The wait is over for Sweet Lapus

John Lapus cried when he got an offer from ABS-CBN.

When Sunday gabfest “Showbiz Central” aired its final episode and ended its five-year run on GMA 7 last year, one of the hosts, John “Sweet” Lapus was left without any regular shows.

And so, for about three months, the 39-year-old comedian anxiously waited for project offers from the three major TV networks.

Now, the 39-year-old comedian finds himself on familiar ground as he returns to his original mother station ABS-CBN, after being a Kapuso for six years.

“The waiting was so stressful!” he told reporters recently. “It was really very difficult for me. I was always wondering about my future. Will GMA 7 or TV5 give me a new project? Will ABS-CBN offer me something after I transferred to GMA 7?”

“Binalakubak (I had dandruff), hair loss at pimples ako!” Sweet jested.

During the brief career lull, Sweet busied himself judging gigs for TV5’s “Talentadong Pinoy” and doing other TV appearances. He was also in the cast of last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Si Agimat, Si Enteng at Si Ako.”

“I had work but nothing considerable. The taping days of ‘Talentado,’ for instance, are only twice a week,” he pointed out.

Sweet said that he was overwhelmed and surprised when his former boss and current ABS-CBN business unit head Deo Endrinal offered him a role in the coming drama series “Kahit Konting Pagtingin” during the exec’s birthday party last November.

“He asked me, ‘Are you ready to return to ABS-CBN?’ I was so emotional I cried that night,” Sweet related. “I was thinking that I still had to wait for next year or longer before getting an offer.”

The loquacious TV personality said he has just attended the story conference and photo shoot for the soap “Kahit Konting Pagtingin,” which also stars Angeline Quinto, Paulo Avelino, Sam Milby and Bangs Garcia.

Though having an exclusive contract remains to be seen, Sweet said that he’s likely to sign a program contract.

“I’m nervous, but I’m really excited to start working. My old friends and nanay-nanayans in ABS-CBN greeted me and welcomed me with open arms,” Sweet said.

Is he looking forward to working with any particular Kapamilya talents?

“I would love to do a project with Coco Martin! I hope I get the chance since his manager (Biboy Arboleda) used to be my manager as well,” he said. “And of course, John Lloyd Cruz, who’s on my wish list.”