What it’s like for Rayver to return to GMA after 18 years

Rayver Cruz

Actor Rayver Cruz always wanted to prove that there’s more to him than dancing. With his drama series “Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko,” he’s finally getting that chance—and he’s enjoying every minute of it.

“Well, there are developments—as time goes on; the show gets deeper, and becoming more serious,” he told the Inquirer in Filipino, prior to shooting scenes at a hospital in Quezon City. “Kaabang-abang. I enjoy it, because there’s a mix of emotions, especially whenever there are fight scenes between Kris (Bernal) and Thea (Tolentino).”

It gets even better when his character is caught in that emotional “conflagration,” the 29-year-old actor added.

“For me, when the three of us share a scene, it feels really good. Napakahusay ng dalawa,” he said of his costars.

The afternoon soap, about a love triangle involving a transgender woman, Venus (Thea); her husband, Gavin (Rayver); and former wife, Rachel (Kris), has gotten positive reactions on Twitter, since its debut a month ago.

“I’m happy. There’s no criticism from [trans people], so far,” he said. “Gets nila (They get it).”

On Janine Gutierrez’s (his rumored girlfriend) post welcoming him back to GMA 7 and plugging the show on Instagram, Rayver expressed gratitude, saying that industry friends tend to promote each other’s projects.

He disclosed, “She’s also busy. ‘Victor Magtanggol’ just ended. It’s great that she’s supportive of me. I’m glad, too, because she has a lot of followers.”

Some of those fans fondly call the pair “JanVer.” Elaborating on his bond with the actress, Rayver said, “We’re OK. We’re closer, taking things slow. Still dating. When we have free time, we hang out, usually during weekends.”

A former child actor in the GMA sitcom “Kiss Muna,” which counted Joey de Leon, Ara Mina and Elizabeth Oropesa among its cast members in the early 2000s, Rayver said that returning to the network after 18 years wasn’t difficult, thanks to generally nice coworkers.

Rayver amicably left ABS-CBN, grateful for his time with the company, and for being allowed to pursue other career options with GMA.

“Nakakapanibago. After a few weeks, naka-adjust na,” he said of being part of the Kapuso family again. “I felt it. The talents may be with different networks, but it’s still the same industry.”