Bea: Stars should retain mystery

CEBU, Philippines - In the advent of Twitter-savvy celebs, the Guns ‘n Roses actress who’s not a fan of opening up, finds it ironic how others whine on loss of privacy when they avidly tweet private stuff.

With the mature roles we see her tackle on film and TV, and the way she comports herself in the public eye, we sometimes forget that Bea Alonzo is still a young woman at 23. It’s easy to forget, especially that the star does talk wisdom and sense, none of the fluff her other young counterparts dish out.

For instance, when asked how she handles showbiz intrigue which hasn’t spared even a guarded and private personality such as herself, Bea takes an open-minded approach.

“I don’t let myself get affected. Because people really talk, they talk about you behind your back. Whether it’s good or bad, you can’t stop them since it’s their own opinion,” she avers. “And even I judge people. It’s the way of life. It gives color to the business.”

Bea and her current TV series castmates Diether Ocampo, Empress and Ejay Falcon flew into town June 11th for the Cebu leg of their Guns and Roses promo tour. Before an afternoon mall appearance at Gaisano Capital South and Gaisano South Island Mall Mactan, the foursome sat down for an exchange with writers at Waterfront Hotel Lahug’s La Tegola restaurant. Guns and Roses main man Robin Padilla, who was not originally scheduled to join the out-of-town gig, surprised his co-stars by suddenly coming out on stage with a ready bouquet for his leading lady.

While Bea claims to have mastered nonchalance at negative issues thrown her way, she admits getting upset when this one aspect is invaded: “When it’s about my family. When they were bashing my mom, that was really off. But it stopped rin naman. I just didn’t say anything kasi kapag nagsalita ka, mas lalaki pa.”

It’s this philosophy she so far follows regarding private matters — no talk, no fuss. “If it’s my personal life, I try not to confirm or say anything because I don’t have any responsibility to explain. It’s your own decision if you want to share a piece of you to everybody. If you want to give the public the license to meddle with your life, it’s your choice.”

Which is why she wonders why other famous faces bellyache on the constant media intrusion, when it is sometimes their personal posts through social media including Twitter that call attention to themselves and pique a curious public’s interest.

“Minsan kasi you’re scared na papakialaman ka ng mga tao, but you tweet about it. Of course, people will attack you if you post something bad about another person, especially the person they love! So it’s really up to you, it’s about being responsible,” she says.

Does she think stars should maintain a bit of mystery and not detail their every waking activity and thought on Twitter?

Bea answers, “Yes. I think so. Some people say it’s better for promotion purposes and to get in touch with your fans. But ako kasi, I’m a more personal person. I do keep in touch with my fans through eating out with them or they organize parties and I attend. I think that’s more personal than just exchanging tweets with one other.”

One reason she offers on her reluctance to open up is that she’s scared “to hurt somebody through my words.” Even when she’s in an industry and of the stature where she’s constantly probed for one reason or another, Bea draws the line between what the public can know and what’s hers alone.

“You share only what you want to share if you want to protect yourself. But sometimes, it also has a disadvantage. Sinasabi nung iba, they don’t know me. Mas kilala pa daw nila yung mga bagong artista kasi they share more. So slowly, I’m opening up. Before, 40 percent I share, 60 percent I keep to myself. Right now, I try to share 70 percent.”

She continues to reveal at being more comfortable with her body these days. The Star Magic vixen used to get flak for her chubby register on-cam. But it was after doing I Love Betty La Fea where she learned to embrace her voluptuousness.

“I learned from her character kasi kahit pangit siya at kahit ano yung suot niya, she’s still happy,” she explains. “Now, I’m happy with who I am and I’m getting more mature. I’ve accepted that I have a different kind of build. I’m half-Brit, so I’m big-boned.”

Bea is Reign Santana in Guns and Roses, ABS-CBN’s action-romance soap that pits her for the first time with the Bad Boy of Philippine Cinema. She is a woman devastated at the loss of her fiancée in a seemingly incidental shooting. She crosses paths with Abel Marasigan (played by Robin), who is driven to seek revenge for the death of his father, while Diether is the cop responsible for Reign’s case who will eventually fall for her.

She tells of her experience taping the action-packed project: “It’s been fun. I’ve always wanted to work with Robin. He’s a very professional actor. I’m learning a lot from him, so I’m just really savoring every moment of it. It’s my first action-serye, my first time working with an action star, so it’s very different from all the characters I did before.”

Completing the stellar cast are Mark Gil, Pen Medina, Liza Lorena, Isabel Rivas, Nanding Josef, Pinky Amador, Gladys Reyes, Ketchup Eusebio, Justin Cuyugan, Ina Feleo, Boom Labruska and Maliksi Morales.

Bea is also set to star in Maalaala Mo Kaya The Movie with Angel Locsin and Zanjoe Marudo. It is the 20th anniversary project of the country’s longest-running drama anthology. Plus, a reunion film with her perennial leading man John Lloyd Cruz is scheduled for 2012. The blockbuster pair last teamed up in the 2010 Star Cinema flick Miss You Like Crazy.