Did Ryza Cenon jump into a new relationship soon after she broke up with Cholo Barretto, her boyfriend of four years?
That was what people suspected when Ryza made the “surprise” announcement that she was due to give birth in November without confirming that she had a new boyfriend, Miguel Antonio Cruz, who is in a way showbiz-connected being a cinematographer. (A Negrense filmmaker, Miguel got his first break from the late director Peque Gallaga via his 2014 movie T’yanak and has since worked on such films as Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity and The Girl In the Orange Dress.)
“That’s his only connection to showbiz,” explained Ryza. “But basically, Miguel is talagang non-showbiz. That’s why I said I had no boyfriend even if Miguel and I were exclusively dating maski hindi pa talaga kami noon. He was just courting me. Hindi lang detailed kung sino ba siya o ano na bang status naming dalawa.”
Before she made the announcement about her pregnancy, Ryza said that she had to get the go-signal of Viva (with which she’s now under contract) and that of Miguel.
“Si Miguel kasi, napakamahiyain niyang tao. As in takot siya sa tao. We are both introvert that’s why I understand him. ‘Yung respeto ko sa kanya, sobrang laki. So whatever he wants or plans for our magiging family, kaya kung ano man ‘yung gusto niyang mangyari, rerespetuhin ko ‘yon. I won’t argue with him. He’s the boss,” adding, “if you are in showbiz, you are expected to tell all, reveal all the details, but I don’t agree with that.”
According to Ryza, she frowned on having a boyfriend from showbiz.
“Si Cholo lang ‘yung naging boyfriend ko na showbiz. I also enjoyed having a showbiz boyfriend but mas enjoy ako with a non-showbiz boyfriend, especially a very private man like Miguel, kasi you don’t share too much of your personal life with the public. It changes your outlook in life. Miguel is not used to being in the limelight so it’s me who makes the adjustment. If a reporter asks me about him...like what you are doing now...I have to ask first his permission if it’s okay with him. Then we meet halfway. Kapag meron din siyang usual na ginagawa na hindi ako comfortable, kailangan din niya ako tanungin.”
Understandably, Ryza politely refused to elaborate on the “rebound” (non-)issue.
“Huwag na,” she begged off. “Tapos na. Let’s move on. Sa amin (ni Cholo) na lang ‘yon. That’s what I mean when I said that I don’t want to be ‘too public’ kasi pati reason of my break-up i-elaborate mo pa. It’s so personal na. Hindi na kami mga bata. Even if you are showbiz, you cannot be required to tell all about your life. Whatever happened was not under our control, hindi namin hawak. When Miguel came into my life, it wasn’t planned and I don’t think it was a case of, as you said, ‘rebound.’ It just happened.”
How has her pregnancy been so far? “I am excited and afraid at the same time. I regret that Miguel won’t be inside the delivery room when I give birth. Protocols, eh. Wala akong hahawakan. Wala akong makukurot. Yung ganoong experience. He would just be outside the room. Parang gusto kong gawin, tawagan siya tapos pakinggan niya na lang ‘yung boses ko habang mag-la-labor ako. Miguel has been totally supportive sa lahat-lahat ng needs ko, physically, emotionally, financially. Lahat talaga ng kailangan ko, binibigay niya. Sobang supportive niya.”
They haven’t been together that long but Ryza feels that she and Miguel know each other well enough.
“Well, nanligaw po siya six months. Six months kaming exclusively dating. Tapos dumating ‘yung blessing and then we decided maging official.”
Even if Miguel is ready to settle down, Ryza claimed that she is not.
“Siya, ready pakasalan ako. Me kasi, I think it’s too early for that pa. Focus muna kami sa baby. We are doing the reverse, baby muna bago kasal, hehehe!!! As parents, we can have time to know more about each other and build a stronger foundation. Ako kasi, ayoko ng ganoon na dahil nabuntis mo lang ako, saka mo lang ako papakasalan. Napilitan ka lang ba? Mauuwi lang ‘yon sa hiwalayan. Sayang lang. Kawawa lang ‘yung baby. Kapag sure na sure na kayo o kapag sobrang strong na ‘yung foundation ng relationship niyo, saka na magpakasal.”
Ryza’s Kapamilya contract has just been renewed before the network shutdown. Any plans?
“With my pregnancy, na-freeze ‘yung contract ko. But I am still legally under ABS-CBN. I don’t want to move to another network because ABS-CBN is good to me, sobrang bait sa akin. I am on leave indefinitely. As soon as I return to work, tatapusin ko ‘yung mga pending kong movies dahil sa lockdown at pagbubuntis.”
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