SHERYL CRUZ and Jeric Gonzales are wondering why despite their frequent denials, the rumor that they are lovers continue to persist. In their show’s zoom presscon, they were again asked about this and once again, they insisted they’re illicit lovers only in the story of “Magkaagaw”.
Are they hesitant to admit it because of the age gap between them, since Sheryl is now 46 and Jeric is only 28 years old?
“Actually, yung age gap doesn’t really matter kung totoo, as long as nagmamahalan nang tapat ang dalawang tao,” says Sheryl.
“Kaso nga, hindi naman totoo, so anong aaminin namin? Ako, I already experienced being married then being out of a marriage and being single again.
"So ngayon, cougar na cougar ang dating ko but hindi naman totoo. Again, if ever may mangyari ganyan sa’kin, I won’t hide it.
"Yung own emotions mo ang pinaka-important dito and if you share true love with the person you connect with, I don’t see anything wrong with it.
"As long as you love each other, hindi na importante ang sasabihin ng ibang tao as long as wala kayong sinasaktan o nasasagasaang other parties sa relationship nyo. What do I care what others would say.”
Jeric agrees.
“Age doesn’t really matter naman,” he says. “Sabi nga ni Miss Sheryl, ang mahalaga is how are things between you two.
"As long as you love and respect each other at doon kayo masaya, nakikita ng buong mundo na nagkakasundo kayo, yun ang mas mahalaga. You don’t have to be concerned about what other people would say.”
How did Sheryl react when the rumor even said she is already infanticipating?
“Well, it’s really ridiculous as I just had my period,” she laughs. “Jeric and I, we just laugh about it. We know ang daming fans ng ‘Magkaagaw’ and they really want us so much to be together. Lahat binibigyan nila ng ibang kahulugan.”
She remembers when she just greeted Jeric on hig birthday.
“Then I posted our photos from the show, aba, may nag-conclude na agad na sobrang sweet namin talaga sa isa’t isa. Kahit saan ako magpunta, people ask me about Jeric.
"Even some of my family, tinatanong ako. We do get along fine ni Jeric and our love scenes in the show look so realistic, simply because that’s what our director requires from us. But our relationship is strictly professional.”
Jeric says he’s current single and his last relationship was with a non-showbiz girl two years ago.
“But right now, my priority is, first ang family ko, then ang career ko. Staying with my family during the pandemic helped me in realizing how important my parents and siblings are to me. Naging maganda talaga ang bonding naming lahat.”
He also had time to reflect on his career. “I realized I should really focus on my career, specially with my being a music maker, so nag-aral ako ng playing the piano and the guitar so I can accompany myself when they ask me to do a song number.”
He also studied how to act more convincingly.
“Yes, I learned more about acting by studying acting videos online, kaya when we resumed the taping of ‘Magkaagaw’, I felt I was really primed and ready to face the cameras again.
"Nataon, puro mabibigat na eksena ang kinunan sa amin, ang daming confrontations scenes, heavy drama, so preparing for it really helped me. Abangan nyo ang fresh new episodes and you be the judge sa acting ko. Palagay ko, hindi naman ako mapapahiya.”
