MANILA, Philippines - Believe it or not, John Lloyd Cruz is enjoying a steady and “very normal” relationship with Shaina Magdayao, unmindful of negative speculations and scandalous rumors. Nevertheless, the actor, who recently went on a month-long European break with Shaina, admitted that he is far from settling down.
“Sa estado ko ngayon di ko pa kaya sabihin na I’ve found ‘The One.’ I have not yet reached the age when I can say that I have,” said John Lloyd, who turned 28, last June 24.
The pronouncements were made during a presscon last Wednesday at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, wherein he was introduced as the newest face of the anti-dandruff shampoo Head & Shoulders. John Lloyd and Angel Locsin, the brand’s long-time endorser, appear on a series of TVCs promoting the brand’s all-new “His and Hers” variants.
John Lloyd, who was also romantically linked to the likes of celebrity stylist Liz Uy and actress-TV host Ruffa Gutierrez in the past, has always sparked fervid interest in his love life. The Kapamilya leading man said that it’s okay to go through changes, like moving on from a failed romance, to be one step closer to the ideal relationship.
He playfully associated how he deals with his love life to how he chooses his endorsement deals, saying that when things “come up short, switch, but when it’s right, commit.”
“As they say, with every breakup, you trade up,” John Lloyd further said. “But this is true.”
Asked what draws him to a girl and what makes him stay in a relationship, he said: “It depends. Kilala mo na ba siya or hindi pa? Of course, physical attributes matter. Always naman kahit mahirap man siyang aminin. But it’s the character that makes you crave for more or want more from a girl. Dati nagkaroon pa ako ng pattern na I only go for morenas, but right now naging varied. [As I mature] siguro I go for one who exudes character.”
John Lloyd, who has been named Box Office King, does things outside showbiz to somehow achieve a sense of normalcy in his seemingly very public life.
“I don’t do stuff in the Internet. I don’t do Facebook, Twitter, or any other social networks. But I listen to the AM radio every morning because it keeps me grounded. I become aware of the basic problems of the people. Simpleng bagay lang yan pero marami akong napupulot.”
Angel, whom he also worked with on the defunct ABS-CBN teleserye Imortal, said: “A lot of people don’t know this but John Lloyd is actually very smart. Nagugulat ka sa mga interests niya kasi ang dami niyang alam.” (A follow-up project featuring their tandem is on the pipeline, Angel confirmed, but she wouldn’t reveal if it will be on TV or the big-screen.)
John Lloyd is also a mountain-biking devotee. “Since I came back from Europe, I’ve been trying to do it regularly, like three times a week whether in the morning or the evening. You can do it say, 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. basta ‘wag lang under the noontime sun.”
He added, “Before, I used to mountain-bike in the morning, then pilates in the afternoon. I’m trying to watch my weight because I easily gain especially chest up.”
In a previous interview, John Lloyd had expressed that yes, he would like to maximize his stature as a top endorser and actively push for certain advocacies in the future. But he’d like to fly off to unknown places and do community work there. He had said, “Kasi gusto ko yung bagong simula, yung pumunta sa lugar na walang nakakakilala sa akin. Yung walang istorbo na pa-picture kasi gusto ko lang magtrabaho.”