The way to Shaina’s heart

If her detractors are to be believed, Shaina Magdayao is the culprit behind the breakup between Joross Gamboa and Roxanne Guinoo four months back. Shaina, so say her accusers, snatched Joross away from Roxanne and caused the latter sleepless nights.

Shaina not only cried foul, she is even repulsed at the idea.

"I don’t know why people are saying I am the cause of the Joross-Roxanne breakup," Shaina wonders aloud. "Joross is not even courting me. I just see him whenever we tape Rounin. And he’s not someone I can love. I prefer taller guys."

Besides, Vina Morales’ younger sister adds, she respects the Joross-Roxanne loveteam so much she won’t do anything to break it up. After all, Shaina’s career itself hinges on her loveteam with Rayver Cruz.

The nasty talks has put Shaina on guard whenever she’s with Joross. People might misconstrue her most harmless behavior, she reasons out. So she chooses to keep her thoughts and feelings to herself and measures her words when Joross, five years her senior, is around.

"That way, people will not misinterpret my behavior," she explains.

Shaina reports that in fairness to Roxanne, Joross’ ex-girlfriend, watched Vina’s recent concert at the Araneta Coliseum. But they didn’t have the chance to even say hi because of the yawning distance between Roxanne and Shaina’s seats that night.

Shaina lets her guard down, however, when it comes to Rayver, her co-star in Charm & Crystal, the newly-launched episode on ABS-CBN’s romantic series Love Spell (Sunday afternoons after Your Song, also topbilling Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson ). Rayver plays Johnny the Genie, who grants awkward stage hand Shaina’s wishes about love and other whatnots.

So far, Rayver makes the grade where Shaina’s criteria for potential boyfriends are concerned. The guy is tall ("I can wear heels when he’s around"), and, in Shaina’s words, "easy to work with."

This she found out for herself on the set of ASAP and the defunct Bida si Mister, Bida si Misis, where they worked as a team.

The things Shaina and Rayver can do together – sing, dance and act – are sky’s the limit. Why, Shaina even hints that Rayver is welcome to court her when her mom finally allows her to entertain suitors in November, when she turns 17.

One more tip for young men wanting to knock on Shaina’s door the minute she turns a year older on Nov. 6: Go visit her at home. Don’t think this age-old way of wooing a girl is passé. It’s not, at least for Shaina. In fact, it may be the key to her heart.

"A guy who goes out of his way to meet my parents at home is sincere," Shaina points out.

The eager suitor may also find out where Shaina plans to take up the voice lessons she is bent on getting, offer to bring her there, and join or wait for her while she’s vocalizing.

"I’m now taking my career seriously. Unlike before, it’s no longer child’s play for me," she reveals.

Producers take the hint: she hopes to star in a soap next time to prove her acting mettle in the drama department.

And if someday, Shaina will follow in Ate Vina’s footsteps by recording an album and even staging a concert, don’t be surprised. Shaina is hell-bent on creating a bigger splash in her career – with or without intrigues that continue to hound her.