Rediscovering Geneva

"I wanna kick ass," says Geneva Cruz. And, with her career flying on a second wind, she’s doing just that. She has signed a two-year, five-picture contract with Viva Films, in which she says she is ready to do "naughty scenes" but draws a very definite line against crossing over into the bold genre.

Geneva has also signed on to be in the cast of the repeat run in October of the controversial play Rent, where she will play the role of lesbian stage actress Maureen. She has turned down several offers for shows abroad to concentrate on rehearsals for the musical, in which, she reveals, she will "bare some skin".

She is also image modelling for La Tondeña, endorsing all their products from water to liquor and posing for their much sought after poster calendar. Unlike past image models, Geneva insists she does not intend to be a sex symbol.

"I would rather be sensual than sexy," she says. "Sensuality comes from within and they say I’ve had it since I was young."

Sensuality and more. Geneva has been a-swirl in rumors and intrigues through a good part of her career. But she adamantly declares that she would rather not pay attention to "these people" and concentrate on her work instead. But she tackles the rumors head on–at least, some of them anyway.

There’s the one about the Sultan of Brunei. "Some artists were invited to perform for the 50th birthday of the Sultan," she clarifies. "When we got there ako ang nagustuhan. So after that, there was another concert, kasama na naman ako. It was a professional thing."

Then there’s the hot item about her and MTV VJ KC Montero. "KC is one of my best friends. Whatever we have now is something special, but I cannot deny or admit anything," she says cryptically. And that’s saying a mouthful.

She speaks of her marriage–now annulled–to singer/actor Paco Arespacochaga, now in the US, almost as a learning experience. "When I was 17, I didn’t listen to my parents about love," she says. The marriage fell apart when "nag-iba si Paco".

The marriage produced a son, Heaven, who Geneva is raising on her own. Outside of showbiz Geneva tries to spend as much time with him as possible.

"We watch a lot of cartoons together. We watch the Nickleodeon channel and Cartoon Network."

It’s a long way from the starry-eyed kid barely in her teens playing with Barbie dolls to the sophisticated singer/actress/model now comfortably posing and prancing before the cameras. "I’m more mature now," she says confidently.

"I’m 24 but sometimes I feel I’m 40."

Geneva Cruz was just twelve when composer/musical director Ryan Cayabyab held nationwide auditions for a new group. From over 400 kids, eight were chosen for a three-month training period. From there, four were chosen to form the group Smokey Mountain. Geneva was the only girl, joining Tony Lambino, James Coronel and Jeffrey Hidalgo. The group’s success was phenomenal.

Being a member of Smokey Mountain was a very demanding challenge. All of a sudden she was faced with many responsibilities. She had to be able to meet the demanding rigors of practice and training which had to be balanced off with her studies, first at St. Joseph Catholic School in Gagalangin, Tondo (where she was born) then at OB Montessori in Greenhills. She felt a special responsibility being the protegé of a great mentor.

"If you have Ryan Cayabyab as a mentor you have to be a perfectionist. Napaka-perfectionist ni Tito Ryan," she recalls. "And up to now it’s still hard, since if people know Ryan Cayabyab is your mentor they expect more from you as an artist. You have to be good all the time."

Despite the success and the excitement the group caused, Smokey Mountain’s first batch (there were subsequent incarnations with other members) lasted only a little more than a year. "It’s so sad," Geneva pines. "We were doing so well we had international offers and we were looking for schools in the States. But two of our members decided to finish their schooling here."

Without Smokey Mountain around her, Geneva banked on her voice and went on to craft a solo career as a singer. There were concerts here and abroad, and a lucrative stint as product endorser for Swatch. She also tried the movies. And she got married and had a child.

She once met an 80-year-old woman who told her to choose a man who is secure with himself. She has realized that she also needs to be secure with herself. Happily, she seems to have reached that stage.

She is looking forward to her movies with Viva, her upcoming album with Universal Records and her part in Rent. Asked what else she wants to do, she answers without hesitation, "I want to do an international recording."

Geneva has come a long way but it looks like her journey is far from over.