Wearing a crisp white polo and shades, John Lloyd Cruz looked like he was ready for a summer-themed fashion pictorial.
It was a bright sunny day yesterday, April 6, when John Lloyd agreed to do an exclusive interview for PEPtalk, the online web show of Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph).
Serving as the hosts of this particular episode were PEP section editor Demai Granali and PEP contributor Rose Garcia, whom John Lloyd described as his “kumare.”
At the start of the interview, John Lloyd cheerfully greeted online viewers by saying, “Hi PEPsters! Parang Popsters ni Sarah...” [Geronimo, his leading lady in the movie It Takes a Man and a Woman.]
Rose first asked the actor to describe a typical day for him. She curiously asked, “Do you still get to work out?”
John Lloyd quipped, “Tambayan ko ang gym. I work out a lot.”
He turned serious as he said, “Depende kasi. It gets toxic kapag nagsabay ang teleserye at ang movie, alam niyo naman yun.
“Pag ganun, wala kang time gumawa ng endorsements or commercials.
“Pero pinakamaganda, pinaka-ideal, you do it one at a time. Teleserye muna then movie.
“You tape three times a week pero minsan humihirap ang sitwasyon, minsan may tendency na I work every day.
“Basically, I work from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
“Kung three times a week, you get to rest the next day.”
EARLY RETIREMENT. Given the number of projects being given by his home network ABS-CBN and its film arm, Star Cinema, John Lloyd is considered as one of the busiest actors of his generation.
He recalled the night before the third installment of the Miggy-Laida love story was screened in cinemas. This romantic comedy opened in theaters on Black Saturday. March 30.
“March 29 ng gabi, kinakabahan ako, natatakot ako... hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling ang takot.
“Napaiyak na 'ko, kinakabahan na 'ko.”
He admitted that he was nervous about the reception of moviegoers to his latest movie.
During the presscon of It Takes a Man and a Woman, John Lloyd revealed that he was considering the possibility of early retirement from showbiz.
PEP.ph took this opportunity to ask John Lloyd to clarify his past declaration.
Rose directly asked, “Marami ang nagulat when you said the word retirement, seryoso ka ba dun?
“Let's face it, you're on top talaga. Pag sinabing JLC movie, sobrang box office talaga.”
The Box-Office King looked out the window of the Star Cinema office and deadpanned, “On top? Hindi ba second floor lang ito?”
When asked to elaborate on his plans for early retirement, John Lloyd admitted:
“Alam n'yo, sometimes you say things...
“Ideally, when I say early retirement, hindi naman totally wala ka na sa [entertainment scene]...
“I talked with Tito Boy [Abunda] and lumabas nagko-contradict ang sinasabi ko previously.
“Yung tipong, 'naniniwala ka in contradictions?' Sabi ko, that's life.
“That's how you evolve.
“Hindi dahil may sinabi ka noon, yun na yun.
“Yun yung naramdaman ko at that moment.
“Now if I were to explain ang konsepto ko ng early retirement, basically... hopefully, several years from now, within five to ten years, I'm thinking na more relaxed...
“Mas pili [ang projects], yung pacing...
“It's more like having the luxury of choice.
“Kaya ina-associate ko ang early retirement sa quality of life.
“Yun lang naman ang ibig kong sabihin.
"Because who wants to be toxic in life?"
Rose commented, “So, more on less stress?”
John Lloyd agreed by saying, “Correct.”
Rose pointed out, “At least malinaw kasi natakot sila [fans] na mawala ka.”
John Lloyd sincerely said, “Pasensiya na po. Siyempre may mga sumusuporta, may mga na-disappoint.
“I remember Bobby Ongpin saying he finds it funny about Manny Pangilinan talking about early retirement.
“These are people who are in their 50s and 60s, e, ako wala pa akong 30 and I'm talking about early retirement.
“What does that make me?
“Some stupid guy?
“Kanya-kanya lang pero pasintabi dun sa mga nabigla, especially dun sa mga sumusuporta sa akin, yun lang po yun.
“Sana naipaliwanag nang mas maigi ngayon.”
Demai then asked John Lloyd: “Speaking of quality of life that you aspire for, could you elaborate kung anong quality of life ang gusto mo ma-achieve sa coming years?”
John Lloyd admitted, “Para sa amin, number one luxury para sa amin is time...
“Time with your family, time with your friends, and more importantly, time for ourselves.”
Would he like to be able to travel more?
“Yun nga ang quality of life, it's not all about work... success,” said the Kapamilya actor with a smile.
Are there any specific places that he wants to explore in the future?
“Kakagaling ko lang sa Palawan at makikita mo na ang ganda-ganda ng Pilipinas,” he said with pride.
“Ang dami-dami na puwede makita, especially down South.
“Ang daming magandang i-explore.
“I like Europe so kung may time ako, baka nandun ako.
“In the US naman, I'm a New York baby, puwede mo akong i-drop lang dun.”
During the latter part of the interview, John Lloyd revealed that if he does opt for early retirement, this decision will be supported by his family.
The actor recalled a time when he was physically tired because of his workload.
John Lloyd revealed, “Sabi nga ng daddy ko... sabi niya, 'Gusto mo tumigil ka na?'
“Noong panahon na kita niya akong hirap na hirap, pagod na pagod. Sabi niya, 'Anak, kung gusto mong tumigil na, okay lang.'”
Click here to watch the PEPtalk with John Lloyd Cruz episode!