Beauty on Ellen-JLC: Let them be!

MANILA, Philippines — “Not true!”

Beauty Gonzalez dismissed rumors of an impending wedding between her BFF Ellen Adarna and John Lloyd Cruz in the former’s hometown Cebu.

“Wala akong balita. If I would know, I would be the first one to know. But it’s not true,” said Beauty who had to field questions during a presscon for her ABS-CBN soap Pusong Ligaw, about the controversial couple who have been evading media, but nonetheless teasing fans via social-media posts.

The actress said she is close friends with Ellen because both of them are Bisaya. Ellen and JLC are godparents of her daughter Olivia as well. 

Beauty, who’s even open to stand as a principal sponsor (ninang) if ever a wedding happens, added: “If they’re going to get married or not, that’s their decision.”

However, she insisted that no wedding is happening. Or, at least not yet? “Walang mangyayari. I mean, she would tell us. Why would they hide it? Let them be. Nananahimik naman sila. I mean they’re not doing any showbiz work anymore. Give them a break.”

Beauty said that she has not had that much opportunity to spend time and bond with Ellen recently, owing to her work schedule for her afternoon drama series. It’s been 13 months taping for Pusong Ligaw, which after a nine-month run is finally coming to an end this week.

During the media interviews last Saturday, cast members said that they were yet to finish filming the last episodes, and how the ending would unfold was still a mystery to them. For the finale week, Beauty’s character Tessa — together with Caloy (played by Joem Bascon) — will continue to hunt for the truth behind the death of her adopted son Rafa (Enzo Pineda) and her mother.

The lead cast never thought that Pusong Ligaw would last this long, saying that they’re happy and grateful that “ABS-CBN took a gamble” with the series.

Pusong Ligaw is also the first major drama project for Beauty. Claiming that she’s more used to doing comedy, she’s still not comfortable calling herself a dramatic actress. “Honestly, I don’t watch myself (in the series). I just watched the episode trailers, because I still can’t believe that I can do drama. Of course, I need to embrace it fully. I think I’m not that good yet. I want to learn more.”

And just because she’s been getting a top-billing credit in Pusong Ligaw, it doesn’t mean Beauty will be avoiding support roles from here on.

“I don’t mind doing supporting roles since I started from there. As long as the role given to me ay hindi naman yung magsasabi lang ng ‘O, tara’ (or) sasabihin ko ‘Tara din’... Parang may sense naman yung role, that’s what I wanna do. As long as you’ve made a mark on the audience, whatever role it is, I could be a beggar or a sexy dancer, for all I care, (I’ll go for it) as long as it’s a good role.”

Last Christmas break, she had a quick European vacation with her husband, art curator Norman Crisologo, and their one-year-old daughter. “I need a vacation after that vacation,” the actress said.

That’s why after she wraps up Pusong Ligaw, she intends to go on a five-month-long showbiz break.

She said, “I told my manager, I want some time off for my daughter. My baby is still a baby, I want to give her time. It’s been a year I’ve been working from Mondays to sometimes Sundays. I think my husband waited for that long already. I want to give him time. He’s also been asking for it. My family is important more than anything else.”