‘He has movie star good looks, he’s tall and well built, and more than anything else, he can act.’
DIEGO Loyzaga is a true survivor.
It’s common knowledge that he had a meltdown a couple of years ago and he rested for a while. But now, he’s truly back with a vengeance after Viva signed him up, doing one project after another.
Among today’s young leading men, he’s one of the most promising. He has movie star good looks, he’s tall and well built, and more than anything else, he can act.
He is very convincing as a very disturbed young man who lives in a deadly fantasy world in Yam Laranas’ “Death of a Girlfriend.” In the TV series, “Encounter,” he is able to hold his own against the very competent Cristine Reyes.
And now, he does comedy in Joel Lamangan’s “Bekis on the Run,” which has started streaming and in Roman Perez’ heist movie, “House Tour.” Many people are now experiencing anxiety attacks due to the ongoing pandemic. Mental health is a big issue and Diego can now share his own experiences about that dark period in his life.
“I’m glad na ‘yung pinagdaanan ko was before the pandemic so, in a way, I can say na parang I’ve already prepared myself for difficult situations like what we’re now going through,” he said in an interview. “I’ve learned to expect the unexpected, that things will not go your way all the time.”
So how would he approach such problems now?
“First of all, it pays to have close family ties kasi you can always bank on your family to help you. It also helps to have deep faith in God.”
It’s good he has a good relationship with relatives on his mother’s side, the Loyzagas, and he also gets along well with his three half-sisters with Sunshine Cruz.
“We hang out together, lalo ngayong sunod-sunod ang birthdays nila. First was Samantha, followed by Angelina, then Cheska. We’ve always been closed and they’re getting older na. As their kuya, I give them advice as they’ve become a bit more mature.”
He’s happy to have done comedy like “Bekis on the Run” and “House Tour.”
“It was fun doing both films. Okay lahat ng co-stars ko, sina Christian Bables, Sean de Guzman, Lou Veloso and Kylie Versoza in ‘Bekis’, with Direk Joel. And sina Mark Anthony Fernandez, Cindy Miranda, Rafa Siguion Reyna and Sunshine Guimary in ‘House Tour.’ I enjoyed working with all of them.”
***
Rayver Cruz definitely has no regrets when he moved to GMA three years ago after being a Kapamilya for so long. Since then, he has done several teleseryes where he played the male lead, not just a supporting role like what he did before in ABS-CBN. He is also a regular host-performer in “All Out Sunday” and in the reality singing contest, “The Clash.”
In three years, he was able to build a house of his own. We’re told his talent fee with GMA is much higher and he is never without a show, so it’s not surprising that he now renews with glee his commitment with GMA as actor, TV host and performer.
He remains a loyal Kapuso as he signed an exclusive network contract with GMA and renewed his management contract with Artist Center for three years. Rayver can’t help but be emotional during the renewal of his contract last Sept. 9.
“Hindi ako emotional na tao pero talagang tinamaan ako rito!” he said. “Nakakatuwa kasi ang tagal ko na rin sa industry, ang dami ko na ring naging kaibigan, mga napamahal na co-actors ko, pero dito ako sa GMA sobrang saya and blessed ng pakiramdam ko. I want to take this opportunity para magpasalamat sa aking Kapuso bosses. I’m really so happy and grateful!”
Now that he is constructing his own house, does this mean that he will soon settle down with inamorata Janine Gutierrez who is now with ABS-CBN?
“Naku, hindi pa namin naiisip ‘yan, lalo na nga’t kalilipat pa lang niya ng network,” he said.
“And we don’t even know as to when this pandemic will end, so there’s no need to rush.”
***
AJ Raval is glad that after doing violent dramas like “Death of a Girlfriend,” “Nerisa” and “Taya,” she has now just finished doing a comedy, “Shoot! Shoot! Di Ko Siya Titigilan” with Andrew E.
“This is something very light compared to the other movies I did,” she said. “Wholesome din and walang pagpapakita ng katawan. Laugh trip lang at talagang matatawa ang viewers.”
So how is it working with Andrew? “Noong una, medyo kinakabahan ako kasi matagal na siya sa industry. Icon na siya sa comedy. Tapos baguhan lang ako. But it turned out, napakagaan pala niyang katrabaho. Kwelang-kwela siya sa shoot. He shares his experiences sa movies na nagawa na niya before and I learned a lot from him.”
The film’s trailer has already garnered more than 8 million views and one of the most talked about scenes is when Andrew kissed her on the mouth while trying to give her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. How was it shooting this scene with Andrew?
“Actually, ‘yung kissing scene kinunan noong first shooting day pa lang namin. Kissing agad, ni wala pa kaming connection. So when Direk Al Tantay told us na we’ll shoot the kissing scene, I tried to connect with Andrew muna through sa mga kuwentuhan namin.
So, no second thoughts, ginawa namin agad, pero inabot ng three takes. Madali naman akong naging comfortable sa kanya kasi very caring siya. Tapos nung actual scene na, parang daya lang kasi sa side lang ng bibig ko niya ako hinalikan.”
“Shoot! Shoot!” starts streaming on Vivamax on October 8.
