Shaina Magdayao on John Lloyd Cruz: ‘Mas tumaas yung respeto namin sa isa’t isa’

aShaina Magdayao said that her boyfriend John Lloyd Cruz supports her decision to go daring in her newest teleserye Kung Ako’y Iiwan Mo. She added that he knows about her love scenes with Jake Cuenca and is not bothered by them. “Oo naman, alam naman niya yun. Sa mga projects na tinatahak  namin ngayon, [our roles are] very mature. Hindi mo na masasabi na nagpapa-sweet kami or teenybopper. Parte na yun, nasa isang kumpanya naman kami. Kilala naman namin yung mga nakaka-partner ng isa’t isa so wala dapat issue,” said the actress during the press con of Kung Ako’y Iiwan Mo last March 29.

Shaina further shared that her relationship with John Lloyd has changed for the better after their controversial breakup last year. “Mas na-appreciate namin yung isa’t isa ngayon, mas alam niya yung needs ko, mas alam ko yung needs niya as a person, mas tumaas yung respeto namin sa isa’t isa. Kasi when you part ways, dapat hanggang dun na lang yun. Pero kapag nagkabalikan kayo, dun siguro mas tumaas yung respeto namin. Na-realize namin yung worth ng isa’t isa.”

Some people might think that it’s hard for her to have a boyfriend who’s not only a certified Box Office King, but also one of the most eligible bachelors in town. But Shaina clarified that they’re just like ordinary couples behind the camera. “Kasi ang boyfriend ko, yung John Lloyd not in front of the cam, hindi yung nakikita niyo. Kung sino yung minamahal ko, it’s far from the roles na pinoportray niya, so hindi mahirap [mahalin].”

But she admitted that it takes a lot of courage to be able to handle the controversies that she and John Lloyd encountered in the past. “Mahirap talaga [magkaroon ng relasyon sa showbiz] mas lalo na ‘pag dumadaan sa pagsubok. Pero ako kasi yung tipo ng tao na the more you put me down, the more I’ll prove you wrong, mas lalaban at lalaban ako, hindi ako magpapatalo. At the same time, ‘pag merong masaklap na nangyari sa buhay ko, I always believe na may kapalit yun. It’s proven already. Lahat ng mga nabato sa akin ni Lord pinapalitan niya ng mas maganda. So grabe yung faith ko sa Diyos na hindi niya ako pababayaan.”

Asked what endeared him to her the most, Shaina replied that it’s the way he treats her family with love and respect. “I don’t think there’s a specific trait. Kasi kung isang trait lang, I don’t think that's sustainable para makakaabot kami ng almost two years together. I think it’s the whole package. Kung paano talaga namin tina-try i-work out yung things. Kung paano namin nirerespeto ang isa’t isa [at] mas binibigyan ng oras ang isa’t isa maski gaano kami ka-busy. Siguro nagustuhan ko rin sa kanya yung respeto niya sa pamilya ko. Sobra siyang magbigay ng respeto mas lalo na sa tatay ko.”

When asked how she would handle infidelity in a relationship, Shaina agreed that it’s definitely reason enough for her to call it quits. “Lahat naman tayo may kanya-kanya tayong tolerance. Gaya ng iilang babae, siguro may kaya akong palagpasin, pero meron akong punto na teka lang muna, sandali lang, out muna ako. Gaya ninyo, normal na babae lang [ako]. Siguro hindi kasi ako martir. Hanggang may kaya lang akong lunukin, hanggang dun lang yun. Kapag lumagpas ka dun, then I’m out.”

More than anything else, Shaina keeps in mind the saying that you can’t give what you don’t have. “Siguro kasi sa lahat ng ito, mataas kasi yung respeto ko sa sarili ko. At siguro alam ko na bata pa ako, marami pa akong pwedeng magagawa. I just want someone who’ll treat me right, yun lang naman ang hinihingi ko. Respect is very important.”