MANILA, Philippines - The cliché rings very true in the case of John Lloyd Cruz — no, you can’t put a good man down.

As they say, like a fruit-laden tree which is a favorite target of sticks and stones, the more popular an actor is the harsher he is placed under the magnifying glass. But like the tree, he only becomes sturdier with every stoning.

What a Hollywood actor said is true: The only thing an actor owes the public is a good performance. What he does off-frame is his own calling and he owes nobody any apology if his actions are not hazardous to the public.

The “unfavorable” write-ups have hardly affected John Lloyd’s box-office standing. Like their first three starrers, his and Bea Alonzo’s latest, Star Cinema’s post-Valentine offering Miss You Like Crazy, is expected to draw record crowds. It’s again directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, the so-called “natural” director because she can make even the most trite scene look, that’s it, natural and not “forced through.” Remember Sarah Geronimo doing the rain dance in A Very Special Love (also with John Lloyd as leading man)? Cute, isn’t it?

To clear the air, Funfare put John Lloyd on the hot seat as soon as he and Bea came back last Sunday from Malaysia where they shot some scenes for two weeks. In MYLC, John Lloyd plays a man successful in his work but bored with his girlfriend (Maricar Reyes) until he meets Bea (who works as a front-desk girl in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur).

How was your shoot in Malaysia?

“Masaya pero mahirap dahil sa dami ng dapat tapusin. We would shoot nine sequences per day with a skeleton crew.”

According to Bea in a Funfare interview, you used to be like a “closed book,” aloof and quiet. And now, you are daw like an “open book” na.

“Maybe what she was referring to was kung paano ang relationship ko with the staff. But after three movies, direk Cathy’s staff and I have become like a family; we are comfortable working together. Maganda ‘yung closeness namin.”

Why do you think you and Bea click as a love team both on TV and in film even if you are not sweethearts in real life (just like Carmen Rosales and Rogelio dela Rosa, Gloria Romero and Luis Gonzales, Susan Roces and Eddie Gutierrez, and Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon)?

“Aside from the chemistry, the success of our love team is material-based; marami kaming nagawang projects na magaganda ang stories.”

Hasn’t it ever entered your mind to court Bea?

“Hmmmm, I’d be lying if I say na hindi ko naisip ‘yon. We were younger then at ang focus namin pareho ay sa work. And also, let’s not forget that at that time, when Bea and I became a love team, may girlfriend ako, si Ana (Ciara Sotto who recently got married to Jojo Oconer). And then, naging kami ni Liz (Uy). In short, I was ‘committed’ so no way that I could even entertain the idea of courting Bea.”

How did you feel when Ciara got married?

“I saw their wedding photo. I knew that they were getting married pero nagulat lang ako na tapos na pala. It was KC (Concepcion, Ciara’s cousin) who told me.”

After Liz Uy, who?

“Girlfriend? Kung kanino ako naging ‘committed’ uli? None yet!”

What about Ruffa (Gutierrez)?

(Hesitates) “Basta, after Liz hindi pa uli naging ‘committed’.”

And Shaina Magdayao (with whom John Lloyd was reported drinking at a favorite showbiz hangout)?

“Basta, after Liz, hindi pa ako uli naging ‘committed’.”

What’s between you and Shaina?

“Hmmmm, we are just two people hanging out, having fun. We’ve become good friends; we have several common friends in and out of showbiz.”

Ruffa said she’s “fabulously single.”

“Oh yeah, it shows naman, di ba?”

What kind of relationship do you have with Ruffa?

“Isang napakagandang friendship.”

How did you spend Valentine’s?

“’Yung movie namin ni Bea is our post-Valentine celebration.” (Laughs)

Bea said she’s also “Valentine-less.”

“Yeah. Ang alam ko matagal na siyang walang boyfriend.”

About the “drinking” issue.

“During the presscon (for MYLC), a reporter indirectly asked me about it, saying ‘Nalasing ka na ba sa tagumpay?’ Of course, everybody knew what he was referring to. I answered straight, went directly to the point. Wala nang saysay para magpaliguy-ligoy pa. I confronted the issue once and for all. You know, sometimes we do things that we are not proud of, especially when you are part of this industry. I’d rather not focus on negative things kasi masasayang lang ang energy mo; I’d rather dwell on the positive. But I’m human, so...”

You and Bea have gone through so many things since your first team-up (in the ABS-CBN soap Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay). How have those experiences helped your acting?

“We’ve done movies with other partners and we’ve grown individually.”

Are you more comfortable now in your love scenes?

“Oh, yeah. Kahit matagal kaming hindi nagkasama, hindi nawawala ‘yung pagiging comfortable namin sa isa’t-isa.”

Among your leading ladies, sino ang pinaka-masarap halikan?

“Si Luis (Manzano in In My Life in which they play lovers). Hahahahaha! Memorable ang kissing scene namin.”

What will make you go into another “commitment”?

“I cannot tell. It’s all about timing. You know, it’s meeting the right woman at the right time. Puede akong makipag-commitment ngayon but if it doesn’t feel right, it will not work, wala ring pupuntahan.”

If ever, should she be older (like “R”), younger (like “S”) or as old as you are (like “L”)?

“Age doesn’t matter. There’s no way of telling. Sometimes, it’s better kung ‘surprise.’ I love surprises.”

Christian-Karylle US concert a hit

Love at Last, the first US tandem of Christian Bautista and Karylle, was a huge hit, according to a report.

Tickets were sold out for the pre-Valentine show at the Cache Creek Resort Casino’s Club 88 in California.

Christian and Karylle regaled the audience with mostly standards, plus signature hits from their respective albums.

In keeping with the Valentine season, they also rendered romantic duets like I’ve Finally Found Someone, The Way You Look Tonight, Please Be Careful With My Heart and Somewhere (from the musical West Side Story where they teamed up for the Manila run in 2008).

To everyone’s surprise, casino owner and general manager Randy Takemoto, with his wife Dina, made a rare appearance in the venue upon learning about the show’s successful turnout on the first night.

After the show, entertainment director Ben Slaght and the Takemoto couple personally congratulated Christian and Karylle.

A repeat is being planned for next year.

Boots’ ‘fruitful’ 65th birthday bash

When Boots Anson-Roa celebrated her 65th birthday last Jan. 30 at the MOWELFUND Compound in Quezon City, she requested the guests to donate to MOWELFUND’s drying-up funds in lieu of gifts. They responded accordingly.

Jose Mari Chan shelled out P65,000 to match the celebrator’s age.

“Sana pala 100th birthday ko na,” joked Boots as she thanked Joe Mari profusely.

Here’s Boots’ thank-you note to Funfare:

Prayers and blessings.

If it takes a 65th birthday celebration to rekindle ties with family and friends and simultaneously raise funds for the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc. (MOWELFUND), then I wouldn’t mind turning 70 tomorrow.

Thank you for making Jan. 30, 2010 doubly significant and memorable for MOWELFUND and me. It marked a milestone celebrated with people who have touched my life. More importantly, it provided an occasion to raise almost P500,000.00 for the Foundation.

Thank you, in particular, for sharing information with the public regarding the event and thereby promoting sustained interest in MOWELFUND and its welfare and film education programs that benefit thousands of underemployed and underprivileged movie industry workers.

Please continue to support MOWELFUND’s board, management, staff and members/beneficiaries as they face more formidable challenges in the coming years.

Thank you.

Yours truly,

— BOOTS ANSON-ROA

Executive Director

(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com)