After the speculation of their rumored romance, celebrity couple John Lloyd Cruz and Angelica Panganiban admitted their relationship. They had known each other for years and even worked in a number of projects. During the filming of Star Cinema's 20th anniversary offering "24/7 In Love" in Vietnam, they became closer as friends.
"Pag nagkikita kami, 'Hi, hello.' ‘Pag kailangan magtabi, medyo forced 'yung usap, sumo-small talk," Panganiban said in an interview with "Showbiz Inside Report" earlier today.
"Pero never kami 'yung may bonding, or lalabas kami, hindi talaga," she added.
Four years after they worked in "Maging Sino Ka Man", it's their first ever project that they paired onscreen, which blossomed into a romance.
"Kakaibang experience ‘yung naranasan namin doon. 'Yun talaga forced kaming mag-usap kasi kami-kami lang," she said.
In April, she had already ended her relationship with former boyfriend TV host and model Derek Ramsay.
"Doon ko siya mas nakilala," Panganibain said about Cruz. "'Yung pagka-kausap mo, nakikinig siya."
"In fairness sa kanya, pag nagke-kwento ka, pag nagse-share ka ng mga pinagdadaanan mo, nakikinig tapos hindi siya nakikisabat, papatatapusin ka niyang magsalita," she added.
"May lalaki palang ganoon. Feeling ko importante 'yun sa babae, kasi madada ang babae 'di ba. Nakakatuwa na may ganoon, na kaya niya 'yung [makinig]," she said.
After their long conversations in Vietnam, it all started for the both of them to build a deeper relationship.
"[Kahit mysterious pa rin siya], ok na 'yun, kasi in fairness na sa level one na kami ng friendship. ‘Pag nagkita kami, mayroon nang kumustahan, may mapag-uusapan na," she said.
After they return to Manila as friends, and were even seen arriving at the airport side by side.
One of Panganiban's close friend, Patty Yap, who was also with them in Vietnam, told that the actress may have developed feelings for Cruz during the filming for "24/7 In Love".
Yap said it took some time before Panganiban and Cruz saw each other again since arriving in the country.
She also said that the couple resumed their growing friendship, "tapos doon sila nag-start na magtext-text."
After months of speculation on their relationship, Cruz revealed in a live interview on "The Buzz" last Sunday, thay he and Panganiban are officially a couple.
