John Lloyd Cruz is overwhelmed by The Mistress's box office success

Rachelle Siazon

<div><img src='' alt='100312-jlc_main.jpg' align='left' border='0' height='290' width='305'>John Lloyd Cruz was very happy with the box office turnout of his latest movie <i>The Mistress</i>. During their victory party last Monday night, October 1, the head honchos of ABS-CBN-Eugenio Lopez III, Charo Santos-Concio and Malou Santos-were present as the whole cast were given their respective bonuses for doing a job well done.</div><div><br/></div><div>In an interview with ABS-CBN reporters, John Lloyd elaborated on his remark that he wouldn’t have been part of The Mistress if not for the intervention of Star Cinema head Malou Santos. “<i>Siguro sinuswerte lang o talagang pinagpapala tayo. Sabi ko nga kanina, totoo po yun, kung hindi ako tinawagan ni Tita</i> Malou,<i> hindi ako kasama dito. Alam naman nating lahat na ‘di talaga ako</i> [<i>kasama sa </i>movie].<i> Ang ginagawa natin yung kay</i> Sarah (Geronimo, third installment of <i>A Very Special Love</i>) <i>eh, ‘di ba?</i>” </div><div><br/></div><div>Looking back, the three-time Box Office King shared that he really had a hard time internalizing his character JD. He couldn’t imagine any guy pursuing a woman who happens to be his father’s mistress. “I was skeptical, confused.<i> Kasi nung binasa ko yung</i> script <i>parang, ‘Ano ‘to? Paano ‘to gagawin? Paano ko ito maitatawid?’ Ang hirap. Hindi ako naniwala</i> during the first shooting days. <i>Hirap na hirap ako paniwalaan na, talagang may taong ganito? Nahirapan ako sa pagbibigay buhay ng</i> character.” </div><div><br/></div><div>But despite his initial hesitations, he considered it a blessing in disguise that he accepted the project. “<i>Ang galing ng naging</i> turnout. <i>Manghihinayang ka kung tinawag sa ’yo, hindi ka lang pwede, tapos makikita mo gan’un kaganda yung pelikula.</i> More than the success, siguro yung impact ng movie creatively. <i>Ang ganda kasi ng</i> project. <i>Nakakapanghinayang na para bang pinatikim tapos di naman natuloy</i>. I’m just happy <i>na nakasama ako.</i>” </div><div><br/></div><div>As for the possibility of acquiring another Box Office King title because of <i>The Mistress</i>, John Lloyd didn’t deny that it’s quite a challenge since the competition in the movie industry is tough these days. “Let’s wait and see.<i> Kasi may ilang buwan pa. Iba na ngayon ang</i> ruling <i>e, may nagbago na rin </i>in the past one or two years. <i>Pero ang maganda kasi ngayon, matindi ang </i>competition so<i> buhay na buhay ang </i>market, <i>alam mong buhay na buhay ang  industriya. Yun lang</i>, happy <i>na ako dun</i>.”</div>

John Lloyd Cruz says that being part of The Mistress is really a blessing in disguise.

John Lloyd Cruz is overwhelmed by The Mistress's box office success | PUSH.COM.PH