A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about working with Cesar Montano as a leading man and as a director in Panaghoy sa Suba.
I took my time writing to let people know how he really is as a person.
A couple of weeks after that, Cesar and his close friend Bayani Agbayani had a few drinks after Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Thai boxer 3 K Battery.
Cesar and I spoke over the phone, and he invited me out to dinner to further discuss our promo schedule for Panaghoy.
He was already a little drunk and was saying some of his green jokes all throughout the conversation.
Like I’ve said, I’ve gotten used to that so I just went along with him.
Two days after that, I had taping for OK Fine Whatever. I was feeling really sick that day and I really wasn’t in the mood to joke around.
When I got inside the studio, Bayani, all of a sudden, approached me and started teasing me as if something happened between Cesar and me.
I kept my cool, though my anger was slowly building up. I quickly assumed Cesar may have made up some stories about him and me to Bayani.
I texted Cesar and told him how cheap and low he made me feel.
After the taping, I didn’t get the chance to speak with Cesar because I was rushed to the hospital due to over-fatigue and the doctor advised me to rest.
All my appointments for the next day were cancelled so I can rest.
The following day, Cesar called me to explain what he and Bayani talked about.
It turned out that it was a total misunderstanding. I asked him to tell Bayani to be careful with what he says next time because it’s not funny being teased to a married man and people around might think differently.
The conversation ended peacefully. Five minutes later, Cesar’s wife Sunshine Cruz called, telling me that she was leaving Cesar and for me not to mess with married men.
I was shocked at everything she said to me, I couldn’t get a word out of my mouth.
The only thing I was able to say was, "I’m sorry to hear that, Shine" while Cesar was telling her to hang up the phone and let me rest.
I didn’t make a big deal out of it because I already expected it.
Many have told me to be careful because Sunshine is supposedly known to fight every girl being paired with Cesar.
As expected, Sunshine started texting me hurtful words, how I ruined her family and how her kids lost their father.
I just kept forwarding her messages to Cesar so he’d know.
I didn’t mind it at first. In fact, I didn’t even read some of them until I got these text messages:
"Nanghihinayang lng ako coz pinaglaban kta wen pres pipol told me bkit ikaw daw ang pinili ko. U proved me wrong. Kung ano ka pala sa bold film mo, yun ang pagkatao mo. Magsama na kayo ni Buboy. Both of u wil regret dis. Kilala ako sa showbiz at malalaman ng tao ang totoo. Naaawa ako sayo dahil babae ka.
"Cra na ang pelikula! Don’t f– blame me! U are to blame! Titigil ako kung kelan ko gusto n dats my ryt. Hindi mo ako binigyan ng delikadeza! Wala na ito! Baboy kayo, at yan ang mag re-reflect sa pelikula mo.
"Juls, I know ur smart. No doubt abt it. Pero I also know ur liberated. It shows naman eh! Sex for u is nothing. Parang laro n bec of dat, I pity u. Wala ka sa Amerika."
I sent Sunshine a message, telling her that she totally misunderstood the whole thing:
"Ur blowing dis out of proportion. Thnk ds ovr b4 mor ppl get involved. He’s a good person n ur family s well respected in d industry. Im not dat stupid. I have othr priorities. Ther r so many guys out there dats fit for me, not a family man, so thnk it ovr."
Unfortunately, this didn’t work. She kept texting me foul, insulting and degrading messages but I didn’t bother to reply anymore.
After that incident, my manager and I decided not to be involved in any of the promotions for Panaghoy Sa Suba, just so I could keep my distance from Cesar.
Everything she said really hurt me, but I just kept quiet until she denied everything when she was interviewed during the awards night. Words like, "Bakit ako magseselos kay Juliana. I’m with my husband. He’s mine etc."
She started the whole thing and she’s the first one to deny it?
What really bothered me the most is, Sunshine Cruz, a mother and the wife of a well-respected man in this industry, could speak with such manner over a cheap issue of mistrust.
All the while, she blames me for breaking up her family, but in the end, she may not see it, but she actually is the one ruining it for her kids.
It’s sad. The text where she said, "Kung ano ka pala sa bold film mo, yun ang pagkatao mo. . ." got me thinking back on the films she’s done.
I’ve heard that she’s been telling everyone how she just hates me. I don’t exactly know what she’s trying to get out of it.
I just hope that in the end, she can correctly answer one question that still lingers in my mind: Kung bold star ako, ano siya?