Walang pagsidlan ng kagalakan si Geneva Cruz, 48, dahil sa kanyang blooming lovelife. Limang taon din daw siyang naging single bago nagkaroon ng boyfriend.

Ayon kay Geneva, dati na niyang naka-date ang nobyong si Dean Roxas.

Si Dean ay isang national athlete para sa jiu jitsu.

Kuwento ni Geneva sa eksklusibong panayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal): “Eto kasi yung story—three years ago, I dated my boyfriend now.

“I guess we had to work on ourselves first. But we stayed friends, and then we reconnected. Medyo matagal na rin.”

Paano niya nalamang handa na siyang magmahal ulit?

Sagot ni Geneva: “I knew na ready na ako when hindi lang romantic love yung nararamdaman ko.

“It was romance plus friendship; and then there was respect and admiration; and there’s also patience. Hindi yung padalus-dalos.

“I call it more of a slow-burn type of love.

“So, that’s when I learned, ready na ako kasi naging para siyang mirror.

“Yung pag minamahal ako, mas binibigay ko ng mas marami, and binabalik din sa akin. Ganung klaseng type of love.”

Dahil hindi raw siya nagmadali, mas nakilala raw talaga niya si Dean.

“We are both serious people, and we know what we want in our lives. We are also career-driven.

“He understands that I am a single mother, and he respects my time with my daughter.”

Si Geneva ay may dalawang anak.

Ang panganay niyang si Heaven Arespacochaga ay anak ni Geneva sa ex-husband na si Paco Arespacochaga.

Ang bunso niyang si London Cruz ay anak niya sa ex-boyfriend na si Lee Paulsen.

Masaya raw talaga si Geneva sa estado ng relasyon nila ni Dean.

“He’s just a wonderful guy. This relationship is something I want to protect also, and ayaw ko ng parang nasa showbiz kasi.

“He’s a professional athlete, and so ayaw ko rin na masyado siyang ma-judge.

“But what we have is something special. And I never experienced something like this before.

“Maybe because I’m older, and it took us three years in the making itong relationship. So, it’s just really something else.”

A RELATIONSHIP FOR KEEPS

Sa edad na 45, pangmatagalan na raw ang relasyong hanap ni Geneva, at tingin niya ay taglay ni Dean ang mga katangian ng isang lifetime partner.

Saad niya: “I hope so. But you know, the reason why I opened myself to love again is because I know life is fleeting.

“When I lost my mom during the pandemic, no one was ready to lose the people that they love.

“I realized that if I don’t risk anything, lalo na sa love, ha, then baka hindi ako mas maging masaya.

“Kasi masaya na ako, I’m just happier now.

“So, I hope so. I hope God allows it. So we will just see.”

Hiningan din ng PEP si Geneva ng mensahe para sa nobyo.

Aniya: “Dean Michael Belilla Roxas, thank you so much for being in my life. I am grateful for you.

“Your love is something that I’ve never experienced before.

“And how you inspire me and push me to become the better version of myself is something that I’ve always wanted in a partner.

“The way you treat me, the way you love me, the way you care for me is something that I actually asked for.

“And lagi ko sinasabi sa kanya, nagulat din ako because I wrote things that I love in a man.”

May checklist siya?

“Hindi naman parang checklist, but more on, like, tall, dark, and handsome, intelligent, funny, sexy, respectful, loves my family, loves the beach, mga ganun.

“Athletic. I’m not kidding, grabe! Sometimes you really have to write it down. I’ve been journaling since I was 11.

“So, guys, you can really write what you want. You can tell God your wishes.”

GENEVA CRUZ INTRODUCES DEAN ROXAS TO HER DAUGHTER

Naipakilala na raw ni Geneva si Dean sa anak niyang si London.

“London met him maybe one time briefly when he took me to my car to drive, and London was there.

“That’s why si London met him three years ago.

“I didn’t date anyone else. I focused on myself. I focused on bettering myself.

“That’s why si London nag-stick sa mind niya yun kasi wala naman akong ibang pinakilala.”

Pili raw ang mga karelasyon noong naipakilala niya sa kanyang mga anak.

“And, as a mother, that’s very special, that’s very important.

“I’m not saying na, ‘Ang galing ko, wow,’ Di ganun, e.

“When you’re a mom, you have to be more aware of who you introduce to your children.

“So, yun lang. Just like when Heaven was young, si KC lang din naman nung time na yun.

“And I was sure. I was sure he was the one. So, we’ll see. Hahaha!”

Ang tinukoy ni Geneva na “KC” ay ang second husband niyang si KC Montero, na nakahiwalayan din niya.

Tinanong si Geneva kung nagseselos ang anak na si London sa oras niya para sa nobyo.

“Hindi naman,” sagot ng singer-actress.

“Because, you know, London is one of my best friends. She’s like a little ale because when I was younger, I was like a little ale. I was like a little young lady, di ba?

“She’s very intelligent. Iba yung mga kabataan ngayon. You can’t tell them, ‘Bata ka lang.’ No, because they’re different.

“And I love our relationship. She’s really excited nung nag-reconnect kami ng boyfriend ko.

“In fact, she was the one who did my makeup. I got it on video, and she said something like, ‘Oh, my mommy has a date with Dean.’

“And I said, ‘No, it’s not a date.’ And she said, ‘Oh, yes, it’s a date.’

“Looking back now, this is so cool. Babae kasi anak ko, e.

“My son naman said, ‘I’m happy for you, Ma.’ You know, my son does jiu-jitsu also in the States, so Dean can’t wait to meet him.”

ON FIRST CHRISTMAS AS A COUPLE

Nakasama raw ni Geneva ang nobyo noong nakaraang Pasko.

“We celebrated it with my family. His folks were in Korea… But, he was with me and my family on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day.”

Naipakilala na rin daw ni Dean si Geneva sa pamilya nito.

Paglalarawan ni Geneva, “It was fantastic. They are amazing people. I see why Dean is the way he is.

“You know, they’re just amazing people. They’re very classy and very good people.”

ON NASAAN SI HESUS?

Nakapanayam ng PEP si Geneva sa presscon ng musical movie na Nasaan Si Hesus?. Ginanap ito sa Club Filipino sa Greenhills, San Juan City, noong January 8, 2025.

Maliban sa happy ang kanyang love life, happy rin daw si Geneva sa kanyang career.

Naglabas ito ng bagong single noong 2024, at sa pagpasok ng bagong taon ay may gagawin itong musical movie.

Ang Nasaan Si Hesus? ay tinatampukan nina Rachel Alejandro, Janno Gibbs, Geneva Cruz, Jeffrey Hidalgo, at iba pa.

Ang direktor ay si Dennis Marasigan at creator-producer si Bing Pimentel.