No time for love as Janice is overwhelmed by revitalized career

Actress and TV host Janice de Belen is making hay now that projects are coming her way.

Aside from playing the vital role of Elena in ABS-CBN’s hit TV drama “Budoy,” Janice also hosts the entertainment news show “Showbiz Inside Report” every Saturday. She is also slated to do another teleserye for ABS-CBN.

And because she is keen on taking advantage of the renewed spark in her career, her love life is zero at the moment.

“Huwag muna ngayon,” Janice said of getting into a relationship. “Ayaw ko talaga ngayon kasi lahat ng nangyayari sa akin now, kung kailan ako 43 (years old), it should have happened to me way back.” Janice spoke with the press during the thanksgiving press conference of “Budoy” on Tuesday, February 28.

No distractions, please

“Minsan nga nao-overwhelm ako na, ‘Talaga? May ganito?’ Hindi ko expected itong ganito,” she admitted. “Feeling ko, dapat diyan ka na lang sa tabi, sa gilid-gilid ka na lang. Yung ginagawa mo (dati), puro support ka na lang. I didn’t expect na I would reach this, what I’m doing now.”

Embarking on a relationship now would jeopardize career opportunities. “A relationship requires me to be there emotionally and physically 200 percent,” she declared. “I am overwhelmed, I am surprised, I am shocked, I am in awe na I am doing all these now? Ayaw ko ng distraction.”

She said she is through searching for love and now wants love to find her.

Janice has a son with actor Aga Muhlach and was married to TV host John Estrada, with whom she had four more kids.

No projects with her ex, John Estrada

“Dati umabot ako sa punto na natatakot ako to grow old alone, pero sa mga nangyayari sa buhay ko, parang sometimes I think I’m better alone. Sa sobrang tagal ko na as a single parent, hindi ko na alam magdesisyon na may involved pang ibang tao other than my children,” she said.

Even though Janice is in the same network as John Estrada, she still doesn’t see the need of them working together on a TV project. According to Janice, her children also understand her reason.

Her decision not to work with John might give an impression that she is still bitter about their breakup. But Janice clarified that she has long moved on. She said that “the probability of small talk is not there,” but she and John talk about important things.

“Sa ibang tao, pag nagagalit ka pa, may bitterness ka pa. Ako, wala akong ganoon, pag sinabi ko na moved on na ako, tapos na iyon. Hindi kasi ako plastic, I won’t be hypocrite, I’m not going to pretend na okay tayo when hindi naman talaga,” she said.

Gerald as Janice’s ‘sixth child’

With “Budoy” down to its final two weeks, Janice said that she will really miss the show and her co-actors. Her performance in “Budoy” once again showed her acting prowess.

“It opened doors for me to come back to ABS-CBN. It rekindled old friendships, I made new friendships and family eh. Kahit ako, hindi ako umaasa na magiging ganito (ang welcome) for me. Pero pagpasok mo, you belong,” she said.

At the press conference, many noted the good chemistry of Janice and Gerald Anderson as mother and son in the TV drama. Describing Gerald as “lovable,” Janice said that she and Gerald have bonded a lot, that many even sees him as her sixth child.

“Working with Gerald, three times a week, to a point na people actually think he’s like my sixth child. And it’s okay, love ko na iyon eh, parang baby ko na siya,” Janice said.