Paolo Contis reacts to John Lloyd Cruz’s ‘against-all-odd’ love life and Dingdong Dantes’ alleged plans of running for government position
“He deserves to be happy.” This is what Paolo Contis said when asked to comment on John Lloyd Cruz, who’s been involved in several controversies lately concerning his personal and career life.
The two became close friends when they appeared together on the “Tabing Ilog.” The youth-oriented TV drama series aired on ABS-CBN for more than four years.
In an interview with Bulletin Entertainment, the actor admitted he and John Lloyd rarely communicate nowadays. They last saw each other at the 2016 Gawad Urian Award, where John Lloyd and Paolo’s girlfriend, LJ Reyes, bagged the top acting prizes.
“Nagkaka-text-an kami. Kaya lang kasi ’pag nagkaka-ayaan (lumabas), madalas hindi pwede ’yung isa. Laging ganoon hanggang sa nawala na lang (’yung communication),” he said.
John Lloyd is currently just on leave but should he decide to go all the way, Paolo will support him.
“Actually hindi naman matatawag na pangit ’yung nangyayari sa kanya,” he noted. “I know na hindi ako manghihinayang (if ever na umalis na siya sa pag-aartista) kasi choice niya ’yun eh. Mas manghihinayang siguro ako kung mayroon siyang ginawang hindi maganda. Eh wala naman ’di ba? Happy ako for him.”
On talks that John Lloyd’s rumored girlfriend, Ellen Adarna, could be pregnant, Paolo said he is clueless about it. But if anything, he thinks “it is about time” for John Lloyd to be a father.
“Kung totoo, bakit hindi ’di ba? 34 na siya. Sa tingin ko it’s about time na sundin naman niya ’yung gusto niya. Isa pa, baka kapag pinigilan baka hindi siya maging masaya at mapasama pa. Tsaka sino tayo para i-question siya? Choice niya ’yon because of love at nakikita ko naman sa pino-post nila ni Ellen sa social media na masaya sila.
“Malay natin, ’pag bumalik siya baka maging inspirasyon niya kung magkakaroon nga sila ng baby ni Ellen. Ibang klaseng inspirasyon ’yun to work better and to be responsible.”
He is aware that John Lloyd is the type of guy who doesn’t like to be told what to do.
“Ang hirap lang kasi sa aming bilang public figures, people expect us to give them everything. Minsan gusto nila na kung ano ang sinabi nila, ’yun ang susundin (ng mga artista), eh si John Lloyd ever since hindi ganu’n,” he maintained.
If there’s one thing he would advise his friend, it is to be “more careful” with his actions especially with social media around.
“’Yun na lang siguro, konting ingat. Kumbaga wala naman nagsasabi na ’wag mong gawin ’yan, ’wag kang uminom. Maging discreet lang kasi lahat nakikita na ng mga tao,” he said. “Ang message ko sa kanya, stay happy. Basta wala kang tinatapakan, wala kang sinasaktan, be happy.” On reports that Dingdong Dantes allegedly has plans to run for senator in 2019, Paolo said, “Bakit hindi?” According to the actor, he counts Dingdong as among few friends who stood by him in his time of need. He thinks Dingdong has all the right credentials and the passion for helping people. “Alam niyo, not for anything ha… ang dami ngang tumatakbo (sa gobyerno) na wala namang credentials. Eh si Dong, tagal ko ng kakilala ’yan at alam kong tumutulong talaga sa mga tao ’yan,” he said. “Hindi pa nga siya nakaupo (sa gobyerno), what more kung umupo pa siya ’di ba? Kung tatakbo, I think dapat. It’s about time naman na.” Paolo is also open to joining politics. “Wala pang calling pero hindi ko kino-close ang doors ko sa ganyan. Malay natin ’di ba?”
Paolo admitted there was a time in his life when he forgot to nurture his faith in God.
“’Yung mga last few years sa buhay ko, I think mga five years ago. I used to go to church regularly tapos nawala ’yun,” he narrated. “Kasi ganu’n tayo eh kapag may pinagdadaanan (sa buhay), madalas nakakalimot tayo. ’Yun ang normal pero mali.”
“Hindi ko naman sinasabi na nagalit ako sa Kanya. My mistake is not making him my priority. Actually madami ’yan, kapag masama ’yung nangyayari sayo, nakakalimot ka. Kapag sobrang masaya, nakakalimot ka din. It works both ways,” he added.
But that’s all in the past, he said, as serving God is his top priority now. According to him, his faith teaches him to set definite goals in his life.
“After the clouds and everything, hindi man perfect pero mas may linaw na ang mga bagay-bagay,” he said. “Ang natutunan ko is ang mga problema dapat hinaharap kasama si God.”
We caught up with Paolo on the set of “Stories For The Soul,” which features the story of Paul the Apostle in an episode titled “Rehas” to air on Feb. 25. Paolo plays a warden, who lost faith in God after his wife and children died.
If there’s one person who helps Paolo regain his faith in God, it is no other than his girlfriend LJ.
“I think God uses someone to guide and help you. Si LJ, she’s very active in church. She has been an instrument para makabalik ako (sa paniniwala ko),” he said. “She’s not the reason though. Kasi ang pangit naman kung nagsisimba lang ako dahil sa kanya. Siya lang ’yung naging instrumento.”
Apart from that, Paolo said LJ changed his perspective in life positively. She often helps in his decisionmaking.
“I’m a very negative person eh, ’yung parang laging may pader. Ang tingin ko parang laging may gusto ’tong gawin (na masama),” he revealed. “Si LJ naman, walang masamang tinapay sa kanya. Kaya nilalagyan ko naman siya ng konting negativity, sinasabihan ko siya na ’wag masyadong mag-tiwala. Kumbaga nagko-compliment kami. Balanse lang.”
When will we hear wedding bells for them, we asked. “We’ll see,” he replied. Paolo said there are still a lot of things to do and he thinks this is not the perfect time for them to get married. What’s important for him is that they enjoy each other’s company and that he has a good relationship with LJ’s son, Aki.
“Marami pa kaming dapat ayusin. Kasi hindi na lang naman sarili ko ang iniisip ko, andyan si LJ, si Aki at ’yung mga anak ko. So tignan natin, balang araw,” he said.