Bea on John Lloyd: We’re two very different people

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Dream Factory

Bea Alonzo is understandably nervous these days. Her last movie with John Lloyd Cruz, "One More Chance" was a huge blockbuster. Since then, Lloydie has done two movies with Sarah Geronimo that are both mammoth hits. Now, Bea’s movie without her perennial partner, "And I Love You So," is about to be shown and this is a test case for her.

"Sana naman, tanggapin din ito ng tao kahit hindi si Lloydie ang kasama ko," she says.

She’s paired with two hunks, Derek Ramsay and Sam Milby, in this romantic drama about love, loss, letting go and moving on. She plays Lara, a young wife who loses her husband of five months and becomes inconsolable, just like Hilary Swank in "P.S. I Love You" after Gerard Butler died. Her business suffers, she can’t even pay her condo and car mortgages. "It’s a difficult role kasi iyak ka nang iyak."

But she seems not to have any difficulty shedding tears on cam, as seen in the soaps she did. "When I was starting, mahirap din. But as you grow in this business at lagi mong ginagawa, all you have to do is internalize the role and the tears flow naturally."

How does she feel about Lloydie being linked with Ruffa Gutierrez and not with her when they’ve been paired for eight years now?

"Sila na ba talaga? Mas maganda naman talaga si Ruffa kaysa sa’kin. Siguro ‘di niya ako talaga type, never niya akong niligawan, and I never entertained thoughts din naman na liligawan niya ko kasi we don’t have much in common. We’re two very different people. But we remain good friends. Actually, I have more things in common with Sam. Mas jaded nga lang ako kay Sam kasi I grew up too fast in showbiz."

For the first time, she dons a revealing two-piece in "And I Love You So" and everyone notices how much weight she lost. What did she do? "Ginaya ko lang si Angelica Panganiban, I avoid all carbs. I just eat boiled saging na saba and hardboiled egg. It worked. I also do yoga. I really had to reduce for the movie kasi ang guguwapo nina Sam at Derek, baka magmukha akong nanay nila."

So is it true she’s now very close to Sam who’s negotiable, while Derek is already taken by Angelica?

"Sam made his first movie with us ni Lloydie three years ago, ‘Close to You.’ Since then, friends na kami. But I’m loveless now. I don’t even date anyone. My only concern is ‘And I Love You So’. Sana magustuhan ng tao at kumita."

The film opens nationwide on August 12, and premieres in the US on August 14 to 20 at UA Stonestown in San Francisco, Regal Village in Las Vegas, UA Horton Plaza in San Diego, and August 15 to 21 in Guam. Bea will personally attend the premiere at Osceola Performing Center in Orlando, Florida on August 22.

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We thought pandemonium would break out at the premiere night at Trinoma Cinema 7 last Monday as hundreds of annoyed people weren’t allowed to get in even if they had tickets. The theater was already jampacked with viewers and the security men wouldn’t allow additional people to get in to insure the safety of everyone. The screening started so late as TV crews were allowed to interview stars Judy Ann Santos and Ogie Alcasid right where they were seated.

The movie is a combination of narrative elements from films like "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Slumdog Millionaire," "Notting Hill," etc. It doesn’t always work, but what holds it together is the earnestness of the performances of Juday and Ogie in the lead roles. They both give heartfelt portrayals of childhood friends who get separated and see each other again when Juday is already a big movie star and Ogie is a lowly cellphone repairman.

But the ones who elicited the most laughs were Roderick Paulate (as the gay vendor who adopts Ogie) and Carmi Martin (as the starlet who adopts Juday and grooms her to be a superstar). They both give unashamed riotous portrayals, complete with a dance duel in one of the film’s climactic moments.

Also stealing some scenes are guest stars Sharon Cuneta as Manang Guada (her name in "Pasan Ko ang Daigdig"), the fortuneteller Juday and Ogie used to consult as kids, and Regine Velasquez as a very forward production assistant. There are plenty of other guest stars like Chokoleit, Jason Abalos, Francine Prieto, etc. We just wished they polished the script first before shooting as a number of director Dante Garcia’s jokes fall flat. They’re the kind that’s funnier when you discuss them during brainstorming sessions, then something gets lost in the execution on the big screen. He should be thankful that his stars are adept and skillful enough to save the shortcomings of the material. "Oh My Girl" is now showing in theaters nationwide.

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Michelle Madrigal was at the Embassy Bar with brother and sister Paolo and Bubbles Paraiso the night that NBA star Kobe Bryant also went there on his last night in Manila. She got the surprise of her life when Kobe approached her at their table and asked her: "So how’s ‘Zorro’?"

"Siempre, nagulat ako na alam niya ang ‘Zorro,’" she laughs. "Gusto ko ngang sagutin ng ‘Why? Do you have GMA Pinoy TV at home kaya mo alam ang ‘Zorro’? Yun pala, yung black guy who earlier talked to me and asked me what I’m doing, yun pala ang road manager niya rito. Tinanong ako kung anong ginagawa ko and I said I’m an actress who’s doing the show ‘Zorro’. Kaya yun ang opening line ni Kobe Bryant sa’kin."

How did she feel about it?

"Natural flattered ako. Actually, he was earlier in a table na may mga babaeng mukhang patay na patay sa kanya so he left them at lumapit nga sa amin. Sabi pa sa’kin, you’re gorgeous and beautiful, kaya ayan, ang haba ng hair ko. Sabi ko, thank you."

What if he’d seriously woo her?

"Ay naku, hindi po ako homewrecker. Common knowledgena he’s married with children. So kung binobola man niya ako or what, tinanggap ko na lang at nag-thank you ako sa kanya. Hanggang dun lang yun."

Michelle is sad that "Zorro" is ending next week. "But I’m glad to have been a part of it dahil nabigyan ako ng chance to play a demure provinciana as Juana. Akala kasi ng iba, puede lang ako sa mataray at kontrabida roles. So napatunayan ko ritong puede rin akong maging mahinhin."

So what happens to Juana in "Zorro"?

"She’d realize na mahal niya si Bernardo (Antonio Aquitania) kahit pipi ito at ikakasal kami rito."

While she’s in between shows, she wants to review for a college qualifying exam.

"Hindi kasi ako tapos ang high school so I want to take the exam at, kapag naipasa ko yun, then I can go to college."

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It is still almost a year before the elections but we’re already bombarded by politicians promoting their advocacies and making promises. So you want to be president? GMA News and Public Affairs presents "Gusto Kong Maging Pangulo!," a prelude to the coming 2010 presidential elections – the country’s most significant political event. The special takes us through the start of a presidential campaign, the workings behind political machinery, and ultimately, what it takes to secure a bid for the highest office in the land, as hosted by veteran journalist and news anchor Mike Enriquez and the special participation of Ariel and Maverick.

As Mike Enriquez brings us the latest updates on the upcoming presidential race, the two comedians join the circus and run for the presidency. Not knowing where to begin, they take to the streets of Metro Manila to find out eligibility requirements, scavenge election funds, mount their own campaign, form a political party, and promote themselves to the public. But it’s no easy task. The contest is on even before the candidates are made official. Not everyone who wants to run for president, can and will be able to do so. Because the next president is being made right now. The race to the seat of power examined in GMA’s "Gusto Kong Maging Pangulo!" airs every Sunday night, after "Ful Haus."

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Those who love comedy will enjoy "Front Act," a 30-minute alternative comedy show hosted by Mike Unson and Stanley Chi of the guild of professional comic artists, Comedy Cartel. Featuring different topics and issues as well as prominent personalities presented in a light and comic point of view, "Front Act" is a funny, upbeat, and refreshing comedy show that will make you laugh until sunset before Joey de Leon’s "Wow Mali." Joey’s son Jako, is one of the producers of "Front Act." So that makes TV5 the home of the father and son humor of Joey and Jaco every Sunday afternoon with "Front Act" at 5:30 p.m. and "Wow Mali" at 6 p.m.

Source: Malaya

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