Elmo Magalona Admits Janine Is His Inspiration And They Are Exclusively Dating

ELMO MAGALONA turned 20 last Sunday, April 27. Instead of having a big birthday party, he just had a quiet dinner with his family after being greeted in “Sunday All Stars” and doing a mall show at SM Bacoor for “Villa Quintana” with his hit ka-love team, Janine Gutierrez. Monday, on the set of “Villa Quintana”, the cast and crew celebrated his birthday with him while taping. Then last Tuesday, he hosted a fun party for orphans at a McDo outlet in the afternoon and dinner with his fans later. For lunch, GMA Artist Center hosted a small gathering for him with select members of the press.

So how is he at 20? “I’m definitely more serious with my work now, more dedicated. I really want to do good as an actor,” he says.

What’s the real score? “We’re enjoying each other’s company, getting to know more of each other. We go out exclusively. We worked together before in afternoon show na magkapatid kami and we never became close. It’s in ‘Villa Quintana’ where we’re paired with each other, doon kami talaga naging close sa isa’t isa. Masaya siyang kasama, she’s smart, beautiful, nakakagaan ng loob ang positivity niya. She’s my inspiration now, but we also promised ourselves na mas focused pa rin kami dapat sa aming careers.”

What’s her gift to him? “May nabanggit lang akong brand ng running shoes, I was surprised dahil hinanap niya and she got it for me. Tama pati ang size, 10.”

Fans of his former love team with Julie Anne San Jose constantly bash Janine. What can he say about this? “It’s really sad. I told them na gusto ko sana, masaya na lang kaming lahat. Hindi naman kasalanan ni Janine kung decision ng management na kami ni Janine ang gawing magkatambal in ‘Villa Quintana’. Open din naman ako to work again with Julie Anne kung pagsasamahin kami uli ng GMA.”

What’s his birthday wish? “Ang wish ko talaga is mahanap na yung nawawalang eruplano ng Malaysian Airlines. I really feel for the relatives of the passengers. I also pray na yung Yolanda victims, makabawi na sila at mabalik na sa normal ang mga buhay nila. Ayoko maging makasarili ang wish ko, kasi ang dami ko ng blessings from the Lord. Pero siempre, wish ko ring magtuloy-tuloy lang ang magandang takbo ng career ko. ‘Villa Quintana’ is really a big blessing kasi hindi namin akalaing maghi-hit siya at extended kami hanggang June. It gave me the chance to work with Sunshine Dizon and Raymart Santiago as my parents na parehong napakahusay umarte kaya I learn so much from them. Kasosyo rin ako ngayon in a restaurant, Yellow Halo at Strata 100, and it’s doing well so we’re planning to open other branches soon. At heto nga, I’ll soon start shooting a movie, entry sa Cinemalaya, simply titled as ‘Y’, directed by Gino Santos na nakilala noon for ‘The Animals’. Makakasama ko rito si Sophie Albert ng TV5. Excited ako rito kasi ang ganda na material.”