Minsan nang sinubukan ng singer-actress na si Cris Villonco ang showbiz. In fact, she made a movie with the late Fernando Poe Jr., Ang Dalubhasa (2000). That was her first and last film.
Cris also did some recordings and released three albums. Pero tila ang buhay niya talaga at masasabing binabalik-balikan ay ang teatro. Siya ang gaganap na female lead sa Romeo and Bernadette ng Repertory Philippines.
Galing si Cris sa isang showbiz family. Ang lola niya ay ang singer-actress na si Armida Siguion-Reyna at tito naman niya ang direktor na si Carlitos Siguion-Reyna. But she has found her niche more in theater than in showbiz.
"Well, it's not na hindi ko gusto ang showbiz," paglilinaw ni Cris sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal). "Alam ko na hindi ko kaya. I think with show business, you can't just have talent. You need to do a lot of other things. That's why I really admire celebrities.
"You know, I just don't like it when people tell me what to do. And I think, with show business, with the image that you create, with everything, everybody around you telling you what to do, it's very difficult for me because I like to do things at my own pace, and I'd like to do things the way I want.
"Now, I do not want to be misinterpreted because I really admire the celebrities, the people in show business. You know, people are complaining that they are being paid so high and all that they do is to stand there. No, showbiz is a lifestyle, it's your life. You never veer away from that. Whatever you are, whether you are Sarah Geronimo or John Lloyd Cruz, you know, that's your life. You cannot hide from anything. So, I think, on my part, I value my privacy, sitting in a corner and just staying with it," paliwanag ng singer-actress.
FINDING HER PLACE ON STAGE. After releasing her third album, Cris finished her Liberal Arts course with concentration in Music and Economic Development at Sarah Lawrence College in New York.
Ano ang nangyari sa albums na na-record niya?
"I had three, pero the thing is, na-dishearten na yata ako," pag-amin ni Cris. "I don't know what I want to do, e. There's so many things that were there for the taking, di ba? Whether to be a host, a part of the teleserye, or to be in movie... everything.
"Now, when I came back here, I just don't wanna perform. Period. I just wanted to live a very, very quiet life. Actually, my first year here, I worked for two foundations. Their names are Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, which is based in Geneva but they have a Manila office. And what they do is deal with conflict resolution particularly in Sulu. And the other one is the Asia Society Philippines Foundation. It has a branch in New York and their aim is promoting Asian culture, lifestyle..."
Ayaw na raw bumalik ni Cris sa buhay niya noon, not knowing what to do next. Kaya nag-audition siya sa stage play na Cinderella at dun siya nagsimulang muli.
Pero nag-work din daw siya sa Disneyland, Hong Kong, as a vocalist in a show for a year. Hindi nga lang siya allowed na sabihin kung anong show ito.
ROMEO & BERNADETTE. Bagamat napakarami nang nagawang stage plays ni Cris, challenge pa rin daw sa kanya ang Romeo and Bernadette, na mapapanood sa Onstage, Greenbelt 1 from February 5 to 28.
"The hardest thing here is to be funny because I'm not funny," sabi niya. "I'm very dramatic. Drama Queen, emotional. I'm not funny. I can do serious. You make me cry now, I can cry. I'm super-drama queen."
Does it help na si PJ Valerio ang leading man niya sa Romeo and Bernadette?
"PJ?" natatawang bulalas ni Cris. "Well, I love PJ, it's just that he's young. Yung utak niya lang talaga minsan, hay! But when he's working, he's really serious. And he's really serious about his craft, about developing it. So, wala talaga akong masabi sa kanya and that's it."
PJ is only 19 while Cris is 26 years old.
Anong similarities meron ang real Cris Villonco with her role as Bernadette in Romeo and Bernadette?
"I think the only difference with Bernadette is that she's a tough talker, she curses, she does everything outside. Me, you can be sure I'm thinking the same thing but it's inside!" tawa niya.
LOVE ON STAGE. Hindi naman itinanggi ni Cris that for two years now, she's been keeping a romantic relationship with another stage actor, Niccolo Manahan. Niccolo is a nephew of Mr. Johnny Manahan, head of ABS-CBN's Star Magic.
So far, wala pa raw silang napag-uusapan about settling down.
"Ask him, 'no, not me!" natatawang sabi ni Cris.
Pero kung siya, kailan niya nakikita ang sarili walking down the aisle?
"Oh, gosh, I hope naman before I reach 35!" sambit niya. "I'm 26 years old now... So I hope, it's still nine years, but you can never can tell."
Inamin din ni Cris na mas nai-intimidate siya kay Niccolo kesa si Niccolo sa kanya.
"I was... I really was. Because Niccolo is one of the Rep's stars. He was the Prince Charming in Cinderella and I was the selosa. So, it's hard, you know, being with a co-star.
Dugtong pa niya, "Actually in plays, I run to him when I need to, like with this one. I needed him. I needed him to tell me I was okay. If he said I wasn't, then I would probably feel insecure."
Ngayon daw ay masasabi ni Cris na nahanap na niya kung ano talaga ang gusto niyang gawin.
"I think, I'm more secure in terms of my place in performing. Sa showbiz, hindi ako magsasalita ng tapos. Kung may offer naman, e, di sige, let's study. If I like it, then go!"