Sexy. Exotic. Yummy. Appealing. Striking. Famous.

After Maging Sino Ka Man Book 2 ended during the early part of 2008, John Lloyd Cruz kept on fielding more successful projects including his movie A Very Special Love and his first romantic-comedy series I Love Betty La Fea. Coupled with his much-applauded surprise appearance during Sarah Geronimo’s concert The Next One and the start of production on their follow-up movie, 2008 is certainly full of defining moments in his career. On the other hand, he couldn’t help but dwell on its downside as well. “Andami-daming dapat ipagpasalamat. [Pero] kung meron mang isang parte, na hindi naman sa nakakalungkot [pero] sana next year mas makuha ko, I want to spend more time with my friends and my family,” he admitted to ABS-CBN.com. “Pero siyempre, when you talk about priorities, siyempre work muna ‘di ba? Pero I am hopeful na next year kahit madaming trabahong dumating, hindi pa rin magsa-suffer yung time ko with my family, for my friends, and most especially for myself,” he added.

As it happens, John Lloyd has barely time to think of how he’s going to welcome the year ahead with his hands full of work to do during this holiday season. “Honestly hindi ko pa siya nararamdaman. Ang daming trabaho this December, sobra-sobrang trabaho. So parang I am almost suffocated. Pero I take things as it comes eh, huwag muna nating unahan. Kung ano’ng mangyayari next year, it will handle itself. Sa ngayon there’s I Love Betty La Fea, there’s Part 2 of A Very Special Love, mga bagong pumapasok na endorsements… dun muna ako nakatutok,” he said in earnest.

Being one of the most bankable actors and sought-after leading men in the business brings much prestige and it is definitely not an easy feat. With all the commitments that he has to deal with, John Lloyd hopes that he can accomplish them all without burning out himself. “Sana lang I’d be able to handle it kasi it’s been overwhelming eh. Yung success na natatamo ko, yung mga dumadating sa akin… Ang wish ko lang sana mahandle ko sila wisely, with the kind of wisdom na magdadala sa akin pa-forward. Sana yung bigat, yung joy ng trabaho ko ngayon, at iba pa’ng dumadating sa akin, sanait won’t pull me down. Do you understand? Kasi mahirap eh. Hindi madali to handle these things no. Yun ang Christmas wish ko, sana mahandle ko ang lahat ng ito ng tama,” he shared.

Aside from that, he also looks forward to the time where there would be a complete solidarity in the showbiz industry. “I am just a very, very small part of this whole system. Pero kaming [mga artista] kapag pinag-uusapan how to improve the system, parang lahat united eh. I’m doing my part, I am trying to do my part and marami din diyan [na gusto yung mangyari]. So kung meron man, I realized na kaya namang i-improve. It’s just that yung willingness, sana magsurface yun from both ends. Hindi lang sa mga artista pati na rin sa iba pang [entities sa mundo ng showbiz],” John Lloyd concluded. - Abs-Cbn.com -