Sheryl Cruz: What I’ve said, I won’t retract

Actress-singer Sheryl Cruz (Facebook photo)

MANILA – Kapuso actress-singer Sheryl Cruz remained firm on her stand against her cousin Senator Grace Poe’s presidential bid in the coming national elections.

“What I’ve said, I won’t retract… Iyon ang akin. Mayroon naman akong paninindigan. I respect everyone in my family and I love everyone in my family, including her (Poe). Kasi kung wala akong concern, I won’t speak up,” Cruz said in a Philippine Entertainment Portal report.

(What I’ve said, I won’t retract… That’s my [opinion]. I have my own conviction. I respect everyone in my family and I love everyone in my family, including her. Because if I’m not concerned, I won’t speak up.)

“Concerned ako sa aking pinsan. Ayokong mangyari sa kanya kung ano ang nangyari kay Uncle Ronnie (Fernando Poe Jr.) before (I’m concerned towards my cousin. I don’t want her to experience what Uncle Ronnie experienced before),” she added, referring to FPJ’s candidacy in the 2004 presidential elections.

Cruz reiterated that everyone was entitled to their own opinions and that she was hurt that a lot have reacted negatively on her statement.

“Masyado lang naging malaki yung reaksiyon na hindi naman dapat ganun… Ang sa akin lang, lahat naman tayo may karapatan sa ating mga sariling opinion (The [people’s] reaction was too much and unnecessary… For me, we all have rights to our own opinions),” she said.

Still not able to talk to Poe or her aunt Susan Roces since the issue started, she stressed that her communication line was always open.

“They all know that. Wala naman akong hindi kinakausap… Hindi pa kami nagkakausap kasi nga busy kami sa taping [ng mga teleserye], at saka pumunta nga ako ng Brunei recently,” she said, clarifying that she was in good terms with her relatives.

(They all know that. There’s no one I don’t talk to… We’re just not able to talk yet because we’re busy with tapings, and I’ve been to Brunei recently.)

With rumors that the reason why she was unsupportive of Poe was because she felt insecure over her cousin’s achievements and capabilities, Cruz simply dismissed such issues and maintained that she did not have any ulterior motive with her previous statements.

“Masama yung mainggit. Ang inggit ko ay hindi inggit na nakakasira para sa akin… Inggit na sana isang araw maging kasing galing ko rin siya. It’s a constructive thing, ayoko ng negative,” she said. “Hindi ko gusto na naiinggit kasi ang inggit nakakamatay iyon, e. At hindi lang ganun, you have to get over your insecurities in life, whatever they may be.”

(It’s not good to be envious. My desire is not one which destroys me… Desire to someday be as good as her. It’s a constructive thing, I don’t want negativity. I don’t want to be envious because it kills. And it’s not just that, you have to get over your insecurities in life, whatever they may be.)