Coleen Garcia shares three-month experience of living in France with family

MANILA, Philippines — Coleen Garcia and her family will be back in the country early December after spending time in France for three months. They went to France because of the actress’ husband Billy Crawford’s stint in the 12th season of Danse avec le stars, the French edition of the reality dance show Dancing With The Stars. Billy won the competition with dance partner and celebrity choreographer Fauve Hautot.

“Actually, sobrang hindi siya bakasyon. Out of the three months that we’ve been here, one day lang kami sa hotel and then the rest of the time, (in) the apartment. So, of course, iba siya sa buhay Pinas na may mga katulong na may nag-aalalay sa amin. Here, we had to do everything ourselves. So, ibang experience talaga siya,” the actress shared during a virtual media conference for Kaluskos, a Cinemalaya film that will be shown in local cinemas starting tomorrow, Nov. 30, under Viva Films.

In the psychological thriller helmed by Roman Perez Jr., Coleen plays a mother who is in a custody battle over her estranged daughter. “Yung anak kasi niya hindi niya masyadong nakakasama, hindi siya tutok sa anak because she is very career-oriented. So the story starts out with the battle over child custody,” she said.

“And while the child is with her, she tries to spend more time with her only to realize that ang laking pagkukulang niya din as a mom which, you know, isn’t necessarily her fault because she is career-oriented,” she further described her character.

“I think it’s that conflict also as a mom na kasi ‘di ba ang dali-daling sabihin na men are in charge of working in the family? So, what will happen if the mom is the one who is focused on her career and nawalan ng time sa anak. It talks a lot about these issues actually.”

Kaluskos also stars Queenzy Calma, Karl Medina, Cara Gonzales and Elora España.

Since her role in the film is a working mom, she was asked how she is as a mother to her two-year-old son Amari and what was the main lesson she gleaned from her character.

“I’m speaking from a point of privilege ‘di ba kasi pareho kaming nagwo-work ni Billy. So, we’re able to manage (both career and parenthood). What I’m doing right now is a choice but many people in the world and especially in our country don’t have a choice,” she pointed out.

Coleen enjoys time in France with son Amari and husband Billy Crawford. The Crawfords went to the country because of Billy’s winning stint in the 12th season of Danse avec le stars, the French edition of reality dance show Dancing With The Stars.

Photos from Coleen’s Instagram

“Kung kailangan talaga, syempre survival has to come first ‘di ba kasi anong papakainin ko sa kanya, how will I send him to school kung wala kaming kinikita na pera so if push comes to shove, of course. But since I’m given the choice and we’re privileged enough to have the choice, talagang pipiliin ko naman siya.

“And iba-iba din naman yun kasi may mga kilala din naman ako na they don’t have to work but, you know, because it is a priority for them (and) because they have certain dreams and goals, they’ll chase after it (career) kahit meron silang sapat na pera. Kakayod pa rin sila and they’ll still work hard for their careers. Because that’s what they want to achieve in their lives. So, kanya-kanya naman talaga yun,” she added.

Coleen stressed that it is important for her to be with Amari during his formative years. “I guess, where I’m coming from, I know that I’m not gonna have these years forever, I know that I’m not gonna be young forever also. So, I really am sacrificing right now in my career. May nawawala naman talaga sa akin by staying at home but at the same time, I guess it’s deciding what matters more kung ano yung ayaw mong mawala.”

When queried if she and Billy have plans of having a second baby, she just laughed and said, “It’s a good time naman but it’s up to God pa rin at the end of the day.”

Moreover, the 30-year-old mom and actress is not closing doors on doing a “sexier” role again. She said, “I wouldn’t say never because never say never. What if may dumating na napakagandang role and napakagandang opportunity, di ba? It really depends.

“The reason why I’m avoiding it at this point, it’s not because I have a family, it’s not because I got married, a lot of people think that it’s my reason. Pero ayoko lang na magsawa, hindi yung tao, pero ako. Ayoko na magsawa ako sa ginagawa ko kasi pare-pareho na yung ginagawa ko. I want to try various roles. I feel there’s no growth in sticking to that one theme or that one stereotype.”

The most “daring” role she did was with Derek Ramsay in Ex with Benefits in 2015.