John Lloyd! Serious kasi siya, at secretive. Sobrang extreme ang mood swings niya. It’s either sobrang seryoso or sobrang kulit. Wala siya dun sa middle.

J: Her eyes. Her eagerness to learn.

3 What’s the funniest thing Bea/John Lloyd has ever done since you become friends?

B: He always teases me about my weight! Nakakatawa kasi I have to sit on his lap during one taping for Kay Tagal. Then, pagkatapos ng sequence, kunwari hindi na siya makatayo.

J: She does this thing pag may eksena kami. Kasi when are faces are too close, duling siya, tapos she makes a face. Drama pa naman yung scene so nakakatawa.

4 What makes Bea/John Lloyd happy?

B: One thing siguro na nagpapasaya kay John Lloyd is when people stopped meddling with his private life.

J: Cell phone. Yun lang ang buhay niya eh. Dalawa nga ang cellphone nyan eh.

5 What makes Bea/John Lloyd sad?

B: Pag may nanghihimasok sa buhay niya.

J: Pag walang signal.

6 What is your fondest hope for each other?

B: Sana magtagal pa yung love team, and sana more projects.

J: I wish her true happiness, the kind that people have when they realize their true purpose in life.

7 Choose a song that would describe your friendship right now?

B: “Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones.

J: This song my Sarah Mclachlan, “Building a Mystery”.

8 If you (Bea/John Lloyd) could star in a remake of a Hollywood romance flick, what would it be?

B: The movie of all-time kasi for me is Notting Hill. I also like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

J: Wala akong maisip, sorry.

9 What is you Valentine message for each other?

B: Sana maging happy siya, because I think he deserves happiness.

J: If she wants to date somebody else, it’s okay (laughs). Feel free!

It Might Be Them

2007-05-27T19:14:00.001-07:00

John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo - It Might Be Them

People Asia, February 2004

Who would have thought that something so talked-about could start from well, almost nothing? When the think tanks over at ABS-CBN first considered pairing between JLC and Bea Alonzo, they never anticipated the incredible hype and hysteria over the couple.

Best known as the stars of the runaway success telenovela KTKH, John Lloyd and Bea saw their careers take a turn for the better after their first on-screen union, which “all started as a simple experiment.” Originally intended to team up with two other young stars, John Lloyd and Bea never imagined being asked to act side by side each other, especially as a love team. At first Bea admits, they had a lot going against them. Of course there was the clear issue of age difference. When they were first introduced to each other, John Lloyd was already 19 and Bea was only 15. Then there was the fact that John Lloyd was then in another relationship widely known to the public. They admitted that they would often think to themselves, “This would never work.”

But lo and behold, it did work and they have the ABS-CBN execs, their management and of course, their ever so loyal fans to thank for their resounding success. When asked about their first impressions of each other, they both answered that the other was “very quiet” which mutually had them thinking that the other was snobbish. This was actually very apparent even during the interview. Apparently, these two prefer to have time to themselves. But this didn’t stop them from enjoying their work together. John Lloyd said that what he admired most about Bea was her drive to succeed and excel in her craft and in the business. Being an actor for almost five years, John Lloyd acknowledged that there were times when the job became monotonous and seeing Bea’s fresh and vibrant approach to it certainly perked him up and urged him to do better. On the other hand, Bea found John Lloyd to be very professional. She told us that she was inspired by his preparedness on the set. “He would come to work on time and have his script perfectly memorized,” she recalls.

When asked about where their chemistry onscreen comes from, the two were genuinely clueless. Stressing that there were no pretensions or gimmicks to their love tandem, John Lloyd and Bea maintained that what the viewers see is what really is. As it turns out, there was never a need to build up the chemistry even before the camera started rolling. They rehearsed individually and memorized their lines in their own separate corners. But when it was time to come together for a take, the sparks would just fly. “It’s a mystery,” Bea admits. “I don’t know, it’s almost like … magic.” Well, it would have to be, since whenever the couple is seen, people just can’t help but get sentimental. And it just gets better and better. The fan base is increasing and more and more are convinced that they are the It couple thus far. Suprisingly, even with all the publicity and clamor from their admirers and supporters, John Lloyd says that there’s “no pressure”. He claims that separating their professional from personal lives has never been an issue and it has been smooth sailing ever since.

Bea’s idea of a perfect Valentine’s date is a candlelit dinner for two by the beach and under and stars while John Lloyd fantasizes of a romantic dinner for two on a big yacht and also under the moonlight.

It’s almost like a fairytale, how everything is unfolding for their careers – with another possible movie in the works and of course, their once again hit telenovela It Might Be You raking it in the ratings. Well, love may not be “in the air” for John Lloyd and Bea as of yet, but who knows? For now, these two will continue to relish the success they have found in each other’s company.

My First Romance, Special Issue

2007-05-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

Starstudio Magazine, October 2003

John Lloyd

What was your …

Cell phone? Nokia 5110

Ring tone? Low

Memorable day in school? Kindergarten. I couldn’t draw an elisi so I cried.

TV blooper? Sa mga dance productions noon sa mga variety shows. Walang palya yun, lagi akong may mali.

How was your first …

Date? 12 years old ako. Sa mall. Wala lang.

TV appearance? Companero Y Companera. I was an abused kid. Mahirap.

What did you first …

Do with your paycheck? Gave it to my mom

As a kid you first imagined yourself to be a … soldier.

Who was your first …

Kiss? Mom

Idol or the artist who made an impression on you? Diether Ocampo

What’s the first …

Song that comes to mind when you hear the word love? Cruisin

The first thing that got you attracted to your first crush? Her looks

Bea

What was your first …Cell phone? Nokia 3310

Ring tone? Love is all that matters

Memorable day in school? First year HS. Was a transferee and I was late! I had to sing in front of everyone.

TV blooper? Star Studio episode with Marvin (Agustin). I kept calling him by his real name and not his character’s name. Nakakahiya dahil naka-ilang take kami.

How as your first …

Date? Wala pa in real life. Sa Kay Tagal with John Lloyd sa fishball stand.

TV appearance? ASAP. Launching of Star Circle 10. Di ako nakakain ng breakfast and lunch dahil hanging ang outfit namin.

What did you first …

Do with your paycheck? Bought clothes para sa taping

As a kid you first imagined yourself to be a … doctor.

Who was your first …Kiss? John Lloyd

Idol or the artist who made an impression on you? Maricel Soriano, versatile kasi, pwede sa drama or comedy

What’s the first …

Song that comes to mind when you hear the word love? Because of You

The first thing that got you attracted to your first crush? His eyes

John Lloyd and Bea

He says: “Medyo awkward”

She says: “He was suplado”

The Scenario:

Auditions for new Talent Center loveteams, Studio 3

His version:

"Yeah, we met at the audition. Medyo awkward actually kasi bago lang si Bea then. I thought, parang bata pa. But through the Kay Tagal workshops, I got to know her and she’s really a nice girl. Okey kausap.”

Her version:

"That was the first time I personnaly met John Lloyd. (I was first paired with Paolo Contis.) I thought he was suplado! Sobrang tahimik eh and mukhang seryoso. Pero later on, when we eventually adjusted in Kay Tagal, super kulit pala nya lalo na pag nasa mood!”

A Pseudo Loveteam that Works

2007-05-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

YES! Magazine, October 2003

They are being billed as the next Guy and Pip, Sharon and Gabby, Kristine and Jericho. Like these previous loveteams, they have the chemistry that makes them number one. Unlike those previous love teams, they are not in love at all, nor do they pretend to be.

He’s heartthrob who has been in show business for more than five years. Starting as a fun-loving teenager in ABS-CBN’s “Kaybol” he gradually moved up to the rank of dramatic young star via the youth-oriented drama series “Tabing Ilog,” also on ABS-CBN. In the latter, he was paired off with Kaye Abad — a teamup that established his credibility as a leading man.

She’s an actress whose youthful innocence is hidden underneath mature physical features. She was discovered in a local beauty contest in Pasig when she was 13, and went to join ABS-CBN’s Star Circle Batch 10. She was first seen in that studio’s now defunct “K2BU” Who would have thought that, together, 20-year-old John Lloyd Cruz and 15-year-old Bea Alonzo would be the hottest love team on primetime television? Certainly not John and Bea.

“Hindi, hindi ko pa rin maisip,” says John Lloyd , still ambivalent about their loveteam’s growing popularity.

“Actually, it’s a mystery,” Bea says. “Hanggang ngayon, hindi nga naming alam ni John kung ano ang meron. Pinag-iisipan talaga naming. Ginagawa lang naman talaga ng lahat ito. Pero pag kami gumagawa, sabi nila kilig daw. Bakit? Ano’ng meron?”

The tandem started in Book2 of ABS-CBN’s soap opera “Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay.” When they were cast, neither John Lloyd nor Bea was aware that they were the ones who would be paired up. Truth to be told, it was their home studio that played Cupid to their onscreen love affair.

“Naka-peg talaga na sina Bea and John Lloyd will be a love team,” says Don Cuaresma, one of the show’s directors. ‘Pero noong una talaga, reluctant kami kasi parang hindi magwo-work. Eventually, tiningnan na naming. Nagkaroon ng VTR (video tape recording) test. Pwede naman pala talaga actually. So, ‘yon. Hanggang sa nag-succeed siya at maraming naging following.

“Talagang ano lang ‘yan e, gut feel and risk,” explained Lauren Dyogi [the third of “Kay Tagal’s directing trio] who was very confident na magwo-work yung loveteam. Sa tipo naman, kung titingnan mo silang dalawa, they look good together. So physically, may laban na yong tandem.”

Their hunch was right on the money. The John Lloyd-Bea now has soap fans glued to their television sets every weekday evening. Plus, there’s a whole new heap of commercials, endorsements , magazine covers , and newspaper features with either John Lloyd or Bea in them.

The amazing thing about all this is that there is no romance between John Lloyd and Bea at all.

John Lloyd has admitted to YES (September 2003 issue) that he is very happy with Ciara Sotto, his girlfriend of two years.

Bea now tells YES! that, at 15, she is too young to think about a serious relationship.

“Attached akong masyado sa work ko, with my family and friends,”says. “so, I don’t think I can manage another attachment in my life, like having a boyfriend and everything. Gusto ko, ‘yong first boyfriend ko, buong-buo na ‘yong time ko para sa kanya. Pag matured enough na ako. Alam mo, ‘yong long-term relationship. Hindi ‘yong curious ka lang kaya gusto mong magka-boyfriend.”

The relationship of John Lloyd and Bea is therefore limited to the confines of work..pure work. So the question is:what makes the tandem tick?

The Romance that Isn't

As professional actors, the two definitely belong to a mutual-admiration society.

“Si John Lloyd, sobrang galing niyang actor, e” says Bea. “ So feeling ko, malaking tulong siya doon sa development ng acting ko. Ang dami niya ring tips na nabigay sa akin.”

Bea also says that John Lloyd takes good care of her – on screen, that is. “May concern siya sa katrabaho niya. Hindi niya pinababayaan. Like, siguro pag pawis ‘yong ilong [ko] , pupunasan niya or something like that.”

She particularly remembers the time when John Lloyd gave her tips on how to make eye contact. “Kasi pag sobrang lapit ng mukha, naduduling ka na!” she says. “Sinasabi niya sa akin kung paano hindi maduling. Kailangan sa isang mata ka lang titingin para hindi ka maduling.”

Bea admits that her first impression of her onscreen partner wasn’t so great. “Noong una kasi, akala ko suplado ‘yon e. Lagi mo siyang aakalain na suplado kasi ang tahimik niyang tao. Sobrang lalim niyang tao. “Tsaka, sobrang aasarin ka niya! Sutil! ‘Kala mo tahimik , pero sutil!”

How sutil? We ask.

“Kasi di ba, may mga eksena na uupo ako sa lap niya. Tapos, sasabihin niya “Ang bigat mo, Bea! O, sira na ‘yong upuan! Oww!” Gumaganon’n siya!”

In another incident during taping Bea had to drive a car on a road that zigzagged down a steep hill. The problem was, Bea didn’t know how to drive!

Throughout the entire ordeal, John Lloyd was as sutil as ever.

“Tara, balik na tayo! Mahal ko pa ‘yong buhay ko!” he said to Bea inside the car.

“Ako naman, “Bea recalls, “tense na tense na hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Malay mo, baka mahulog nga kami doon sa bangin, ano?”

For his part, John Lloys says Bea is one good actress. Since “K2BU”—a very light teenybopper show — was Bea’s only show before “Kay Tagl,” he really hadn’t expected much.

“Nagulat ako, kasi, unexpectedly, magaling siya talaga e. Noong Makita ko siya [in “Kay Tagal”],may edge e. Iba talaga. Nagustuhan ko ‘yon, kasi, aminin na natin, kung hindi ka impressed doon sa partner mo, how will it work? Di ba? Mas mahihirapan kayo. And she’s very hardworking, very patient , and she’s very eager to learn. And wala kang makikita sa kanyang, parang, walang tantrum sa set. Wala siyang ganoon. Parang she’s willing to accept kung anuman ‘yong criticism or good comments. And gusto ko ‘yon, magandang trait ‘yon sa isang baguhang artista kagaya niya.”

Although John is all praise for his screen partner, he admits that he didn’t want to be in a love team at first. ‘In a way, it limits you, e, from doing roles na gusto mong gawin and mga projects na gusto mong gawin tanggapin, ‘cause you have a loveteam.”

45 Things You Don't Know About Idan

2007-05-19T17:28:00.000-07:00

Star Studio Magazine, September 2003

1. He was born June 24, the feast day of St. John the Baptist, and that's where his parents Aida and Luisito got his name.

2. As a toddler, John Lloyd has his favorite unan. 'Pinipirut-pirot niya ang dulo ng unan habang dumedede para makatulog," reveals his mom.

3. When he was eight months old, John Lloyd was hospitalized due to measles and diarrhea which nearly took his life.

4. While some people call him "Lloydy," his real nick is "Idan." Don't ask us why.

5. John Lloyd was always in the "star" section and on the top ten students' list when he was a grade schooler.

6. His favorite subjects were Science and Pilipino.

7. He played a saint in a street parade when he was in Grade 6.

8. As a young boy, John Lloyd was always prone to indigestion, "Mahina ang pantunaw," says his mom Aida.

9. There was a time when he lost so much weight and got so thin that his mom reprimanded him for playing roller blades in the streets everyday.

10. He was never bullied by his two older brothers even though he is the bunso.

11. He still plans to go back to school and fulfill his dreams of becoming a pilot.

12. Igoy, or Rodrigo, is his favorite cousin because they went to the same school. Igoy is his "gimmick" partner until now.

13. John Lloyd nearly drowned when he was seven years old during a family outing in Olongapo. "Tumaob ang salbabida niya," his mom recalls.

14. The songs "Cruisin" and "Just Once" are enough to set him in a romantic mood.

15. He loves rock music as well.

16. He has this wooden box that turns into a drum which he likes to play with during his free time to de-stress himself.

17. John Lloyd has a guitar and has just started getting the hang of strumming it.

18. You can't force him to eat okra because he hates its slimy texture.

19. He pigs out on seafoods, especially crabs.

20. Everytime he eats out with friends or family, expect to see him bringing out some of the food and giving them to street children.

21. He loves Chippy, the original barbeque flavor in red pack.

22. "Dilis na sinawsaw sa suka na may sili," according to Kay Taga co-star Bea Alonzo, is his favorite snack during taping lulls.

23. John Lloyd needs utmost concentration when he's eating. He doesn't like people talking to him when he's having a meal.

24. John Lloyd is not a coffee drinker, instead he goes for juice as a morning pick-upper, and only occasionally drinks milk.

25. His favorite sawsawan that goes well with his pritong isda is dinurog na sampalok with patis.

26. His favorite breakfast fare is tinapa and (some text missing)

27. He spends an average of 10 minutes in the bathroom.

28. He always has trouble deciding what to wear. "Nakakasampung palit muna ng damit 'yan, bago makapag-decide kung ano ang isusuot," says his dad Luis.

29. He loves his shoes. When SSM shot him for the John Lloyd-Bea June 2003 cover, his shoes were still inside the original box.

30. According to Bea, John Lloyd always arrives on the set of Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay in shorts and white shirt.

31. He always has a strawberry-flavored lip balm on hand. That explains why Yuri's lips look so kissable on- and off- screen.

32. "'Pag nag-internalize sya as Yuri, he walks to and fro biting his lips," according to Bea.

33. He always forgets his shades and that's why he ends up borrowing that of his road manager's.

34. Not too long ago, during a provincial show in Bicol, the hotel they were billetted in caught fire, John Lloyd got really sad because he wasn't able to save his favorite white K-Swiss rubber shoes. He didn't know that Grace, his road manager that time, was able to save the shoes because she was the last to run out from the hotel.

35. His handler in ABS-CBN's Talent Center, Neneth Roxas, says John Lloyd loves being with kids, especially his mga pamangkin.

36. John Lloyd would make an effective secret agent because he loves to scrutinize details of anything he comes across with, especially during on-location trips. "Pagpasok sa hotel, expect mo na kukutingtingin niya 'yung ilaw. Bubuksan ang mga drawer, ang ref at kung anu-ano pa," says Tess Gubi of Talent Center.

37. He gives his earnings to his mom until now, "humihingi lang siya ng panggastos," says Mommy Aida.

38. He has a hair whorl (puyo) on his forehead.

39. Because of his puyo sa noo, John Lloyd is forbidden to travel by water because it is believed this will lead him to end up in an accident.

40. He never misses good films but he hates watching movies during premiere nights.

41. Before he was discovered, his favorite local TV show was Gimik. Little did he know that he'd be on of the stars of the youth-oriented program.

42. He is allergic to pain relievers which cause his eyes to swell.

43. "Three times siyang nabagok nuong bata. Isa po sa isang jeep. Kaya po siya ganu'n," says Bea.

44. Wonder why he always look fresh and rested despite the puyatan during tapings? John Lloyd takes naps during lulls. Sleeping is one of his "talents," because according to his current road manager, Danilyn, "madali siyang makatulog."

45. Don't be led to think that he's as reserved and quiet as we see him on TV. When he's in a playful mood, he likes to tickle his close friends--to death. His favorite attack are? "Sa may bilbil," says on friend.

So Near and Yet So Far

2007-05-19T17:05:00.000-07:00

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.

Their loveteam hasn’t even reached it’s first year, and yet they are already shooting their first big movie together in Star Cinema’s twin-bill project, Please Be Careful With My Heart (along with Heart Evangelista and John Prats.). After that, a John Lloyd-Bea tandem movie will also be released before 2003 ends.

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!”

the Cruz Control

2007-05-19T17:00:00.001-07:00

By: Jerome Gomez

Star Studio Magazine, September 2003

As Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay closes its final chapter this month, John Lloyd Cruz, the hot young actor of the moment, reflects on his party-hardy past, his never wanting to be an actor, and finally learning to love his craft.

For a guy who used to party like there was no tomorrow, John Lloyd Cruz doesn't look so bad. True, the dark circles under his puppy dog eyes need a retouch of concealer every so often for the cameras. But the circles are not anymore products of those all-nighter gimiks that often went on until early morning.

It's an afternoon at the Talent Center's lounge area and the soap star, clad in slim black shirt, arrow-straight denim jeans and sleek square-toed shoes, fresh from a full eight-hour sleep and a new haircut, is being asked to take us back to those party-hardy days.

He replies with that famous sheepish grin. He was around 16-17 then, he says, when he and his friends didn't see the need to call it a night because, hey, all of them were still up and there was always another bar to close. He misses those days. He sits back on the gray sofa and smiles at the memory. "That was the time na, 'Sarap nito! Baka wala nang ganito. Let's seize the day!' "

Last June, he turned 20 and, for now, all that's in the past - the party-hardy days, not the "seize-the-day" part, John Lloyd, if you haven't noticed, is the hot young actor of the hour. He headlines the highest-rater of all the teleseryes, Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay, Tabing Ilog, the Sunday drama he shares with other stars from this Star Circle batch, is still going strong on its fifth year; the love story that involves his character and that of Kaye Abad's remains the program's main focal point.

And then there are the product endorsements. He's the new image model for the clothing line Blue Soda and footwear brand Outland. There's that little sanitary napkin and that whitening soap, too - both targeted for female consumers but curiously relying on the association with this male celebrity endorser. Come October, just after Kay Tagal's final book comes to a close, his first feature film, My First Romance, where he stars with her small-screen partner Bea Alonzo, is due for the movie houses. Talk about seizing the day.

"I never wanted to be an artista," says the boy who still dreams of becoming a pilot. "When I was growing up, every Sunday we had a family gathering, so we always watched mga Sunday noontime shows. My cousins, nababaduyan sila, 'Yuck, artista.' " And then a talent agent spotted him. "napilit nu'ng discoverer 'yung parents ko. Sabi nila dapat lang huwag ma-affect 'yung studies, so sinbukan ko."

His dad's business of selling marble wasn't doing as well as it used to. The family, which includes his mother Aida and two brothers, was struggling financially and the 14-year-old wanted to help. He was launched as part of Koolits, the trio of boys that included Baron Geisler and Marc Solis. Even with a regular stint at ASAP, the group never took off. He became the family's breadwinner when Tabing Ilong came.

"I learned to love the job lang after a year or so (in show biz), but not the craft," he says. "A year ago, du'n ko lang na-realize na 'Ay, ganito pala, ito pala 'yung craft na gusto ko.' " This was the time Kay Tagal arrived. It was also the break that would make him a star. That his name is now in the same privileged ranks as Piolo Pascual and Jericho Rosales is not surprising. He has that Piolo air of mystery, and Jericho's easy, approachable charm. He is Piolo but cooler and Jericho but more laidback. Like the two, he is steadfast in becoming a serious actor. The only difference, perhaps, is that their passion doesn't seem to occupy their minds the way it does John Lloyd's.

Whoever said it's easy to be an actor should have a session with the guy. And it's best to take him seriously because, after all he's already got notices. In 2001, Jericho lost in the Best Actor category of Star Awards for TV. He talks about getting into further, losing John Lloyd and embracing other personalities totally different from his. Like that of Rovic, the young father in Tabing Ilog, or Yuri, the vengeful son and lawyer in Kay Tagal (some text missing)

"I'll tell you what," he says, "Kapag mas bata ka, mas sensitive ka, madaling umarte, mas madaling umiyak. hindi mo pa alam yung craft so hindi mo ma-meet 'yung dalawa. Andun yung lines pero hindi mo alam kung paano mo i-deliver. As you grow old, you learn the craft but your emotions nagfe-fade out. If I'd been playing a role for a long time, mas pwedeng mag-endure sa isang pain for so long kase tatagal, matatanggap mo na 'yan, lilipas na 'yan, mawawala na 'yan, so du'n pumapasok yung craft. You get into the character, you learn techniques."

"Kaya as an artist, minsan gusto ko ng sakit eh, I'd love to welcome pain because I know it will help me in a way with my craft. So, parang, 'Come on, give it to me!' "

This is, the pain outside of the scripts come in trickles, if they come at all. The last time he was in major news was not even about him; it was about his girlfriend Ciara Sotto's rumored attempted suicide. Before that, the two had a sort of falling out and the gossip mills were citing this temporary break-up as cause for Ciara's being rushed to St. Luke's Hospital. The Sunday that followed, the young singer-actress celebrated her birthday in ASAP and she would tell her guest, cousin Mico Sotto, "Sana ikaw na lang boyfriend ko kase pinaglalaban mo girlfriends mo." John Lloyd chose to be quiet about all this, and now he and Ciara are a couple again.

Are there things about being an actor, one with the kind of popularity he now possesses, that keep him from living a more interesting personal life? "An actor's life is very interesting," he says. "Dami mo nakikilala, dami mong nagagawa. Feeling ko being an actor is a journey, portraying different roles. Parang ang sarap kase. Parang may nabubuksan kang isang side sa buhay mo. Hindi naman siya talaga nangyayari sa buhay mo pero parang, 'Ganito pala dito, dami mong nae-explore, kung saan-saan ka nakakarating. Actually it won't stop you from being someone or something. Siyempre merong downside, unang una, being an artista, nag-suffer studies ko, (and) time for my family (which) I'm trying to regain now."

The studies part is what he really wants to come back to, except that his schedule won't permit him yet (he was a sophomore under the Distance Learning Center when he stopped). For the teleserye alone, he tapes two to three times a week, from sun up to sun down. So he's trying to make the most of this moment. And getting as much life lessons as he can. "I find it more interesting kung nasaan ako ngayon. Alam ko importante pag-aaral pero mas masarap na teacher yung experience eh."

Indeed, where else would he rather be? In a club partying? He smiles again. It's part of group up, he says, taking this path that chooses to be more focused on this career, and this craft he's learned to love. After all, before he decided to meet Ciara's mom Helen Gamboa for the first time to ask for permission to court her daughter, he promised to himself that he would leave the party-hardy days behind.

"Alam ko, 'yung having fun, hindi mo mababayaran 'yan," he says. Never mind that he still doesn't get as much sleep as he wants, or that sometimes he still misses those non-stop all-nighters. Never mind the concealer retouches. For now, those things under his eyes are like badges of honor that say this boy's grown up, working hard and with the dark circles to prove it.

Being Bea

2007-05-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

By: Trina Gomez

Star Studio Magazine, September 2003

How much of Bea Alonzo is living inside Katrina Argos, her popular alter ego in the TV soap Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay? Let’s just say the only difference between them are names and age. The young actress is 15; the character she plays, that of a strong-willed neophyte lawyer, is 21. The real name of Bea is Phylbert Angellie Ranollo but to her friends she is “Tisay”.

Now the similarities. In Kay Tagal, Katrina lost her parents when she was just a child; it was the challenges of being an orphan with siblings that performed her into the feisty young attorney she is in the soap.

In reality, Bea has had her share of growing pains. Her parents separated when she was only four years old, and she hasn’t heard from her British father ever since. There was a time, she reveals, when she couldn’t help asking herself why it had to happen to her.

“May pain sa loob na hindi ko mailabas,” she says about that chapter of her life. “Nandu’n talaga ako sa age na nagkukwestyon na bakit ako (product of a broken family) ganito eh hindi naman kailangan. Bakit hindi ninyo ginawan ng paraan for me?”

In Kay Tagal, Katrina is a devoted sister to Helaena (Rica Peralejo) and Nikos (Alwyn Uytingco). In real life, Bea is very close to a younger half-brother, James Armel, whose studies she finances from her show biz earnings. She spends most breaks from her busy schedule bonding with 11-yar-old James.

Katrina, as a lawyer, is always determined to fight for what she believes in and will do anything to get her man (the Yuri Orbida character played by John Lloyd Cruz).

The young actress Bea also had to fight for her strongest passion: performing. As far back as her grade school days, Bea always loved to join school plays and personality contests—even without her mother’s knowledge. Her mom, Mary Anne Escalante, never really condoned such extra-curricular activities. “Nalaman niya na lang nanalo ako kasi ipapakita ko sa kanya ‘yung medal or trophy,” Bea shares.

When she was 14, Bea even dared to compete with 20-year-old women for the “Mutya ng Pasig” title. She was only a runner-up, but it was there that she was spotted by a fashion designer who introduced Bea to her current talent manager.

Mommy Mary Ann didn’t even have a clue that her daughter had auditioned—and passed—as one of ABS-CBN’s Star Circle Batch 10; that is, until Bea asked her to sign a letter of consent.

“Sila ng lola niya ang lagging magkasama, kaya wala akong kaalam-alam. Alam niya din na ayaw kong pumasok siya sa show biz. Dadalawa lang kasi ang anak ko at ayoko silang masasaktan,” says Bea’s mom.

She refused to sign the letter. Bea staged a hunger strike. “Pumapasok ako sa school pero hindi ako kumakain, hanggang sa naawa siya sa akin,” relates Bea. Her mom had no choice but to give her blessings.

Drama is one of the thing that define the real Bea. “Very emotional ako na tao. Konting problema lang, nag-o-OA ako. At saka kapag galit ako, hindi ako nagsasalita. Papasok na lang ako sa kwarto at doon ako iiyak. Iyakin talaga ko”. No wonder it’s so easy for her to shed buckets of tears in her daily soap. “Yung mga sobrang dark memories ko noon, yun ang mga nagagamit ko ngayon sa acting.”

The only problem now is that the real-life experience and emotions that help her internalize Katrina’s character are stuff she’d rather not draw out anymore. “Minsan matutulog na lang ako, nage-echo pa lahat ng memories sa akin. Kasi imbis na sobrang lalim na siya before, andyan na naman.”

But it is the portrayal of the role as Yuri’s girlfriend in Kay Tagal that earns her the highest degree of respect from viewers and co-stars. The on-cam romance that sparked between Katrina and Yuri is said to be the reason Kay Tagal was extended for three months from it’s original farewell schedule last July.

In fact, Bea convincingly portays her lovestruck character in the soap despite the fact that she has zero experience to draw from. Her first real-and reel-life kiss was the much-talked-about kissing scene she shared with John Lloyd/Yuri in one of the soap’s recent episodes.

Bea has been linked with her leading man and blamed for the supposed temporary “break-up” of John Lloyd and girlfriend Ciara Sotto. “ I can’t even say we’re close, kasi hindi pa naman kami nagsasabihan ng mga bagay na sobrang personal,” Bea claims. “I believe that there’s a certain situation that will really make us close pero hindi pa lang nangyayari.’

At her young age, Bea is already allowed to have a boyfriend. But despite her mom’s prodding, she refuses to get into a romantic relationship. “Hindi ko kayang mag-handle ng isa pang attachment sa buhay ko. Ni hindi ko nga kayang pagsabayin ang trabaho koang studies ko.

For now,Bea’s foremost priorities are still her family, her work and her studies. She is now in third year high school under the DECS Home Study Program. She’d like to go back to a normal school when she enters college and if her show biz schedule would allow it.

Meanwhile, her showbiz career is at its prime and more promising projects are in the pipeline. By the time Kay Tagal wraps up in October, Bea will be busy promoting her first film, where she also stars opposite John Lloyd. My First Romance, under Star Cenima, is twinbill movie that also features John Prats and Heart Evangelista.

The John Lloyd-Bea part is being directed by Don Cuaresma and, in it, John Lloyd plays a heart recipient whose path stumbles into Bea two years after her boyfriend, an organ donor, passes away. Bea is unaware heart but that doesn’t stop her from falling in love with him.

Away from the cameras, however, Bea is still trying to see how all her real-and reel-life experiences will shape her as an adult-to-be. “Naniniwala ako that everything in this world has its reasons,” she says. “kaya wala akong gustong itapon sa buhay ko. Lahat ‘yun binigay sa akin ni God para marating ko ‘yung kinalalagyan ko ngayon.

Matinee Idol

2007-04-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

Matinee Idol - John Lloyd Cruz

S Magazine, September 2003

John Lloyd Cruz at 20 is a picture of a full-grown fine young man. Far from when he started as a member of Star Circle Batch 5 and then with the trio, Koolits, but still very much oozing with that young man's zest for life. Having spent six years in the entertainment business, his enthusiasm for his chosen career as an actor has not waned down a bit. In fact, he feels he is just beginning his trek and a long road is laid in front of him waiting to be explored.

Screen Sweethearts

BUT what he lacks, he says is career planning on his part. "I know I should have that. Wala ako nu'ng five or ten years from now, how do I see myself. I tend to depend on people who are handling my career. Siguro dahil may tiwala ako sa kanila and I know that they know what to do with my career. Kaya siguro ganu'n."

But the young actor stresses that his mother studio, ABS-CBN 2, is very open to suggestions coming from him. "Sometimes, I tell them (Talent Center people) what I really want to do, pero alam kong hindi lahat puwede ko nang gawin agad. Mas alam nila 'yun dahil matagal na sila sa industriya. They know how to handle things, kaya ako, sumusunod lang."

Like being paired to young actresses as screen sweethearts, First there was Kaye Abad in the teen oriented TV series Tabing Ilog, and now there's Bea Alonzo in the soap Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay.

John Lloyd recognizes the advantages as well as the disadvantages of having a screen love teammate. "I think it's advantageous in the sense that madali kayong makilala dahil nandu'n yung kilig factor. Ang dami kaagad na mga kaedad n'yo ang nakaka-identify sa inyo. And I think it's part of the culture in the Philippines movies, eh. Parang lahat dumadaan sa mga loveteam-loveteam.

"And not only you become 'saleable', but with the team-up, natututo kang makipagtrabaho sa iba; nagkakaroon ka ng kaibigan; nagkakaroon ka ng responsibilidad na kailangan okay kayo ng ka-partner mo, which leads to helping each other."

But the downside is, "it limits you in doing roles that you really want to do. Like ako, nag-iisip ako ng something na importante talaga; 'yung marerecognize ako. Dati hindi ko pa 'yun naiisip dahil bata pa ako, pero ngayon, I feel that it's important na.

"With a love teammate, parang may hindrance na I can't do the roles pa that I really want to do, kasi baka hindi bumagay. Baka mag-conflict sa image ko because I'm maintaining pa a loveteam," explains John Lloyd, and then adds, "But I'm 20 pa lang naman. Marami pa akong time. And as I said nga, alam naman ng mga nag-aalaga sa career ko kung ano ang dapat gawin sa akin."

Personal Life

Does having a screen sweetheart not get in the way of his personal life? Everybody knows that he and young actress Ciara Sotta is very much on at the moment.

"Sa akin, what's personal is personal," he answeres. "I can say na hindi naaapektuhan ng trabaho ang personal life ko because I don't allow my personal life to get into my work. Ganu'n lang naman 'yun. Kung hahayaan mo, mangyayari talaga 'yun."

Exactly the reason why he quickly begs off to answer queries concerning him and Ciara. "Whatever we have, sa amin nalang 'yun," he explains. "It's more than enough that we know the truth. Kasi, the more we publicly talk about our relationship, the more people will intrude or start intruding. Kaya nga I've been saying to everyone, it's a matter of respect na lang."

"Celebrities are public property" is an aphorism that John Lloyd isn't buying. "It's not true na 'pag artista ka, public property ka. Nobody owns you. You have your right," he philosophies. "Ako, I strongly believe na nasa akin pa rin 'yun. Kung ano 'yung napi-feel kong dapat sa akin lang muna, puwede kong lagyan ng wall. Ikaw ang magdidikta kung hanggang saan lang ang puwede kang pakialaman. Ikaw ang magdu-draw ng line kung hanggang saan lang."

John Lloyd is much comfortable talking about his screen sweetheart, Bea. He has nice words for her although they are quite new as a love tandem. "She is nice to work with dahil from the very beginning, hindi ko siya nakitaan ng kung anumang negative trait," he says. "She's very hardworking and very patient. In fact she's more patient that I am."

"One thing good about her is she's very eager to learn. She takes criticisms positively and never gives up. Ang tiyaga niya."

Of course he finds her pretty. "Maganda siya dahil she has different feature. Half-Brit, half-Pinay kasi sya. She grew up here with her mom kaya very Filipina ang upbringing."

Las August, he and Bea have started shooting for a flick under Star Cinema, their first big screen exposure as a loveteam. "It's a twin bill featuring us (him and Bea) and the loveteam of John Pratts and Heart Evangelista," he enthuses.

John Lloyd smiles when asked how it feels to be young and sikat. "I'm not sikat," he humbly objects. But sikat or not, he admits that there are things that he missed as a teenager having started in showbusiness at an early age of 14.

"Na-miss ko 'yung high school life dahil I have to make do with home studies because of my schedules," he says. "Eh, 'pag ganu'n naman, you easily get bored dahil mag-isa ka lang, kaya hininto ko rin."

If his schedule would let him, he still plans to carry on with his studies, hopefully in a "normal" school this time. "Gusto ko pa rin makatapos ng kurso," he reveals. "Hindi ko pa alam kung anong course basta gusto ko lang may matapos."

Showbiz Sweetheart

2007-04-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

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!”

TV's Hottest Couple

2007-04-14T14:19:00.000-07:00

John Lloyd Cruz & Bea Alonzo - TV's Hottest Couple
by: Eden Carlos, Mod Magazine
July 21, 2003

Eight teleserye years ago, Yuri Orvida (John Lloyd Cruz) met Katrina Argos (Bea Alonzo). But at that time, Yuri was going out with Kat’s older sister Heleana (Rica Peralejo) and he only saw Kat as a painfully shy little girl with braces. That and well, he remembers admiring how well she played the piano. Eight years later, Yuri now one of the most admired of his batch of young lawyers, gives a special lecture at a law school where Kat studies. They clash. Sparks fly. She would eventually become an intern at the law firm he works. They fall in love, with him not knowing that she is the younger sister of Heleana. When he does find out, the knowledge almost drives them apart. But they soon discover their feelings for each other are stronger than any bitterness that the past may have caused and they reconcile. Several trials and tribulations later at the Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay universe and here they are – the most popular loveteam in television.

The two stars who play Katrina and Yuri, MOD finds out, are even more captivating in person. For starters, they’re both tall and very attractive. They remind you of those legendary loveteams from the Sampaguita and LVN days: wholesome, earnest, unmistakably gorgeous. They’re both, however, both uncomfortable and disbelieving when people tell them how good looking they are, or how popular their loveteam is, not, it seems as a put on, but more as a reflection of their attitude. Unlike some stars who stumbled on some measure of fame, Cruz and Alonzo are not too fake, not too steely and businesslike, not too impersonal – just refreshingly normal. And maybe that’s the key to their popularity, that somehow their “niceness” comes through and makes a connection with the TV viewers.

The Reluctant Hearthrob

Twenty-years-old John Lloyd Cruz insists that he is no matinee idol. “I’m not comfortable with that title,” he laughs softly. “I don’t think I look good enough to be called a matinee idol. But I guess people will always put labels on you. Pero nakakailang. The leading man, the matinee idols are like Piolo Pascual, not me. I’m way too far from that.”

What Cruz won’t dispute is how successful he has been constantly making the leap from playing Rovic from weekly teen show in Tabing-Ilog to hotshot lawyer Yuri of Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay and back again. “The director and creative staff had executed it well. That’s probably why people can easily tell and they appreciate that the two are very different characters. It was a tough process for me. We’ve gone through workshops and that helped me have this clear picture of how Yuri is, the way he walks, moves, everything especially when the character underwent the transformation from book 1 to professional in book 2. I studied how I can convey that the character is a lawyer. The idea is to make the movements and manners more dignified when he speaks, he expresses himself well, those things are critical” John Lloyd says.

As for Tabing Ilog, Cruz shares that although the three-year-old show is still rating well, some would like to see it over and done with. “It’s sad,” he muses. “I personally think the show is still okay. I hope they don’t end the show because I love doing it. I love being with the people involved in it and it’s nice to be in a show that’s been doing so well for quite some time now.”

Cruz senses that he is being groomed as a leading man and he admits to some worries: “I don’t mind being the leading man, in fact, I’m grateful. I just don’t want to rush into things. I hope I can maintain this pace that I have now, para di mabigla, di pilit.”

When we asked him if he realizes how popular he is, he pauses. “Mahirap talaga, hindi mo alam kung ano ang reality. Ako, okay na sa akin ito. I’ll just do my work, always see to it that I give my best.”

Pretty Baby

Bea Alonzo is 5’7” tall and growing – she’s only 15 years old. “She’s so tall, aabot nga ng 6’1” yan,” teleserye partner Cruz teases. Alonzo (real name Phylbert Angellie Ranollo, is half-British (dad) and half-Filipino.

As Katrina from KTKH, she has transformed (quite well, we might add, this girl is getting the hang of this acting thing) from awkward teener to confident young lawyer, a fresh grad from law school and one of the most promising in her class. In person though, she is still much more like the early braces-wearing Katrina – a little shy, gets self-conscious especially when posing for photographs.

She’d rather wear sneakers (she came wearing a pair of Diesel baby blues) so she gingerly puts on the high heels during the shoot for the more formal clothes. Alonzo is uncomfortable with the near-maniacal attention to detail a photo shoot requires and it’s actually partner Cruz who clowns around a little and makes everyone laugh.

But when she puts on the clothes and steps into the light, it’s just magic. The girl is gorgeous. She makes the simplest clothes seem appealing. In person, she looks like a cross of Kristine Hermosa and Rosanna Roces, with a little Dina Bonnevie thrown in, as if she wasn’t good looking enough.

We ask her for some beauty secrets, and she tells us she does nothing fancy (just the occasional milk and honey (equal measure) for her skin. She smoothes on the concoction, waits for a few minutes then rinses. Offscreen, she just dabs on lip balm and occasionally lipstick (her favorite shade is pink), uses Mac pressed powder, sprays on perfume/cologne from Victoria’s Secret and she’s ready to go.

But not everything is perfect, she insists. She has to watch what she eats to lose 6 to 7 pounds of baby fat. Her diet includes (among other things of course) vegetable salad and wheat bread. No rice please. “Sana may pagbabago,” she laughs.

If He Were, If She Were

2007-04-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

John Lloyd and Bea: If He Were, If She Were
Funfare by: Ricardo F. Lo, Philippine Star
April 20, 2003

If Jestoni Alarcon and Lara Fabregas had a daughter (which is impossible because they’re married to different partners, Jestoni to non-showbiz wife Lizette and Lara to Raymond Bagatsing from whom she’s separated), she would be, yes, Bea Alonzo.

That, I suppose, is the most graphic way of describing Bea who plays Katrina in the hit ABS-CBN soap Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay, a cross between Jestoni and Lara. In short, very pretty.

And how would you describe John Lloyd Cruz, 19, who plays Yuri in the same soap (topbilled by Lorna Tolentino and, among others, Rica Peralejo)? Well, he’s very decent, very wholesome. He should have been a seminarian instead of an actor. Very saintly-looking.

No wonder Bea and John Lloyd blend beautifully together in Kay Tagal like two scoops of Magnolia ice cream, vanilla flavor, and tele-fans have been going gaga over television’s newest hit loveteam (coming after the likes of Kristine Hermosa and Jericho Rosales of Pangako Sa’Yo fame, etc.).

There lie the wonder and the magic of it all. If truth be told: John Lloyd has been going steady with Ciara Sotto for more than one year now; while Bea, although she looks mature, is barely out of her teens (age “confidential,” according to Bea) and deems herself much too young to have a boyfriend.

And yet, they click as a loveteam even if the “love” between them is for reel, not for real. Which simply means that as Katrina and Yuri, they look good together and are convincing and credible as sweethearts. Ask avid followers of Kay Tagal.

Fifty-percent British and 50-percent Filipino, Bea is Fhylbert Angellie Fagestrom in real life and is not, contrary to what many fans believe, related to Chinggoy Alonso (with an “s”). She stands 5’7″ and is a Scorpion (Nov. 17). Bea and her only sibling (a brother) grew up with their mom, Mary Anne Renollo, who broke up with her British boyfriend when Bea was four years old. She hasn’t seen her father since then.

Bea studied here (she has never been to England, her estranged father’s native country) and she’s now in third-year high school through the DECS home-study program.

“I have always wanted to be in showbiz,” said Bea who was launched last year as a member of the ABS-CBN Talent Center’s Star Circle Batch 10 along with 23 other starry-eyed aspirants. “Although I was underaged, I joined the Miss Pasig contest last year, even if we’re living in Taguig, and I finished third runner-up.”

That was her one-way ticket to showbiz. A talent scout spotted her and brought her to the Talent Center auditions. She barely made it to the deadline.

Although she has appeared in A.S.A.P., MTB and K2BU, Bea got her big break in Kay Tagal where she blossomed from a nerd (complete with thick glasses) into a head-turning charmer who initially wanted to take revenge on Yuri, a playboy-lawyer, only to end up falling for him – and vice-versa.

On the other hand, John Lloyd is a “veteran” of soap operas having done three (Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka, Tabing-Ilog with Kaye Abad who is his former girlfriend and Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan) before he was cast in Kay Tagal which is getting for him all the attention that the three other soaps have not. (He has done three movies, all for Star Cinema, which haven’t sufficiently tapped his acting talent – no wonder I can’t remember the title of even one of them).

A Cancerian (June 24), John Lloyd was a member of the Star Circle Batch 5, launched in 1997, along with Baron Geisler, Marc Solis and Tanya Garcia who was later “pirated” by GMA 7. He’s one of three children and the only one remaining here with his parents (the rest are abroad).

John Lloyd is so believable as a cocky young lawyer in Kay Tagal that you wonder if he ever dreamed of becoming one instead of an actor.

“I never dreamed to be in showbiz because I used to find it so baduy. Natutuhan ko na lang mahalin ang profession na ’to. I wanted to be a soldier, a marine, and then a scientist. I’ve always been fascinated by Ernie Baron. When I was younger, I thought he was a scientist. But my fond dream is to be a pilot. Until now, I still dream of flying a plane. When I go back to school,” added John Lloyd who had to temporarily quit school, “maybe I should take up a course in flying.”

There you are, Katrina and Yuri.

Meanwhile, let’s put the Kay Tagal lovebirds to a “compatibility test” and find out how they fare. (Find out for yourselves at the end of the “test”.)

So what would Bea and John Lloyd be if she were, if he were…

Bird:
John Lloyd: Lovebirds. They are happy together, aren’t they? Take one away and the other sulks. But I don’t want to be cooped up inside a cage. Gusto ko, lovebirds (kami) na lumilipad, malayang-malaya. Just the name, ang ganda na – lovebirds. It’s nice to fall in love. . . to love and be loved.

Bea: A dove. God used a dove to check if the big flood had subsided during the time of Noah, remember?

Flower:
John Lloyd: Tulips. Very elegant ang tulips, di ba? Especially white tulips.

Bea: Rose – white rose. A rose can convey a lot of meanings, depending on its color.

Tree:
John Lloyd: Acacia tree, so I can let many people rest in my shade. Care-giver ako, e.

Bea: Coconut. It has many uses – for food, for shelter, for a lot of other things.

Song:
John Lloyd: The type sung by Cynthia Alexander. Very poetic, very deep, maraming meanings. You listen to a Cynthia Alexander song and you’ll know what I mean. Her songs are subject to different kinds of explanations, depending on who’s listening to the song(s). Motorbykle is one of them. One line goes… This is the game and this is the cycle. I interpret that line in many ways.

Bea: R&B. It’s cool, di ba? My favorite song is I’m Real by J.Lo. Sobrang pang-bagets. Every line in that song para bang speaks for me.

Book:
John Lloyd: Sorry but I’m not much of a bookworm. I’d rather read mga discovery magazines. But I do like inspirational books, like Conversations with God. Books na mga eye-opener.

Bea: A romantic novel, like A Walk to Remember. But I really prefer to read magazines than books, especially magazines with lots of pictures. But if I were a book, I’d be a coloring book because my life is full of colors.

Movie:
John Lloyd: No sci-fi for me. I go for love stories. I’m romantic by nature. I also like movies with uplifting themes, such as Patch Adams (starring Robin Williams).

Bea: Drama. I don’t go for comedies; at saka, hindi ako pang-sitcom. My favorite movie is Castaway. Awang-awa ako kay Tom Hanks doon sa movie na ’yon.

Car:
John Lloyd: A BMW 7 Series. I love big cars ever since I was a kid. If a car is small, it gives me a “suffocating” feeling. I like big cars because they have a lot of space; you can breathe freely. Right now, I’m driving an Expedition; before, a CRV. But my dream car is a BMW 7 Series. When I get rich, I’ll buy one.

Bea: A sports car. I’ll save and buy one.

Another Actor/Actress:
John Lloyd: Johnny Delgado (his co-star in Kay Tagal). I like his attitude. Iba siya, e. He’s in the business for the craft; hindi takot sumubok kahit anong role. He’s at home in any role.

Bea: Julia Roberts. I’ve watched all her movies and I love them all. She looks carefree, parang walang problema sa buhay.

Hero/Heroine:
John Lloyd: Daredevil (played by Ben Affleck in the movie). At night, he’s blind but he’s a fighter. Ayoko lang ng name niya. Parang devilish. Maybe a Dark Angel?

Bea: Gabriela Silang. Ang tapang niya, di ba?

Saint:
John Lloyd: I’m a renewed Christian and I don’t believe in saints. I believe only in Jesus.

Bea: St. Anne. The high school where I studied was named after her.

City:
John Lloyd: Among those that I’ve visited… yes, L.A. It’s so laid-back. Leisurely ang pace, unlike New York where everything and everybody moves fast, as if forever racing against one another and against time. Nakakahilo!

Bea: New York. I haven’t been there, I’ve only been reading a lot about it, but that’s the kind of city that I want to be in. A city that never sleeps. Siguro if I had a chance to go there, I’d stay awake 24 hours a day. I won’t sleep, just like the city, because there are lots of places to go and lots of things to do.

Video Game:
John Lloyd: I’m not a computer freak, so I can’t say which one or which video game character I’d like to be.

Bea: I’d be Renoa, the character in my favorite video game, Final Fantasy. She’s very pretty. I wish I were like her. I keep wondering how somebody could have created such a beautiful face.

Part of the House:
John Lloyd: The bathroom. I spend long hours in the bathroom. Inside the bathroom, ang feeling ko ang layo-layo ko sa mga problema, walang ka-stress-stress! I do many things in the bathroom: I bubble-bath, I read scripts, I memorize my lines, I talk to friends on the phone, I take my time. Next to the bathroom, I want to be the dining area because that’s the part of our house where I want to entertain my friends and visitors.

Bea: Garden. I love plants and colorful flowers. When I’m in a garden, everything seems to be at peace with me and the world.

A Man/Woman:
John Lloyd: I’d be prim and proper. Ako, when I started in showbiz I was prim and proper but I have loosened up since then.

Bea: It’d be makulit pero a gentleman.

Perfume
John Lloyd: Extreme (Bvlgari). Perfume can add to a romantic atmosphere, it can enhance romance, so you should be careful about the kind of perfume that you wear. When I visit Ciara, I wear Crave (by Calvin Klein). That’s the scent that she wants to smell in me.

Bea: I won’t ever be a perfume because I don’t use one. Hanggang baby cologne lang ako. The scene is very subtle. My favorite is Victoria’s Secret cologne.

Food
John Lloyd: Native dishes. My favorite meal is breakfast – sinangag, tuyo or tinapa, carabao milk, scrambled egg with mustasa (”invented” by my Dad).

Bea: Pasta. But I’m on a diet now so I can’t eat as much pasta as I want to.

Color
John Lloyd: Black. It reflects my personality. Extremes ako, e. I function better in the dark.

Bea: White – symbol of purity.

An Animal
John Lloyd: A cat. It’s very gentle, di ba?

Bea: I won’t ever be an animal, especially not a dog. I have a phobia for dogs because when I was a kid, I was bitten twice by a dog. If you want to scare me, bring a dog close to me.

Part of the Planetary System
John Lloyd: The moon. I like kasi to appear big and bright at nighttime. Watch a full moon on a quiet night. Ang ganda tingnan, di ba?

Bea: I’d be the sun. It’s the sun which gives light to the world, di ba? I want to be a light-giver.

If Not Himself/Herself, Who Would He/She Rather Be?
John Lloyd: A male counterpart of Lady Di. She helped a lot of people. Nasa puso niya ang pagtulong sa kapwa and I love her for that. I’d be Lady Di’s male version. Matulungin ako, basically. I’m happiest when I help somebody.

Bea: My Lola (Luzviminda Doblon). She’s my role model. I grew up with her. Lola’s Girl ako, e!