Newest Kapamilya actress Janine Gutierrez revealed that her relationship with Rayver Cruz has the blessing of her mom Lotlot de Leon.

In fact, it was during the opening of her mom’s restaurant that they first met.

Gutierrez made the revelation during an online conference last Feb. 2. Her romance with Cruz came to the fore when she was asked about tips to follow for a smooth-sailing relationship.

Janine Gutierrez, Rayver Cruz — Janine Gutierrez and Rayver Cruz. Image: Instagram/@rayvercruz

“Siguro ang natutunan ko rin talaga is mahalaga iyong opinion din ng mommy ko. Parang how the person treats your family, lalo na siyempre mga Pilipino tayo, ’di ba, mahalaga iyong pamilya para sa atin. So, iyong mommy ko ay gustung-gusto talaga siya (Rayver) ever since,” Gutierrez said.

(Perhaps what I learned is the opinion of my mom is very important. How the person treats your family, more so that we are Filipinos, right, family is important to us. So, my mom has really liked him ever since.)

Gutierrez revealed that her mom and Cruz have worked together in a TV series before, and also talked about the first time they met.

“I met him noong nag-open iyong restaurant ni Mama. Doon kami nagkita. It was ano, instant connection din,” she recalled.

(I met him during Mama’s restaurant opening. That’s where we met. It was an instant connection.)

As for specific love lessons she learned along the way, Gutierrez noted that love should not feel forced.

“Siguro ang lesson ko is dapat pagdating sa love wala ka dapat ipilit. Dapat smooth lang iyong mga bagay-bagay. Just let it happen naturally. Doon mo malalaman kung okay ba kayo para sa isa’t isa. Iyong hindi pilit, iyong hindi mahirap, kalma lang,” she said.

(Maybe the lesson is when it comes to love you don’t force things. All things should run smoothly. From there, you will know if you’re okay for each other. Don’t force things, don’t make it difficult, it should be just chill.)

Being in ABS-CBN ‘surreal’

As the newest Kapamilya, Gutierrez finds it surreal that she came to the “ASAP Natin ‘To” studio for her first appearance.

“The last time I was here, dito sa ELJ, nag-field trip kami nung high school. Yeah, as in studio tour. Umikot kami sa ‘Game Ka Na Ba?’ As in naka-high school uniform ako at inikot naming iyong mga studio and ever since ngayon lang ako nakabalik,” she recalled.

(The last time I was here, right here in ELJ, we had a field trip when I was in high school. Yeah, as in a studio tour. We toured the set of “Game Ka Na Ba?” As in, I was in my high school uniform and we toured the different studios and this is the only time I have returned ever since.)

“So, sobrang surreal that my first time in ABS-CBN was diretso sa ‘ASAP,’” she said. (It is so surreal that my first time in ABS-CBN was straight to “ASAP.”)

Janine Gutierrez. Image: Instagram/@janinegutierrez

She was profusely thankful to Gary Valenciano who was the first to visit her dressing room to personally welcome her.

“Sobrang laking bagay na si Sir Gary ay pinuntahan ako sa dressing room and he said that they were happy that I was here,” she said. (It’s a big deal that Sir Gary came to my dressing room and he said that they were happy that I was here.)

Among those she wants to work with are Anne Curtis, Angelica Panganiban, Angel Locsin, Jodi Sta. Maria, Iza Calzado and Regine Velasquez.

Among actors, Paulo Avelino in a TV series, as they already had a movie together, “Ngayon Kaya;” Enchong Dee, Jericho Rosales, JC Santos, Carlo Aquino and Gerald Anderson.

Gutierrez, the daughter of Ramon Christopher Gutierrez and Lotlot de Leon, is an award-winning actress. She has recently earned best actress awards from Gawad Urian 2020, the 68th FAMAS Awards and QCinema Film Festival for the social drama-thriller “Babae at Baril.” After her move to ABS-CBN from GMA, she started hosting for variety show “ASAP Natin ‘To” last Sunday. She has also guested in “It’s Showtime” recently. NVG

Janine Gutierrez and Elijah Canlas win best actress, actor in Gawad Urian 2020