Rumored couple Janine Gutierrez and Rayver Cruz went to Paris to celebrate Janine's birthday last October 2.
Janine went earlier during the latter part of September to attend the Paris Fashion Week festivities, while Rayver caught up with her much later, September 24.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked Janine which part of Paris they enjoyed visiting the most.
“Sa Versailles,” she said.
“Inisip ko kasi kung ano ang gusto kong gawin for my birthday, 'tapos ang gusto ko talaga is mag-Versailles.
“'Tapos, iyon nagpunta kami ni Ray.”
THE PLACES THEY VISITED
A first-timer to the famed European city, Janine admitted that she enjoyed driving around in a golf cart within the premises of Château de Versailles.
She said, “Kasi super laki nung garden sa Versailles so sabi nung iang friend ko, ‘Dalhin mo yung lisensiya mo pag nagpunta ka kasi puwede kang mag-rent ng golf cart.”
She also disclosed that they enjoyed their picture-taking sessions in the city's world-famous sights such as the Eiffel Tower, which they also visited for the first time.
She remarked, “Nakakakilabot!”
“And we weren’t planning to go up, pero pagdating dun, parang nainggit ako dun sa mga nakapila so umakyat na rin kami!”
And when they did reach the tower's peak, what they saw was a breathtaking view.
Janine gushed, “Grabe, super-ganda! Super-ganda!”
For his part, Rayver couldn't help but feel just as awestruck by the romantic city's majestic sites.
In an earlier interview, he disclosed, “Kasi nakikita ko lang siya sa movies, e. Kahit mga Hollywood movies, ang daming nagsu-shooting dun, e.
"'Tapos, nakikita ko lang sa pictures, like yung Eiffel Tower, yung Château de Versailles. Marami, marami akong napuntahan na tuwang-tuwa ako."
“Maganda! Tuwang-tuwa ako…Sobra akong natuwa, para akong bata dun sa buong trip.
“'Tsaka tuwang-tuwa ako kapag kumukuha kami ng ticket na yung may tour talaga, may audio guide 'tapos meron kang local na nagtu-tour sa ‘yo, gusto ko yung ganun.
“'Tsaka yung Versailles kasi parang, sobrang laki nung garden niya, kasi parang siya na yung dulo ng Île-de-France [Island of France] e, parang dulo na siya, e.
“Yung lupa niya sobrang laki, hindi mo kayang ikutin yung garden ng isang oras lang kasi marami rin siyang something sa garden, so nag-rent kami ng old cart 'tapos sinulit talaga namin.”
REUNION WITH RAYVER’S COUSIN IN PARIS
Was her birthday and Paris tour made even more memorable because of Rayver's presence?
She admitted, “Yes, opo.
“Natiyempuhan din kasi na meron siyang pinsan sa Paris, si Ate Tess.”
Tess is the sister of actress Sunshine Cruz.
She continued, “So habang nagpa-Fashion Week ako, siya naman, namamasyal kasama yung cousin niya.
"'Tapos, happy rin kasi nakapunta ako sa bahay ng pinsan niya, ipinagluto kami, super-bait and iyon, happy kasi nakaikot din ako nang may kasama.”
Janine also recounted how she and Rayver would take turns shooting each other's photos in Paris' scenic spots, such as the Eiffel Tower and Versailles.
Since Paris is also a renowned shopping destination, we asked the Kapuso actress if they also went on a shopping spree.
“Konti lang, isang bag lang,” she humbly admitted.
RAYVER’S BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
Janine also praised Rayver for planning the surprise.
Initially, she said that she was teasing Rayver, whom she had always known as someone who didn't have the knack for planning.
She narrated, “Super nakakatuwa kasi niloloko ko siya dati na hindi siya marunong magplano, kasi nga lahat ng labas niya ng ibang bansa was with Star Magic, so nakaayos lahat.”
Apparently, when he was still with ABS-CBN, all of Rayver's itineraries for his foreign sorties would always be planned by Star Magic, ABS-CBN's talent management arm.
She added, “So nung first time na nag-Japan kami with my sisters sabi ko, ‘Hala hindi marunong mag-train, ano ba yan? Akala ko iikot mo ako dito?’
“Hindi pala marunong, kasi palaging nakakotse, naka-service.”
Much to her surprise, Rayver did his homework for their Paris trip. And one of the things that he worked out perfectly was their dinner date for Janine's birthday.
Janine continued, “So this time nag-effort siya at nag-plano siya.
“And yung restaurant was parang right across the Eiffel Tower, so yung view namin was the Eiffel Tower na umiilaw, so super-ganda!”
Given the chance, Janine would love to revisit Paris again soon.
“Super-ganda!” she echoed in awe.
PEP.ph caught up with Janine last Friday, October 18, during the opening of her new nail spa, I DO Nails, located at Ayala Malls The 30th, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.