Working with Angel Locsin for the first time has given John Lloyd Cruz the chance to see her other persona – her masculine side. 

“Na-discover ko na magaling siyang humawak ng pera niya. Bukod pa doon, mahilig siya sa sasakyang mukhang panlalaki. Very manly, very manly ‘yung mga hilig niya like isang beses niyaya niya akong mag-firing. Sabi ko, 'I’ve never tried that pero sige, puwede ko ring pasukan ‘yan,'” John Lloyd shared with Bulletin Entertainment in an interview.

The actor, in return, has invited Angel to go biking.

Aside from Angel’s seemingly manly ways, the Box Office King also noticed how genuinely caring the actress is during tapings.   

“Si Angel, aside from mahirap siya katrabaho,” the actor joked, said that “her being maasikaso, maalaga na parang tomboy” are her endearing qualities. “Feeling ko ako ‘yung leading lady kasi ganoon talaga siya, eh. Nasa nature niya ‘yung alagaan, asikasuhin ‘yung kanyang kasama not necessarily her leading man...’yung kasama niya sa trabaho, kasama sa eksena. Aside from that, hindi lang siya nakakahon doon sa pagiging artista.”

He accidentally discovered one of Angel’s investments when he went to an open house invitation in Batangas.  

“One time, ako umabot pa lang ako sa property niya sa Batangas na hindi ko alam. May tinitingnan kasi akong property, ‘yun pala katabing-katabi ‘yung property niya. Doon nagsimula ‘yung nalaman ko na intresado pala siya sa mga investments,” the actor shared.

John Lloyd acknowledges that life’s been good to him all these years.

“Totoo naman talaga na life has been so good to me for the past how many years. Since I started 13 years ago, tuluy-tuloy lang ‘yung trabaho tapos mga three, four years ago, nag-peak pa siya. Hanggang ngayon parang hindi tayo nauubusan ng ginagawa. Bukod sa ginagawa, parang may fulfillment din sa ginagawa. I mean, iba kasi ‘yung ginagawa mo rin ‘yung trabaho mo and iba rin ‘yung nagkakaroon ka ng fulfillment,” he said.

With this, he feels complete.

“Wala naman akong mako-consider na kulang. If you’re saying kulang in the context of contentment, wala naman akong masasabing kulang. Higit pa sa sobra ang meron tayo. Pero siyempre, ‘yung learning, ‘yung gusto mong makuhang...matutunan along the way that involves your job, parang ‘yon lang sana ang ‘wag mawala or sana ‘wag tipirin along the process. Kasi parang ‘pag doon ka nagkulang puwedeng mag-reflect ‘yan ng hindi maganda sa trabaho mo or sa mga performances mo.”

John Lloyd admits Angel is one of his showbiz crushes. “Minsan, kapag natatanong ka kung sino ang natitipuhan mo bilang crush, lagi namang lumulutang ‘yung pangalan niya,” he said.

But did he foresee the time that he will end up working with Angel?

“I’m not sure kung na-foresee ‘yung right term pero matagal ko na ring...actually nasa GMA pa siya vocal naman ako about wanting to work with her. No’ng dumating na siya sa bakod ng ABS-CBN, naghintay pa rin dahil may mga ilang projects na prinariotize. Now, finally, nandito na kami, ginagawa na namin ‘yung sarili naming project.”

On a personal note, John Lloyd is happy over the development of Angel and Luis Manzano’s relationship. Lloydy’s leading lady admitted in a recent “SNN” interview that she had gone out on a date with her ex-boyfriend a few days ago.

“’Di ba parang napakagandang balita noon pero limited lang ang puwede kong sabihin. Sila lang ang makakapagsalita about the real score. Kung anuman, kung sa tingin naman nating lahat, eh, papunta doon ang nangyayari, well and good.

"Kasi ako bilang isang kaibigan, I can only wish them the best. We can only wish them like real happiness like at the end of the day, pagkagaling niya sa trabaho, sa lahat ng kailangan niyang gawin ay mahanap niya rin ‘yong totoong magpapasaya sa kanila and I guess malaking parte noon na meron kang tao na nasa tabi mo na source noong happiness na ‘yon. I’m really happy na doon papunta. Although ako, for the record, hindi ko naman nakausap si Angel or si Luis tungkol sa bagay na ‘yan,” he said.