John Lloyd: Not twice, but thrice

John Lloyd Cruz did it again — not twice but thrice. He is Guillermo Mendoza Foundation’s 2009 Box-Office King for Star Cinema’s You Changed My Life, opposite Sarah Geronimo. Sarah is the Box-Office Queen.  

“I started to receive congratulatory messages last week,” recalls John Lloyd on how the good news reached him. “I’m very happy that for the third consecutive year my movie earned the highest (amount) at the tills. It makes me feel proud, very proud.”

The award is proof that John Lloyd, Jack ’n Jill Magic’s latest celebrity endorser has a fan base. 

“It’s a manifestation that many look forward to my projects,” he says. “Times are different now. It’s a TV generation and Internet generation. It’s difficult to make people go to the cinema and pay P160 or P180.”

Does John Lloyd attribute his success to a certain magic or charm?

“I have to be able to choose the right project,” he replies. “Much of my success is material driven. I try to aim for quality instead of quantity of work to be accommodated.”

Thus, John Lloyd enjoys commercial success and keeps on raising the bar.

Although fans watched him in Miss You Like Crazy with Bea Alonzo and see him in A.S.A.P. XV, everybody wishes John Lloyd to be back on primetime.  

“My latest project is Imortal which is coming out very soon,” he shares. “They have started shooting. I’ll be back on TV. And it’s been a while and please do watch out for it.”

On and off cam, John Lloyd finds it helpful to bring packs of Magic Flakes to immediately relieve his hunger pangs. The crackers are perfect for his low-fat, low-calorie diet. Magic is his replacement to his carbo intake. John Lloyd pairs it with something rich in protein. He says, “It’s good to have something light, not fattening, and convenient to eat. I always have Magic Flakes wherever I go. Instead of giving street children money, I give them Magic Flakes.”

Does John Lloyd miss the late pack-ups and early calls?

“Not really. Who wants to be very busy?,” he answers. “But I’m excited to go back to work. I’m excited to go back to TV — and to do something different and new.”

The actor shares his idea of a hectic TV schedule and a free day:

7 or 8 a.m. — I’m on the set. If there’s travel time to consider like going to Tagaytay, I allot one and a half hours to get there. I have to be up and about at 4:30 a.m. or 5 a.m. I study the script before heading to work. We sometimes memorize the lines on the set.

I often skip breakfast. TV work is demanding. During breaks or in between takes, I would rather sleep (to take a rest). They wake me up just before shooting resumes. I have a little time to eat, retouch, go to the bathroom and freshen up.     

Morning of the next day — I wrap up work and head to home.

6:30 a.m. — I wake up. I’m now a morning person. When I mountain bike, I should be ready at 5:30 a.m. or 6 a.m. I go to the trail. I’m through before 12 noon. I’ve been a mountain bike enthusiast for a year. One afternoon, my cousins and I decided to check out bike parts since my cousin’s friend started to bike already. We wanted to know what’s the best way to go about it. Either you buy the parts and assemble them or you purchase a built bike?  

If I have no biking activity, I wake up at 8 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. I also try to catch the news in the morning. I like to rise early so I can do many things or maximize my time.

Lunch time — I dine with my family.

1 p.m. and onwards — I go to the bike shop, hang out there and check out new items. I also see my friends. I hardly go out. I would rather stay at my new house.

Dinner time — I’m at home with family. — Jerry Donato