JOHN Lloyd Cruz gives his most daring performance in “Unofficially Yours.” How sexy is it? “Sa love scene, I’m only wearing cologne,” he grins.

He plays a dentist, Mackey, a believer in true love and lasting relationships. When his girlfriend splits with him, he decides to try a different profession. He’s accepted as a reporter in the lifestyle section of a newspaper. To celebrate, he goes with his friends on a night out where he meets a girl with whom he has a one-night stand. It happened so quickly they didn’t even get to know each other’s name. The next day, on his first day at work, he discovers that the girl he made love with is the senior lifestyle editor in the paper where he’ll be working. He tries to court her but she prefers them to be just friends with benefits with no strings attached.

Did he have second thoughts about undressing before the camera? “I trusted Direk Cathy Molina. Parang I experimented on myself. I know I don’t have the best hunky body in the industry gaya sa ibang actors, but then, kailangan ba laging perfect or parang chiselled o hinulma ang makita ng audience? Hindi naman lahat ng lalaki, ganun ang katawan na may abs, di ba? So feeling ko, ako yung representative ng most ordinary guys na hindi naman bato-bato ang katawan sa muscles.”

So how is it doing the love scenes with Angel? “It helps na comfortable kami with each other kasi nagkasama na kami sa ‘Imortal’. Hindi na kami naiilang sa isa’t isa. It’s a privilege na maka-love scene siya kasi, di ba, nanguna siya as the sexiest sa bansa. Hahanga ka naman talaga sa kaseksihan niya.”

Lloydie admits he and Shaina Magdayao are now back in each other’s arms. They’ve ironed out the kinks in their relationship and they’re now okay again. “Nagkahiwalay kami, nagkabalikan, and now we’re doing fine. Now, kung anuman ang natutuhan namin sa nangyari sa’min, it’s personal and private, so sa amin na lang 'yun. We’re planning to have another vacation abroad with her family.”

“Unofficially Yours” is a Valentine presentation that opens of February 15. After this, Lloydie will do another film, his reunion with Sarah Geronimo, and a new soap with Bea Alonzo. “Ang ganda nga ng pasok sa ’kin ng taon,” he says. “Tuluy-tuloy ang trabaho ko.”

ANGEL DOESN'T WANT PHIL TO SEE HER LOVE SCENES

IF John Lloyd Cruz admits he’s officially on again with Shaina, Angel Locsin says the title of their movie is very apt for her relationship with Phil Younghusband as they’re still unofficially on.

“Ayaw naming pilitin kundi pa talagang naaayon,” she says. “But ultimately, we want to make it official. As of now, I must admit, may confusion, kasi when you ask me kung kami na ba, hindi ko pa talaga alam. Wala kaming mga monthsary or anniversary. All I can say is may love, but 'yung official label or status, it’s still a big question mark. Hindi pa namin napag-uusapan ang lahat and we don’t want to rush things.”

How does that sit with Phil? “Okay naman sa kanya. Useless namang madaliin kundi ka pa totally emotionally ready, di ba? It’s better to wait at pag nag-commit ka seriously, yung reading-ready ka na talaga.”

Didn’t she have any reluctance doing the bedscenes with Lloydie? “No, kasi alam ko kung gaano siya ka-gentleman at kung gaano siya kagaling umarte. Sa dinami-dami ng naging leading men ko, iba nang level niya, one step ahead na talaga siya. Also, the film is about intimacy, relationships and sexual compatibility, kaya kailangan talaga ang ganung torrid love scenes. I play a liberated woman na okay lang makipag-one night stand. It’s something new but nangyayari naman talaga yun sa totoong buhay. The film will explain kung ano ang pinanggagalingan ng character ko.”

Won’t Phil get jealous when he sees the bedscenes? “No, hindi siya ganun. Napaka-secure niyang tao, he knows my line of work, so walang issue. Pero kung ako’ng tatanungin, siyempre, I’d rather huwag na lang niya panoorin ang movie. But he has seen the trailer and he said, mukhang maganda raw. I’ve introduced Lloydie to him at okay sila.”

Isn’t there any friction between them considering he grew up in a different culture in Britain? “No, parang Pinoy rin siya. But noong una, when he asked to date me, ayoko talaga. It was my friends who said, ‘Try it lang. Be more open naman.’ First time kaming nag-meet on February 13 last year, so halos one year na kaming lumalabas-labas at habang tumatagal kaming nagkakasama, mas nakikilala namin ang isa’t isa and I became more at ease with him.”

So what’s their plan on February 13, their first anniversary? “Wala. Hindi naman official anniversary 'yun kasi unofficially on pa kami. Sa Valentine, kami ni Lloydie ang magkasama as we’ll be promoting our movie that opens on February 15.”

JAKE COPES WITH MOTHER'S DEATH

SO how's Jake Vargas and his family doing after his mom passed away  recently? “We’re trying to  move on,” he says. “Big help for me na I’m working everyday para hindi ko naiisip 'yung lungkot ko. I am now in five shows so may taping ako lagi. I tape ‘Alice Bungisngis’ Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Tapos, I also tape for ‘Tween Hearts’ with Bea, ‘Pepito Manaloto’ where I play Michael V’s son, then ‘Walang Tulugan’ with Kuya Germs and on Sundays, I do ‘Party Pilipinas’ live. Bukod diyan, Bea and I are also shooting a movie, yung ‘Kontrabida Girl,’  with Rhian Ramos and Aljur Abrenica. Ang pahinga ko na lang 'yung Sunday afternoon after ‘Party Pilipinas’. But this Sunday, no rest pa rin kasi kami nina Bea will promote ‘Alice Bungisngis’ in ‘Showbiz Central.’  Ni wala na akong time to go home sa amin sa Olongapo.”

How come he’s now being linked to Lexi Fernandez in real life? “I don’t know. Siguro dahil naging close kami talaga kasi kami ang magkapareha sa ‘Pepito Manaloto.’  But just like Bea, friends din lang kami. We’re all so busy, kaya puro trabaho lang kami.”

BIANCA EATS RAW MEAT

BEFORE her new soap, “Broken Vow,” starts on Monday, Bianca King will first be seen tonight in a special horror-romance presentation on GMA7’s “Spooky Valentine.” The episode is entitled “Maestra” and Bianca plays Elena, a young teacher who’s also a loving wife to TJ Trinidad and a doting mom to their only child. Being dedicated to her profession, she agrees to teach kids in a remote province.

She meets a mysterious old woman who changes her life drastically after the old woman touched her. Upon her return to her family, her husband and their daughter notice that she’s behaving strangely. She became fond of eating raw meat and soon, she turns into a blood-thirsty cannibal.

“Hindi madali 'yung pinagawa sa ’king kumain ng hilaw na karne, huh,” says Bianca. “The point of this episode, kasi Valentine story pa rin ito, hindi ako iniwan ng husband ko in spite of my terrifying transformation.

Nang habulin ako ng mga taong-bayan at gusto akong patayin, ipinagtanggol niya ako to show his unconditional love for me. But if he could take what happened to me, ako, hindi. So I kill myself. But do you think the story ends there? No, meron pang ibang twist and complications that make the story truly frightening.”

Find out how the life of her own husband and kid are threatened by Bianca’s evil transformation in “Spooky Valentine Presents Maestra” tonight after “Mannys Many Prizes” on GMA7.

LARA-MARCO WEDDING SET OCTOBER

MARCO Alcaraz plays a cop in his newest GMA assignment, “Broken Vow.” “I’m Police Officer Michael Pascual, the one in charge of investigating the abduction and rape of Bianca King,” he says. “I’m working for Juan Rodrigo, our town mayor who’s the father of Gabby Eigenmann, ang lalaking pakakasal sana kay Bianca kundi siya nabuntis ng rapist niya.”

It’s common knowledge that he himself will soon face the altar with his girlfriend of three years, former Miss International Lara Precious Quigaman. “Yes, nakaplano na ang wedding namin this coming October. It’ll be on a beach resort in Nasugbu, Batangas.”

What does he like in Lara? “I think that in her, nakita ko na talaga ang babaeng gusto kong makasama habambuhay. She’s the one. She’s not just a beauty queen kundi mabait pa at magaling mag-alaga. Actually, napanood ko pa lang siya noon sa TV, crush ko na siya. I feel so blessed nang maging kami nga. We help each other grow. Lalo na siya, inilapit niya ako kay Lord.”