UNBELIEVABLE but true and cute. Kaya, read on. 

Yup, alam n’yo bang ang tunay na name ng alalay ni John Lloyd Cruz na kung tawagin niya ay simply “Pip” ay Tirso Cruz.

And guess what Pip told us. Ang driver naman ni John Lloyd ay Christopher de Leon ang tunay na name.

Ayon kay Pip, kahit kailan ’di niya naitanong sa mother niya kung bakit pinangalanan siya nitong Tirso Cruz at tinawag na Pip for short.

But it’s likely daw na paboritong actor nito si Pip (’yung actor, ha).

Sa kaso ni John Lloyd, friend na raw niya ito ’di pa man ito nagsu-showbiz. Magkapitbahay daw kasi sila sa Pasig.

In fact daw, noon na-discover si John Lloyd by a talent scout and he was asked kung gugustuhin nitong mag-artista, they were together sa Sta. Lucia Mall.

They have been friends for 13 years now.

Ano ang napansin niya kay John Lloyd mula nang sumikat ito?

”Wala,” sagot ni Pip. “Mabait pa rin siya. Bilang kaibigan, anak at kapatid.”

Ayon kay Pip, naipagpatayo na ni John Lloyd ng bahay ang mga magulang. Malapit lang ang bahay niya sa mga ito.

Dito na sa Pilipinas namimirmihan ang dalawang kapatid na lalaki ni John Lloyd na matagal ding nakipagsapalaran sa Amerika.

May kanya-kanya na itong hanapbuhay. One of them ay siyang tumutulong sa kanya to build a house and sell business.

The other one looks after the rows of apartments, 14 of them, in Santolan, which John Lloyd rents out.

Ganunpaman, nanatiling simple lang daw si John Lloyd. Maliban sa pananamit nito, according to Pip, which he has lately been conscious of.

Kahit daw sa pagkain, nananatiling paborito nito ang mga dating kinakain. Dinurog na mustasang nilagyan ng kamatis.

Asked kung sino sa mga naging girlfriend ni John Lloyd ang pinakamabait, ito ang tanong namin na ayaw nang sagutin ni Pip.

No wonder, pinagkakatiwalaan nga siya ni John Lloyd.

* * *

On the day we visited the set of Unofficially Yours, first film together nina John Lloyd at Angel Locsin sa Legaspi Towers on Roxas Blvd., we were asked to wait na matapos ang eksenang kinukunan sa standby area, kung saan naruroon si Pip.

Maselang eksena raw ang kinukunan, ani Pip. Kaya, closed door ang shooting. Pang-ending daw.

Later, when finally we had a talk with Direk Cathy Garcia-Molina, she told us na habang kinukunan niya ang eksena, kilig na kilig siya.

Ang galing daw talaga nina John Lloyd at Angel sa movie in their characters na Mackie at Ces, two people from the opposite sides of love.

He believes in commitment and permanence while she believes otherwise.

“Papanoorin ko ang pelikulang ito,” ani Pip.

Actually daw, walang movie si John Lloyd na ’di niya napanood.

* * *

Remember Jimmy Marquez, runner-up in Star In A Million, a reality show conducted by ABS-CBN in search of potential singers?

Well, he is still around doing one concert after another. No wonder that he intends to stay in the business for as long as he is needed, ani Jimmy.

Well, this February, tinaguriang buwan ng pag-ibig, he is featured along with premier vocal harmony group, The Company, in a three-night concert called Love to Laugh, Laugh to Love.

The frist night ay gaganapin sa Iloilo, February 10, 8 p.m., sa Iloilo Grand Hotel for a dinner-benefit sa Bantay Bata Iloilo.

February 11, 8 p.m. din, sa Bacolod Garden Royale Hall-Golden District sila magpe-perform. Then finally, February 17, 8 p.m., nasa Don Bosco Tech College Gymnasium sila magbibigay ng aliw.

Behind this Love to Laugh, Laugh to Love series of concerts is the Koordin8 and Marketing.

* * *

Personal: From Nikki Soriano, promo department, Star Cinema: “Thanks to Mosbeau for giving out give aways noong presscon for the soon-to-be-released John Lloyd Cruz and Angel Locsin starrer, Unofficially Yours.

“Likewise to Hapee Toothpaste for giving three billboard sites.”

Unofficially Yours, directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina opens in more than 100 theaters nationwide starting  February 13.

Angel is the endorser of both Mosbeau and Hapee Toothpaste.