John Lloyd Cruz couldn’t have chosen a worse time to stage a comeback than at this time of the great pandemic. Yet, truth to tell, his return is making waves, Covid or no Covid. The veteran actor, one of our very best, who took a leave from showbiz starting in 2017, guested on a GMA TV special celebrating Shopee’s 6.6 Mid-Year Sale on June 6.

The special reportedly posted a high 38.2 per cent people audience share in NUTAM and was among the Top Trending topics in the country on Twitter.

It was the first time JLC was seen performing again on screen in four years. He did a song number, ‘Yakap,’ signifying his intention to embrace his audience once again. And from all indications, his fans are more than willing to hug him back tight.

John Lloyd is reportedly doing a sitcom series on GMA, with Wowowin host Willie Revillame as his co-star and producer.

Willie has been instrumental in paving the way for JLC’s appearance on the network.

Heard that Andrea Torres is being eyed for the female lead.

In the coming months, we are to witness more projects starring John Lloyd Cruz, one of them a protracted reunion film with Bea Alonzo.

The actor has also wrapped an art film, Servando Magdamag, for Lav Diaz. He thanked Lav for tapping him in his serious film projects meant for international release.

JLC said that since 2017, he has done four films under Lav, which means that he wasn’t completely out of focus after all. Those films had a different orientation, however.

Xx

The returning John Lloyd Cruz looks like a changed man, or shall we say, a new man?

Four years of rest and recreation away from show business have done wonders on the man inside JLC.

Looking neat and well-scrubbed, hair trimmed to crew-cut specs, the veteran actor has mellowed tremendously as can be gleaned from an interview he granted Radyo Kidlat that I caught recently.

Among others, JLC said living a ‘’normal’’ life away from the pressures of filming and a very public life have impacted positively on his health and outlook.

‘’I have learned to sleep early, I wake up even earlier than the sun,’’ he said.

He takes care of his health by sunning regularly and exercising.

One of the greatest lessons he shared in the interview was on composing oneself.

‘’We must learn how to be calm, and grounded, huwag mag-panic. It is hard to be productive that way.’’

Or when he credited his son, Elias, as the person who saved his life.

‘’Utang ko ang buhay ko sa anak ko,’’ he said.

He probably meant that Elias gave him a new purpose, his driving force.

Xx

Career-wise, John Lloyd said that his comeback picture with constant partner Bea Alonzo is still being re-written.

The film will reunite them with director Cathy Garcia Molina, plus some of their co-actors from the movie, One More Chance.

A few things stand out in JLC’s character through that interview.

His humility. His simplicity. His kindness.

Several times, he talked about his willingness to lend his name to some worthy cause, to help the disadvantaged.

‘’Kung anong pwede kong maitulong.’’

He promised to support the 121 electric cooperatives behind Radyo Kidlat that aims for wider electrification in the rural areas.

#willierevilame

MOVIEGOER: Enter the new man in John Lloyd Cruz