Janine enjoys living on her own

Janine Gutierrez

It has been four months since Janine Gutierrez confirmed rumors that she and Elmo Magalona, her boyfriend of two years, had indeed ended their relationship. But still, questions on the issue continue to hound the actress.

No, they have yet to bump into each other since breaking up. No, they do not speak with each other. And no, they are not friends.

That was as far as she was willing to divulge about the topic.

Janine swore that she has already moved on and would rather leave the issue in 2016. “I am happy being single. Not that I was not before that, but it feels different. Now, I have more time for my family. I get to visit my lola (Pilita Corrales) at least once a week. My mother (Lotlot de Leon) has a newly opened restaurant, so I try to visit her often,” she told reporters at a recent press conference for GMA News TV’s reality show “Day Off” (Saturdays at 6:15 p.m.).

The GMA 7 talent has vowed not to entertain suitors any time soon. “I do not want to have a boyfriend now. I used to think that people who say that do not actually mean it. But I found it to be true,” she said.

According to Janine, she intends to focus on her career to be able to quickly reach the goals she has set for herself this year.

“I was already able to get my own place, so this time, I would love to have my father’s (Ramon Christopher) home in Quezon City renovated,” the 27-year-old actress said.

Janine also thinks that being single will help her get the hang of living independently.

After spending most of her life without her own room, she said she was thrilled to have finally moved out last year. She now lives in a condominium unit in San Juan City, which took a year to spruce up.

“I have always felt that I need some growing up, and that I have to experience living alone. And now is a good time to do that,” said Janine, who could not help laughing when she recalled that a Meralco agent came knocking on her door one time, because she forgot to pay her bill.

“Sabi ko, huwag po! Now I know that being a responsible adult is a difficult job! But yes, I try to do all the household chores myself, because I do not have a helper. Sometimes my mom comes over to teach me how to cook,” she said.

Janine, who also topbills the drama series “Legally Blind,” is still not as well-traveled as she likes to be. So she welcomes doing “Day Off,” which has her and cohost Ken Chan temporarily taking over the jobs of hardworking Filipinos here and abroad so they can take a break.

“I have only been in a few countries, like Hong Kong and Taiwan. That means the viewers and I get to see new places at the same time,” pointed out Janine, who recently flew to Bangkok, Thailand, for an episode.

Getting to know overseas Filipino workers (OFW) is something the actress finds fulfilling, because she used to be an intern at the Department of Foreign Affairs. “I worked in the Asean department, and the job is usually about OFW-related concerns,” said Janine, who has a degree in European Studies from Ateneo de Manila University, and once dreamed of becoming a diplomat.

“In a way, I also get to apply what I have learned there in hosting the show,” she said.