“Not really kasi before the awards night, I was informed by GMA that I’ll be playing the lead role in ‘Aso ni San Roque’ and I said, Lord, thank you for this blessing,” she says. “Kasi lately, puro kontrabida ginagampanan ko, like in ‘Time of My Life’ and ‘Good Daughter’. So I was so happy with ‘Aso ni San Roque’. Sabi ko, Lord, if I wouldn’t win sa awards night, okay lang, kasi big blessing na itong ibinigay mo sa’kin. Okay lang na ibigay mo na yung best actress sa iba.”
The award went to Ama Quiambao for “Diablo” and, considering she’s a senior citizen, it’s just her very first acting award. People say LJ is young and she’d have other chances of winning in the future.
“As it is, happy na ko talaga na lahat ng nakapanood ng ‘Intoy Syokoy’, they tell me they like my acting. At dahil dun, Tito Boy Abunda has offered me a new project. He already suggested some storylines that I can do. But I can’t do it now kasi four times a week ang taping ko sa ‘Aso ni San Roque’ and, soon, I’d be busy sa promo of another film I did, ‘Tiktik: Aswang Chronicles’, na ako ang aswang.”
She also plays an aswang in “Aso ni San Roque” that will replace “Makapiling Kang Muli” that ends this week. “Kaso, ayoko maging full aswang so I refuse to do the rituals which will make me one. I fall in love with a mortal, si Mateo played by TJ Trinidad, and we have a child, Mona Louise Rey. Pero mahihiwalay sa’min ang bata at palalakihin ng isang matandang bakla, si Pen Medina.”
Doesn’t she mind doing a mother role? “Not at all. Maganda story, maganda role ko, at mother na naman talaga ako.”
Is she and Paulo Avelino still together? “Ayoko na sagutin yan, paulit-ulit na lang. Wala namang nababago. Siya naman, talagang quiet about his personal life. Bayaan nyo na lang siya and his manager. Basta happy ako.”
What if “Aso ni San Roque” is pitted against Paulo’s “Walang Hanggan”? “Magkaiba naman kami ng audience. Mature love story sila at horror-fantasy for kids kami.”
