#team up: john lloyd cruz and sarah geronimo

[popcornbutterflymedia]

there are things i just cannot let go of. there are stories that haunt, there are heavy emotions that i would gladly carry around with as much grace and privilege as i could muster. there are films that take hold of the heart, clings to your soul and leaves you breathless. this is one film, that refuses to leave me. this is me trying to find words for what this movie made me feel. imagine this being written after consuming boxes upon boxes of those magical honesty cookies. this isn’t a review, that’s just too generic for where i feel this post could go. think of this as my attempt at capturing where the film took my heart. 

i had every intention to see this movie ever since it was announced. there are only a few people i would blindly go into a movie for. it’s john lloyd, it’s sarah, and it’s direk ted. they were all the guarantees i needed. because of them, i knew what i was getting myself into, but because of john lloyd and sarah’s last three movies, and direk ted’s previous two, (yes, i’ve seen all five movies), i also did not know what will become of this new combination.

it’s a love story of a man and a woman who meet at such defining times in their lives. april is a woman who flourished her entire life in love, and is ready to embark on a love journey of her own. she has no reason to question love’s beauty and authenticity, until that idealism is challenged on what was supposed to be the beginning of her fairy tale. raffy is living life on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum, stoically so, to focus all his attention on his job and nothing else. his tendency to want success and control are notable, the fact that as a strategist, his job description entails manipulating the truth is a red flag, a reference point in the story. they meet at a crossroad in each of their lives and a change is about to take place. aren’t all love stories, stories of change? it messes with the way one feels, and rearranges how one thinks. until everything that is true is questioned, challenged and flipped over its head. 

i genuinely cannot remember the details of the story, but i do remember how it made me feel. and how it still is making me feel to this day. why do you think it took me this long to write it all down? i couldn’t bring myself to part with the weight of emotion it that it took up.

this is an entirely new story, and a new director who i love, whose last two films before this matter to me. i got a taste of the ashlloyd chemistry, and have an idea of what a direk ted film looks like. on one hand, not having the laida/miggy template left me a bit unsteady, on the other, not outgrowing that template will leave this team up stunted. to say that i went into this straddling the line between expecting too much and not hoping for anything at all is an understatement.

a little bit of history: i saw the mmk episode that started it all. she was already sarah geronimo and he was already john lloyd cruz, both powerhouses in their own right, but such unlikely partners. i remember not knowing what to think when i saw their plugs. it made me a bit nervous. when the episode aired, i remember not being able to look away. i did not cringe, it shouldn’t work, but it did, i was fixated, and could not stop smiling.

watching the trilogy left me with a happy heart. i could not look away. the chemistry was real, but i did not bother to understand why, charging it to sarah’s natural charm and john lloyd’s ever reliable skill. the movies always gave me a lovely high for a certain amount of time, which would eventually die down when sarah went back to her popstar thrown and john lloyd went back to bea, or whoever he was working with, in a new film or tv show after each film. this was my routine three times every four years, because this was sarah and john lloyd’s routine, and i did not think much of it. until this movie.

john lloyd to me has always been a no brainer, a foregone conclusion, a default and reliable choice. people on social media would ask me who i think the best local actors are, and i would give them a list of my usual suspects. john lloyd has never been part of that list. he doesn’t need my approval.

let’s talk about the two times i saw john lloyd in person: the first was at a mall one day. mama and i passed by an autograph line of up and coming celebrities giving away calendars to be signed. i was young and so awkward with any human interaction, not just celebrities. he was busy signing calendars when i saw him look up for a moment and made eye contact. i walked away quickly from that table, not knowing that my mother stopped, and was having a calendar signed for me. that woman was hard to please, but oddly supportive to the point of my embarrassment.

the second time was on the set of ‘close to you,’ a bea/john lloyd movie. i got there on a saturday afternoon, the terrace was full of busy production people and bea was there in one of the wicker seats talking to a couple of people from the crew. john lloyd came later. i did not see him until i went to find my lola, and he was seated beside the telephone table inside, away from the crowd. he was keeping to himself. i think i tried to smile, and he just looked me straight in the eye, and it was enough for me to be intimidated. i ran upstairs to continue finding lola, feeling his eyes behind my back. i had no time to think he was suplado, because i only visited for a few hours on one shooting day. days after there were pictures of happy, friendly john lloyd smiling in a picture with people i know. there was even a photo of bespectacled john lloyd, looking cute and in character, alone in the den. i remembered those encounters enough though, to not bother about his personal life and just enjoy what he has to offer as an actor. I may have watched almost all jlc/bea movies, together, and individually. of my newer favorites, I always try to get to know them, through interviews, clips and things. it's easy, they are accessible. john lloyd was launched as part of one of the last star circle batches before reality entertainment changed the way we found celebrities, not necessarily for the better. and for years that was that.

i need to talk about that ggv episode. the ggv episode of sarah and john lloyd plays such a big part in my experience of the movie. his work has always been personal to me. i have seen him in tabing-ilog, which was filmed in the town next to ours. I would not understand my love for the show until later when i realized the show was proof that people from the river, the rural areas have stories that matter too. my friends know that i am pushing for that kind of progressive and daring youth oriented show again. i remember the loveteams, but not as much as i remember rovic’s relationship with lola juling. i woke up late the morning of that first ‘magandang buhay’ episode for this film. a friend linked me to a video clip of him reading a letter from miss caridad sanchez as he was tearing up. i was nostalgic for that show, and steeped in emotion. the night before, was that legendary ggv episode. as in any other ggv episodes, i was ready to laugh out loud and get kilig, and have a good night’s sleep, instead that episode left me sleepless, wanting to write, and my heart bursting with emotion that i did not understand. i was struck by their honesty, and was restless because of it. you see, sarah is always candid, but she also always managed to keep it together. i could count on her for the giggles and carefully constructed publicly acceptable answers. and john lloyd, he always spoke from the heart, but has always been clever enough to save some truth for himself. he has always been a transparent vessel for other characters’ truths to speak through him, and because he is so good at it, that was enough for me. for the first time, i was hearing his own truth. i had this moment, it felt like seeing him for the first time. ‘oh there you are, the actor i grew up with, the constant, the actor who figured in all the shows that meant so much in my lola’s, my family’s life, and therefore my life, as well, my history.’ i suddenly understood it all, my heart was still heavy with their individual and shared bittersweet truths, but lighter by the moment of realization. and i cried.

the movie was opening the next day, it was raining hard and i almost did not get to go see it, but we made it. i was even in the same screening as my great aunt and her son, my uncle. it was a full house, mostly of seniors on a day with a proper storm outside. the reaction to the movie was visceral. people were laughing out loud, squeeling, screaming and being kilig. i was happy about that. it started out deceptively light. i was even worried that it would follow that airy theme and won’t show enough growth. until it plunged into the deep end and got real. i wasn’t prepared for that, but was incredibly glad it happened. by the third half of the film i was already in tears, not by a moment alone, but by the feeling it gave me, by opening up my heart. i was breathless but i was also coming up for air. i was relived by the fact that i finally know the people i was watching on the screen. after that ggv episode, i rewatched all of his and hers old interviews, some i’ve seen before. this time i paid attention. i asked. sometimes i did not have to ask. i was told, and i understood. it’s rewarding to know people as human beings, more than just actors or celebrities. it’s a gift.

at this point i usually make a list of all my favorite moments in the movie, but it all boils down to relationships: the reckless honesty with which they chose to play their parts. the honesty cookies, the banter, the no acting acting mystery only this pair could take advantage of. i loved that definitive confrontation between raffy and april. sarah was so mature as an actress in that moment, even for her own standards. raffy’s moment with his mother is the reason why john lloyd is the john lloyd we could count on. he invests the same commitment and emotional intensity into every single one of his characters. it’s a gift that does not discriminate, a gift that is respectful, and he is an actor who is so full of love, of reverence for the people he works with, for his craft. i adore every moment john lloyd and sarah shared the screen. the idea of someone looking into your eyes and is seeing imto your soul floors me. my heart is filled with memories of workshops and scene work. feeling utterly safe to be vulnerable, and the privilege it must be to be handed another person’s heart, trusting  the person will be gentle with it. this why films exist: to make and maintain connections, it is for us to hear what we so desperately need to hear, and what we so desperately crave to say. movies are there for us to feel as though there are safe places to be genuine and honest and sincere. if only we lived our lives with such reckless authenticity.

i no longer charge the ashlloyd box office success to her charm and his skill alone. i now appreciate the history, the connection, the journey, and the road they are still on, on their own, and with each other. sarah has expressed interest in doing more dramatic films. this is me explicitly wishing that at least in her first foray into drama, john lloyd is at her side. i don’t think i have seen a connection this real, this strong. i am excited for her growth as an actress. in one of his interviews, he has said that when they are together things just happen. that’s beautiful. john lloyd strikes me as someone who knows what he is doing, no matter the co-actor you give him. it’s exciting to know that it takes a sarah for him to be on his knees and have no control, perhaps just letting things happen. this movie matters because it took so many years and this film to finally get to know an actor i grew up with. it took a sarah geronimo, and a direk ted.

there is nothing the mind needs to understand that the heart does not already know. direk ted’s films have nothing to prove to me. it’s simple and unpretentious, and only asks of you to feel. and in a time when my heart is required of me, it matters a great deal.

i still could not put this film down, i don’t think i ever will. i am doubting the presence of my heart these days. it’s unnerving to be told to feel, feel, and feel some more, after years of chasing being right, and good enough. those who are part of this movie (the entire production, writers ms carmi and gillian, and support cast, the family units, Christian, Milo and joj, who gave me so much joy), must have gentle and courageous hearts to allow me to be in touch with my own.

this post isn’t to add merit to the movie, if it does, then, great, but this movie isn���t to be judged, it’s enough that it lives it’s core of ‘love needing truth to be true.’ this movie is to be felt and it is to be experienced.

i am glad for this journey, and grateful for the experience. my heart is awake. ❤

[ipzl]

via EasyHealthTip Easy Health Tip https://ift.tt/2wRP7tY

A lookback: The women John Lloyd Cruz loved before John Lloyd Cruz seems to gravitate towards women who are career-oriented and strong-willed by nature, but also softens up easily when in a relationship with him. Most of the ladies also came from well-to-do families and tend to be accepting towards a sought-after leading man such as John Lloyd’s need for privacy, as far as his love life is concerned. The love life of A-list star John Lloyd Cruz has always fanned headlines. Maybe more so because he is stern about detaching his private life from an image he has cultivated over 20 years. Consistently, the matinee idol has remained guarded even when confirming a much-publicized relationship, or breakup, and has become good at dodging detailed inquiries. But his reticence has only intensified curiosity about his private life. He is 34 years old, hugely successful in his career—so what does it take to win the heart of this elusive bachelor? Maybe his rumored current girlfriend Ellen Adarna has the answer because, suddenly, John Lloyd appears to be letting his guard down. Below is a list that has gathered of all the women John Lloyd had loved before—from puppy loves to fleeting romances to long-term-yet-controversial amours.

KAYE ABAD. It was teenage love for John Lloyd and Kaye Abad, who became boyfriend-girlfriend when he was 15 years old and she was 14. Kaye confirmed that her relationship with John Lloyd lasted for only “nine months” because they were too young at the time. Kaye is now happily married to ex-Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up housemate Paul Jake Castillo.

KRISTA RANILLO. In a 2008 interview, John Lloyd opened up about another short-lived romance, this time with Krista Ranillo. They became a couple for only “three months.” Reasons for breakup: Krista went to States. No communication for months. When she returned to the Philippines, however, “Nalaman ko iba na ang girlfriend niya. Si Ciara na. Pero okey lang.” Krista is now married to supermarket CEO, Jefferson Niño Lim; they have four kids.

CIARA SOTTO. The two reportedly kept their relationship under wraps, as that was the time John Lloyd was firming up his on-screen partnership with then newbie star Bea Alonzo. Ciara is said to have finally called it quits in 2005, giving John Lloyd’s “misbehaviors” as the reason she got “tired” of the relationship. These “misbehaviors” were subsequently revealed to be the actor’s supposed problem with excessive and uncontrollable drinking. Ciara now is a proud mom of her two-year-old son with estranged husband Joe Oconer. She announced their separation in January 2016.

HEART EVANGELISTA. According to John Lloyd, he and Heart stopped dating after a few “months” because he “was not ready to get into a relationship” at the time. He also stressed that he has nothing but “respect” and “good wishes” for Heart. The 32-year-old Kapuso actress married Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on February 15, 2015.

LIZ UY. She was his “magnetic Michiko,” the svelte morena with chinky eyes who caught his attention when he saw her for the first time at the Hong Kong International Airport. Their relationship lasted for three and a half years. She was last reported to be dating the English-Korean shipping line operations manager, Richard Griffiths.

SARAH GERONIMO. In a separate digital conference, Sarah admitted she had a huge crush on John Lloyd when they did a one-time appearance in Maalaala Mo Kaya in 2006. She also confirmed that her attraction to him was still there when they shot A Very Special Love. Sometime between 2008 and 2009, John Lloyd gifted Sarah with a ring. The two are obviously fond of each other, and have remained good friends. Sarah and her boyfriend Matteo Guidicelli have been going strong for four years.

RUFFA GUTIERREZ. For the record, John Lloyd’s secret romance with Ruffa Gutierrez started in “March 2009” and ended in “February 2010.” They met on the set of I Love Betty La Fea in 2008, where John Lloyd, again, played the leading man, Armando, to Bea Alonzo’s Betty. Ruffa played Betty’s arch nemesis, Daniella. Reason for breakup: Third party, drinking alcohol habbit of John Lloyd.

SHAINA MAGDAYAO. On June 20, 2010, John Lloyd confirmed on The Buzz his relationship with Shaina. Shaina remained silent about their breakup. Citizens speculated that it might be the rumored third paty’s fault, Angelica Panganiban, who have broken up with her 4 years boyfriend Derek Ramsay.

ANGELICA PANGANIBAN. John Lloyd and Angelica became a couple on July 8, 2012, a day they would celebrate for the next three and a half years. Reason for breakup: Rumored third party, Bea Alonzo. Bea Alonzo and Zanjoe Marudo broke up on January 2016. A week after, Angelica and John lloyd followed.

BEA ALONZO. Both Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd are proud of their success as a love team. source

The post A lookback: The women John Lloyd Cruz loved before appeared first on Easy Health Tip.

[onethirddd-blog]

Finally Found Someone

“Dear Future Husband,

Asan ka na? Anong petsa na?”

Finally Found Someone is a 2017 Romantic Comedy Film by Theodore Boborol. It was released in cinemas nationwide last July 26, 2017. In this movie, Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz renew their onscreen romance after their 3 successful movies together namely: A Very Special Love, You Changed My Life, and It Takes a Man and a Woman.

Finally Found Someone is about a story of a bride named Aprilyn (Sarah Geronimo) who is about to fulfill her dreams of getting married. But when her wedding day came, she gets ditched by her groom, Randy (Enchong Dee), who is the son of their mayor. She became a trending topic when videos of her desperately looking for her groom goes viral. 

The mayor, who makes his son pleasant to the public, gets worried about the bad publicity because people sees his son as the antagonist in the bride’s life. So he hired a PR strategist, Raffy Sandoval (John Lloyd Cruz) to clean up the mess and get Aprilyn back together with Randy. And that’s where my favorite part started.

Actually I’m a big fan of AshLloyd for they have this chemistry that I don’t know how they do it but it’s there even they are not together in real life. And that’s the reason why I’m always anticipating the movies that they will be teaming-up. Then this movie was released and I was so excited to see them together again on big screen!

Of course John Lloyd Cruz, my celebrity crush, was so charming and smart in playing his role as Raffy. He never failed in portraying his role in any of his movies. He acts so well that you’ll be easily affected even with his smallest gestures. No one can escape the John Lloyd smile, I’m pretty sure about it. You’ll feel the kilig immediately. But my most favorite part of him in the movie was when he kembot the lungkot. It’s a must watch part.

Sarah Geronimo on the other hand, my childhood idol, was known for playing roles in romantic-comedy movies, but if you watch this film, you’ll see how she became more mature. There was even a part where she gave all her heart and I can say that you have a stone heart if you don’t get moved by it. In addition, her role shows how women should continue their life and how to not give up even they have a big problem.

Also, this movie was not all about love for it tackles variety of topics like – prioritizing career over love, being consumed by the dream of getting married, forgiving, moving on, and having an outlet for your problems. It also shows how social media can affect one’s life once something goes viral.

All in all, it’s a great movie. You’ll see how true love comes to you when you least expect it.

Dear Future Husband,

Tapos na ko magblog wala ka parin :(

[pacificast]

Pagsasamang muli nina John Lloyd at Sarah, tuloy na

Pagsasamang muli nina John Lloyd at Sarah, tuloy na: WALA nang urungan ang balik-tambalan nina John Lloyd Cruz at Pop Princess na si Sarah Geronimo sa kanilang ika-apat na team-up sa bagong rom-com na “Dear Future Husband” na nakatakdang idirek ni Theodore ‘Ted’ Boborol na nagdirek ng hit MMFF entry ng Star Cinema na “Vince & Kath & James”… http://dlvr.it/N5vCwb | #PacificastNewsfeed

[popcornbutterflymedia]

the most surprising things turn out to be the best things. contrary to popular belief, i am not above adprom and marketing. i am certainly not above plain entertainment and all out giddiness. i could easily pardon a few editing mishaps in favor of a heartwarming story. i am easily swayed. and this is the one movie promotion that i can honestly say, convinced me to go see the film. i liked john lloyd, i liked sarah, i liked the two previous films, but all that wasn’t enough. for this movie, it really was the magic of promotion, that does not fool its audience, genuine friendship between the two leads and word of mouth.

in retrospect, seeing the two previous films had absolutely no bearing on how i would feel about this third installment, seeing as this was made four years after the first two, this third one is a completely different film.and this is the best of the trilogy!

i’ve come to the conclusion that i have such an affinity for films with unorthodox narratives. it is such a welcome challenge  for my thought process to digest non-linear narratives. mind you, this wasn’t the first film of this kind that i’ve grown attached to. remember the reunion? that was the only other filipno film mainstream film (it’s a must to make these qualifications, to remind you that this isn’t an indie film where brave narratives are to be expected. this is a pop film, i cannot stress this enough: different is possible in mainstream media).

‘it takes a man and a woman’ picks up four years after the ‘you changed my life’ and in completely different circumstances. we left laida and miggy in the land of fairy tales all those years ago, four years hence, it’s not quite that anymore. people have grown apart, people have changed for the better and for the worst. people have gained. people have lost. but the irony is, the one who has gained her independence, her life, lost her heart. he who lost his father, his family’s trust, his faith is the one bound to gain his humanity back.

now, i realize, that for a romantic comedy, the above set up might be a little too  philosophical, and/or introspective. rightly so, i suppose, because, it has been a couple of hours or so since i returned from the theater and while the feedback has been extremely favorable, i feel like the surface has yet to be scratched. this is, but is so much more than a romantic comedy. it’s about paradigm shifts (change on a larger, more drastic scale), forgiveness, acceptance, the truth about love. it all boils down to the beauty in life’s imperfections, how the frayed edges make us human, and humanity is what makes us beautiful (that sounds like a song line). but it is the truth. a truth wrapped up in one adorable, entertaining, poignant and unabashedly kilig film.

i am trying to find the words to explain  how the narrative was presented without giving anything away. there is the element of surprise (forgive me, i do not know the technical term for this). the opening sequence is proof of this (still trying not spoil it for you), just when you think you know what’s coming, you are blindsided in the best way possible. the audience is caught in a bait, reeled in, my attention caught and sustained. i appreciate the blatant but very tasteful use of narrative parallelisms…the personal and the professional, family and romantic aspects of the story are seamlessly interwoven brilliance! now the narrative as a whole is a strong one, the lines are snappy, witty and clever.

“sige laro tayo ah. taguan ng feelings. bibilang na ako…”

“trust? big word!”

“‘pag blooming, inlove agad? pwede ba munang nasaktan noon, iniwan noon at umasa noon, at nakamove-on na ngayon?”

it is also profound when it needs to be. these nuggets of make you think

“piliin mong magpatawad. piliin mong magmahal. love is a choice. ganun din ang pagpapatawad.”

“minsan sa kagustuhan nating maging pinakamagaling, nakakalimutan nating maging mabuti.”

this is maturity personified. it is reflected  in most of the lines:

“as long as I have you I know I’m a good person.”

“reality ever after…”

“five years ago, during one of the worst days of my life. when every one was walking out of me, a girl walked into my life. And i never thought that… that day hindi ko alam na yun na pala ang future ko. today, i realized i won’t be making any vows in my wedding because this is not the day of promises. today, i stand in front of you in complete surrender. i have no worries, i have no fear because i know…i’m sure, i’m yours.”

noon, pinangarap ko lang mahalin ang isang miggy montenegro. ngayon, nagpapasalamat ako dahil hindi na ako naghintay pa ng matagal para matupad pa ang pangarap ko na yon. hindi naging madali ang lovestory natin. Ilang beses din akong napagod at sumuko. Matagal bago ko naintindihan na walang instant happy ending and then i realized that i failed to understand the true meaning of unconditional love... mahal na mahal kita bebe ko. mahal na mahal kita at wala na kong nakikita pang gagawin kundi ang mahalin ka ng buong buhay ko."

intelligent script that carries the promotional promise of maturity.  - kudos to the director cathy garcia-molina. this is your best work to date. and miss carmi raymundo - you may have just set a standard for me “braver, bolder, fiercer…” not just in characterization but perspective in all aspects - family, love and life the characters managed to retain their irreverence (be cute, corny and kilig) because the business of maturity is partly handled by the script. it is a sturdy script, that elevated the actors spot on performances. speaking of the cast: this movie has a brilliant one.

laida and miggy’s respective families  (special mentions: al tantay, rowell santiago and dante rivero) serve as quiet backdrops, still platforms on which the lead characters can build their story upon. they also serve as credible reference points through whom we have abetter understanding of the protagonists.

joross gamboa, matet de leon, and gio alvatrez as  the trio of crazy friends who serve as observers, spectators of the central love story commentators and pretty much, our voice, the bridges the narrative and the audience, all in a funny, amusing and quick-witted fashion.

isabelle daza was blessed to have this film as her big screen debut as a circumstantial antagonist (only because of her role in the leading man’s life and not because of her character) the audience could empathize with. such a beautiful presence on screen!

john lloyd cruz is at his best being miggy montenegro. there is a reason he’s had such a love affair with this character, such an intense connection. when he said he’s been through a lot with this character, he wasn’t kidding.john lloyd cruz as miggy montenego went through every emotion possible and there is a reason he is miggy montenego, no other actor can do what he did when he created with this character.

sarah geronimo is one gifted girl! her  inflections are brilliant. on this movie sarah looks like she stepped out of a koreanovela and was transplanted  in the urban jungle of manila, marikina and new york. the emotional sincerity is so precise. the physical, comic, and emotional timing is impeccable, so much so, she manages to make you believe laida’s journey with such clarity. such a credible actress!

now the chemistry between these two is something that should be bottled. in an industry where terms like “chemistry” and “connectivity” are used lightly just to sell a movie, those terms lose their meaning. this is what real chemistry and connectivity is. i love how light john lloyd is when he’s with sarah, and i also love seeing john lloyd’s caring and protective side when he is around sarah.

this film is the best of the trilogy. i did not expect much and i was pleasantly surprised. this is one of the best, dare i say, genre-defying movies i’ve seen in years.a note on the settings: it had my heart by tipping a hat to one of my love: theater, and it’s whimsy.

this movie is proof possible that  entertaining, heartwarming films can be made without sacrificing quality.

i came out of the cinema  laughing, crying, laughing and crying some more, with my spirit smiling, filled with wit, a script that respects its audience and the journey five years in the making. my heart bursting with thoughts of pink, of lace, rose petals and cotton candy. and a renewed respect, appreciation and gratefulness for perfectly imperfect, soul stirring, life changing true love.

this film is adored. :’) ♥

(x)  april 6, 2013