John Lloyd, Toni named Box Office King and Queen
SM Cinema has named John Lloyd Cruz and Toni Gonzaga as the ‘Box Office King and Queen for 2010’ for the success of their movie, “My Amnesia Girl.”
The romantic comedy movie, produced by Star Cinema, is the highest grossing local film in all SM Cinema branches from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2010.
‘My Amnesia Girl’ also edged out hit movies shown in last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, like ‘Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote’ and Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na To!),” which took the second and third spots respectively in SM Cinema’s list of overall box-office movies for 2010. SM Cinema excluded the two MMFF entries’ earnings on the list.
John Lloyd, Toni and `My Amnesia Girl’ director Cathy Garcia-Molina received the awards for the movie at the opening of the three-day Cine Expo at SM Mall of Asia.’ This is John Lloyd’s third box-office citation from SM Cinema and the first for Toni.
John Lloyd’s previous box office citations were for ‘A Very Special Love’ and ‘You Changed My Life.’
“Talagang ito ay para sa mga taong nanuod. I’d like to share this recognition para po sa inyong lahat,” John Lloyd told Showbiz News Ngayon (SNN) in an interview.
Toni feels proud and honored of the recognition and the movie’s success. “Uy, first time ko lang ‘to. Nakakatuwa naman. Maraming-maraming salamat po sa SM Cinema. Nakakataba ng puso. Iti-treasure ko po ito sa buong buhay ng career ko,” she shared.
Students who joined the event also recognized Toni as the ‘Perfect Epitome of Versatility.’ Aside from acting, Toni has shown her versatility in hosting and singing.
“Syempre nakakatuwa yung mga ganun kase hindi naman natin dinadamdam yung mga ganun. Basta, we really feel blessed na magawa ang mga ganitong bagay,” Toni said.
John Lloyd’s two movies with Sarah Geronimo, ‘A Very Special Love and its sequel ‘You Changed My Life’ earned box office citations in 2009 and 2010.
Does John Lloyd feel pressured about topping the box-office again with his upcoming movie with Angel Locsin?
“Of course, the pressure is there. Pero dapat ma-manage mo ng maayos. Ang intention is to give quality, hindi yung box office yung tinatarget namin,” John Lloyd replied.
Direk Cathy, who is known for making hit movies, is proud of `My Amnesia Girl’ and is grateful to those who watched it.
“Itong mga ganitong parangal, sobrang naa-appreciate kasi hindi judges ang nagbigay, kundi tao. They were the ones who watched. They were the ones who payed. Sila ang nagbigay nito,” she said.
The students refer to Direk Cathy as ‘Babaeng Lino Brocka.’ Although she’s happy with the recognition, Direk Cathy feels she cannot measure up to Brocka’s achievements.
“I am very thankful for the one who has said that, but I would like to believe na wala pa ako sa kalingkingan ni Direk Lino. Si Direk Lino is Direk Lino. No one can be compared (to him),” she said.
Meanwhile, Toni denied speculations that her boyfriend Paul Soriano is dating Maja Salvador, his co-star in the movie ‘Thelma.’
“Hindi, hindi totoo yan. Wah na natin pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga bagay na hindi totoo. Kung totoo yan, sasagutin natin,” Toni said.
And what does her boyfriend have to say about this? Since he works behind the cameras, is Paul getting used to the usual showbiz gossip he encounters?
“Sabi ko nga kay Paul, ‘Welcome to showbizness!’ Ganyan naman talaga pag may mga proyekto, handa naman na sya. Tsaka, hindi na sya naapektuhan,” Toni shared.
