Shaina happily single

MANILA, Philippines - Although the latter months of 2012 went by at a “heart-aching pace” for Shaina Magdayao in the love department, she is still more than thankful for the blessings that came her way. “Naging maganda naman,” she says in the vernacular.

Yes, she admits to battling a bout of depression after parting ways with former beau John Lloyd Cruz last year. “Pinag-dadaanan natin lahat yun. I’m just so lucky that my family and friends never left my side to support me, kaya itawa na lang natin yun, 2013 na.”

Shaina has learned to lean more on life’s brighter side after her European trip last January. She went to Paris and stayed there for five days. “After Kung Ako’y Iiwan Mo, I flew to Paris for Padre Pio because I’m a devotee. It was in Paris where I waited for our family friend to arrive who’s also a devotee. So from Paris we flew to Spain and after, we went to Padre Pio (shrine) to personally thank him kasi di n’ya ko pinabayaan.”

Asked what did she pray for, Shaina replies, “Healing. I prayed to heal (the pain) and help me to be whole again; to live in peace and for all the bitterness and anger to go away.

“The past year had been tough, mahirap na maganda, challenging na maganda. Even if I found it tough, I looked at it in a positive way because I have learned a lot. I won’t be what I am today if not for what I have gone through that’s why I’m still thankful and hoping na maging maganda ang taon na ito and so far maganda nga s’ya.”

And she has lots of reason to smile these days. After taking a break from doing soaps, Shaina swings back to primetime TV as Princess Mira in the Coco Martin superhero drama TV series Juan dela Cruz on ABS-CBN. It’s been a long time, Shaina says, since she last worked with Coco in Sa ‘Yo Lamang.

“Of course, it’s an honor to work with Coco,” says Shaina. “We have already worked before but my role in Sa ‘Yo Lamang was just a cameo so every time we see each other, we both are wondering when we will be working together again. So finally when the role (of Mira) was offered to me, I said yes right away.”

Truth is, Shaina is originally part of the show. It’s just that her character is not yet about to surface in the first few episodes. “There came a point where I no longer hope that it will push through because sometimes unexpected things happen so nung pinag-pray ko na sana maging maganda yung 2013 ko, I told myself if it’s meant for me to be still part of the show, it would be nice and it happened; I’m now part of the Juan dela Cruz family.”

Televiewers will see her as the princess of the fairies who will enter the world of humans for a mission she needs to fulfill in order to keep her kingdom safe. She, too, will play an important role in Juan’s life.

“My character is different from Erich (Gonzales, Coco’s leading lady in the series). I’m more of a protector, taga-bantay ni Coco. Love triangle? I still don’t know yet if there will be something like that.”

Speaking about love, is she ready to enter in a relationship anew?

“I think so but I’m still waiting for the right person. Syempre normal lang na may takot, may doubts to fall in love again because of what I went through but when the right person comes, tatanggalin n’ya yun sa puso at isip mo.”

Having been aware about the rumor linking her to three showbiz guys — Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby and Lino Cayetano — Shaina is not confirming or denying if there is such truth to that. “You better ask them because I don’t want it to come from me, pero lahat naman sila kinakaibigan ko,” Shaina reasons. “Sabi ko nga dapat magka-boyfriend na ko kasi walang pakundangan kung i-link ako sa mga guys (laughs).”

Besides, Shaina adds, it is only now that she gets to experience how happy being single is. “No heartbreaks, no problems and there’s so much work to do so I’ll focus on my work first. As what I’ve said, it (new love) will come and I’m willing to wait.”

Shaina will also be seen in a Star Cinema movie with Angel Locsin, Bea Alonzo, Toni Gonzaga and Connie Reyes.

(Juan dela Cruz airs weeknights after TV Patrol.)