When actor John Lloyd Cruz dropped
the bombshell that he was taking leave from showbiz commitments indefinitely
way back in 2017, fans were shocked. After all, before that time “Lloydy” has
been something of a prolific presence on screens big and small, particularly as
part of the talent stable for ABS-CBN. He had a weekend sitcom opposite Toni
Gonzaga since 2014 after all. What was even more shocking was just how long and
indefinite Cruz’s absence from entertainment has been. So when the first
trailer for the film “Culion” popped and John Lloyd showed in the end, his
followers were excited. Then they were deflated.
As CNN Philippines tells it, yes John Lloyd Cruz is apparently part of
the cast for the Alvin Yapan-directed historical drama “Culion.” This is the
first time he has been in front of a movie camera since 2017, the year he
announced his indefinite showbiz leave. The film then was “Finally Found
Someone” where he co-starred with Sarah Geronimo. But the rather dramatic
reveal of his role in the “Culion” trailer actually comes across as a hype-up
promotion for what is only a cameo appearance by John Lloyd, and he in fact was
critical of how his part was shown.
Cruz, who is overseas at the time
the trailer was released at the end of September, quickly sent word back to the
Philippines this Tuesday, October 1, to downplay any large scope of his
involvement in the filming of “Culion,” beyond a mere cameo. In his opinion,
the studio’s decision to add his scene was a “pre-emptive action” that sent a
misleading message to his fandom, and was something he asked the production team
not to fall into. “I felt compelled to clarify my participation in the film,”
says John Lloyd on interview with ANC.
“Culion,” written by Ricky Lee,
is a historical picture that illustrates life in the namesake Palawan
municipality of during the 1940s, when it served as a leprosarium where
patients of Hansen’s disease (leprosy), deemed incurable at the time, were
resettled to segregate them from the rest of the Philippine community. Scenes
from the trailer showcase the cloud of listlessness and despair hanging over
the diseased residents of Culion back then. Its main stars are John Lloyd Cruz’s
fellow ABS-CBN affiliated stars, such as Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Meryll Soriano
and Iza Calzado. The movie is a prospective entry to the 2019 Metro Manila Film
Festival this December.
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