e’s something that took the showbiz writers abuzz weekend last. John Lloyd Cruz and ABS-CBN have agreed that he takes an indefinite leave.
Kapamilya’s Kane Choa, who heads the network’s Integrated Communications group in an email sent to the media said, “ABS-CBN and John Lloyd Cruz have agreed for him to take an indefinite leave of absence to attend to personal matters. John Lloyd will be taking a break outside the country and will return to ABS-CBN after his leave of absence.”
The last sentence was I suppose to quell the rumors circulating in café societies that the actor’s contract with the network’s management arm, Star Magic, is not being renewed.
But, what can really the network do with this kind of behavior of an actor that has become too hot to handle. Will the indefinite leave of absence make him a new person? Or is the network just waiting for the rumors to die down?
Whatever, it seems the Kapamilya network is unlikely to let John Lloyd loose of his confine in the network.
★★★★★
Let’s proceed to another Kapamilya who bolted out to return to his former hutch, the Kapuso network.
Atom Araullo met the press last Friday for his first documentary feature for GMA Network.
“Life changing” is how Atom Araullo describes his experience in doing the show.
Atom returned to the Kapuso Network last month, and immediately began filming for a new documentary titled Philippine Seas, a special that hopes to uncover the wonders and threats surrounding the Philippines’ marine gems. To really get to know the Philippine seas, Atom went on a rigorous 10-day expedition across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao where he experienced many firsts in his career as a documentary-maker.
In Moalboal, Cebu’s world-famous dive site, Atom witnessed hundreds of thousands of sardines in a single ball in a moment that he can only describe as “impressive”. While in nearby Bais, Negros Oriental, he looked into the current situation of dolphins once being caught and slaughtered before becoming the province’s leading tourist attraction. Here, Atom encountered a group of “bow-riders”, dolphins that ride alongside passenger boats.
But not all encounters are so easy. Off the coast of Sarangani, Atom experienced what life is like for tuna fishermen who wait days for a single catch. Under the harsh elements, Atom and his team witnessed the daily struggles of those who rely on the seas for a living. The most heartbreaking moment was discovering a group of fishermen detained in Indonesia for fishing in foreign waters. Atom talked to Samuel, a fisherman who has not seen his newborn child since being detained in Indonesia. Through the Philippine Seas team, Samuel got a chance to look at his newborn daughter for the first time.
The dwindling sea catch has forced many small fishermen to cross international boundaries hoping for a big catch so they can feed their families. Yet, international poaching remains a huge problem in the Philippines, too. In Palawan, Atom and his team visited the site where sharks were recently confiscated from Vietnamese poachers.
Yet, all hope is not lost. In the same seas of Palawan, Atom comes face to face with the biggest sea turtle he has ever seen, proof that there is still something worth saving here. And, finally, the team behind Philippine Seas also got the surprise of their lives when a rare and beautiful creature made an appearance. Once thought to be a mermaid in the olden times, the dugong or sea cow has an almost mythical status in the world of divers and fishermen.
In this special documentary, GMA Public Affairs will also feature the exploration and expedition on the 13-million hectare Philippine Rise. On top of the teeming corals and marine species, it is said that this undersea plateau is potentially a rich source of natural gas and other resources. Is it true that the Philippine Rise can deliver the country from poverty?
Philippine Seas airs on Nov. 5, 3:30 p.m. on GMA 7.
★★★★★
And here’s something that didn’t surprise us.
Jason Abalos, one of Star Magic’s principal stars several yeas back, has jumped ship, as the saying goes, and joined the Kapuso network.
Jason is now facing a new journey after he signed with GMA Artist Center a five-year management on Oct. 3.
Whatever it is that prodded Jason to switch loyalties, it is very obvious that the Kapamilya network is focusing on a few and selected talents they give priorities to.
I am glad Jason is excited to be a Kapuso. But, whether the network would make use of his talent as an actor or just waste him is another story.
Jason said that he is looking forward to the new things he is about to experience with the Kapuso Network, and to meeting new people along the way.
“I’m ready for the challenge, at isa rin sa dahilan kung bakit nandito na ako ngayon ay para masubukan ko ang mga roles na hindi ko pa nagagawa. I want to explore and learn more as an actor. Buong tiwala po ang ibinibigay ko sa GMA Network at GMA Artist Center,” Jason continued.