Lloydie turns on waterworks on a day of media encounters

JOHN Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo

At a recent media gathering for his coming movie, “It Takes a Man and a Woman,” with Sarah Geronimo, John Lloyd Cruz was asked what would convince him to settle down. His response wasn’t quite what everyone expected.

“A little more stability in family matters and finances,” he began. Lloydie hesitated, then blurted out, “I’m thinking about early retirement.”

Sleep-deprived

For once, the army of fans inside the Dolphy Theater—who applauded and screamed at the littlest things he said and did—turned silent. “I want to enjoy life,” Lloydie said. “I want more quality years with my family, especially my mom, and also my would-be family.”

Exactly when he planned to retire, the 29-year-old actor couldn’t say for sure. “Age won’t dictate my decision; instinct would. When I feel it’s the right time, I’ll go,” he said, adding that he might become more selective about projects now.

While he tried his best to remain upbeat throughout the press con, Lloydie was noticeably lethargic, and sounded like he had a bad cold. “We just finished taping this morning; I haven’t had enough sleep,” he explained.

But he was a trifle too edgy and seemed intermittently on the verge of tears, leading not a few scribes to surmise that there was something more to the weariness than lack of sleep.

Emotional Sunday

The actor eventually gave in to his emotions and let it all out when asked what he learned from his “It Takes” character Miggy Montenegro.

“I learned that all the good things happening [to me] right now—success, fame, money…” Lloydie paused, and after regaining his composure plus much cheering from the audience, continued: “Those things are only secondary to being a good person. That’s what really matters.”

He added: “You want to be the best. You want to be No. 1. You want to conquer the world. But in the end you ask, ‘Will this really make me happy?’ My character and I went through similar things, so it was hard for me not to be emotional.”

Following the Q&A proper, reporters rushed toward Lloydie and asked if he was still going through rough times. “I’m very much okay,” he assured them. Then he was whisked away by the ABS-CBN staff. He proceeded to a live interview on “The Buzz,” where he again turned on the waterworks.

After watching a video featuring coworkers and past leading ladies expressing their admiration for him, Lloydie said cryptically—and tearfully: “Sometimes you see yourself differently from other people. It makes you appreciate yourself better.”

“It Takes” is the third—and most likely the last—follow-up movie to “A Very Special Love” (2008) and “You Changed My Life” (2009).

Judging from the full trailer shown to the press, the movie, like the past two John Lloyd-Sarah starrers, banks on humor and kilig moments between the two leads.

 Rom-com not easy

However, before anyone could dismiss the movie as just another rom-com, the actor quickly defended the genre.

“People tend to look down on rom-coms. They say it’s easy and that they all follow the same formula. But I tell you, it’s one of the hardest things to do,” he said.

“Hindi niyo po alam kung gaano kahirap magpakilig (You don’t know how hard it is to thrill the fans)—it’s a talent. You can easily count how many people [in the biz] has that skill,” he said.

“It Takes a Man and Woman,” from Star Cinema and Viva Films, opens on March 30.