For Jean Garcia, children more important now than romance

Jean Garcia

What’s keeping actress Jean Garcia from getting into another romantic relationship after almost two years of being single?

“How my children will feel is more important to me,” Jean told the Inquirer. “I consider their emotions now.”

“When I get involved with a guy, I’m not the only one with emotional investment but also my kids and the people close to me.  I even pray to God that if there’s really no guy meant to spend forever with me, then I’m OK with being single,” Jean said during the press launch of her latest film “Mano Po 7: Chinoy,” which hits theaters on Dec. 14.

According to Jean, it’s important that the guy should treat well the people she cares about. She has two kids, Jennica and Kotaro, and a granddaughter named Mori.

Through thick or thin

“It’s not enough that he likes or loves me. He has to be able to stick with me through thick or thin. A relationship has to be two-way. I can’t be the only one to always adjust to it,” she explained.

However, Jean said she was open to “dating,” and even admitted to seeing two Chinoy (Chinese-Filipino) men these days.

“They’re not much different from ordinary Pinoy men. What has changed is my view of dating. When I was younger, puro pa-cute lang. We see movies and then have a walk in the park. Now, I go to dinner dates. I enjoy good conversations over wine. I think it’s the best way to really know a person.”

She said she has become more cautious now, “because I’ve already learned my lesson and don’t want to commit the same mistakes. There’s really a risk when you get into a relationship; most men are OK in the beginning. You don’t discover until later whether or not that person is really meant for you.”

Kissing scene

In “Mano Po 7: Chinoy,” Jean plays Debbie, wife of a Chinoy businessman (Richard Yap), who struggles with connecting with his family emotionally. Feeling sad and lonely, Debbie gets into an affair with a younger man (Jake Cuenca).

Jean said she didn’t mind doing a kissing scene with Jake for this film. “We just kissed, and we were fully clothed,” she pointed out. “This was nothing compared to what I did with Derek (Ramsay) in ‘The Escort.’ My character there was the aggressive one.”

“Mano Po 7: Chinoy,” with Ian Lorenos at the helm, also features Enchong Dee, Jessy Mendiola, Janella Salvador, Marlo Mortel, Jana Agoncillo and Kean Cipriano.