Unlocking Her Best Self By Geraldine Zialcita
Growing up in a family of singers and musicians was only natural for celebrity Geneva Cruz’s childhood dream to become a professional singer and follow in their footsteps. “I’ll always consider myself a singer/performer; it’s who I have been since I was a kid of two years old,” she shares.
Geneva was born and raised in the Philippines. As early as twelve years old, among five hundred applicants from all over the Philippines, Geneva gathered her courage to audition for a part of a singing group. National Artist for Music Maestro Ryan Cayabyab spotted Geneva’s immense talent and selected her to be one of the singers for Smokey Mountain and became her mentor in her career.
The Smokey Mountain group performed in ragged clothes to portray the poverty-stricken people residing in the garbage dump in Manila. They released their first self-titled pop album in 1989 comprised of songs focusing on environmental, social, and patriotic issues. Being a part of Smokey Mountain enabled Geneva to showcase her talent and increase exposure. Their hit song Kailan hit the number one charts for eight solid weeks on national airwaves. The album acquired gold, platinum, and double-platinum status within months of its launch. A year later, Smokey Mountain participated in the Better World tour to perform at the United Nations World Summit for Children in New York and represented the Philippines at the 5th ASEAN Song Festival in Surabaya, Indonesia.
After being part of Smokey Mountain, Geneva embarked on her solo career and launched her first album I Like You which earned double platinum. Geneva was the very first and youngest Grand Prize winner of The Voice of Asia in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, Russia. Winning these awards, empowered Geneva to spread her wings and appear in her first movie Anak ng Pasig. Anak ng Pasig was also the soundtrack to the movie which became a hit and was selected as the Best Pop Song by the 1992 Catholic Mass Media Awards.
Since then, Geneva has portrayed memorable roles in various films and TV shows. “My favorite role was when I played Odessa Montivano on Little Princess last year. It was very stressful at first, but I learned to like it. Odessa’s character is very different from who I am as a person, and although viewers and fans resented the character, the role seemed somewhat iconic on its own. I’m glad I was given a chance to play a distinct character which taught me to step out from my comfort zone,” she unveils.
After thirty-three years of being in the entertainment industry and loving every moment, this multi-talented woman acknowledges that singing and dancing are her forte, but since acting is part of being a performer, she has learned to appreciate and love the craft. “I love that I get paid to keep doing my first love. There’s never a cloudy day at work, it’s always fun and challenging,” she relays.
As a creative individual, Geneva draws inspiration from everything that she sees and feels. “The first thing I do when I wake up is say good morning to my daughter, God, the chirping birds, and the blue sky. Gratitude is my biggest motivator; when you’re grateful, everything multiplies, and there’s so much to be thankful for,” she states.
In 2014, Geneva flew to Los Angeles intending to only stay there for a short period of time, but the universe had other plans which led her to temporarily live there. “I was supposed to give birth to my daughter London and spend some quality time with my son Heaven, but Heaven happened to be eighteen years old then and needed me, so I stayed for six more years. I worked at a medical spa for three and a half years and I did concerts all around the US on the side. I’m so glad I decided to stay because living in the US taught me about humility and growth and the importance of family and good friends,” she narrates.
Paying patronage to her heritage, in 2020, Geneva returned to her roots to engage in a new journey and embrace new projects. “London lives with me but Heaven has opted to stay in the States. As cliché it may sound, the Philippines is truly my home and where I rightfully belong,” she imparts.
Aside from singing, dancing, and acting, this dynamic woman has always valued a healthy lifestyle. In 2009, she garnered the highest votes and won the 2009 Sexiest Vegetarian in the Philippines. To date, she has been consistently training in the gym with Coach Kelvin Labrador at Fit Twenty One Gym in Las Piñas City. “I realized it’s never too late to get stronger and do the things that I’ve been wanting to do like, marathons, join a duathlon, indulge in proper swimming lessons, and pursue Taekwondo training. Age is nothing but a number, and once you start telling yourself you’re already old, you’ll start aging. I’m physically, emotionally, and mentally stronger than I was during my 20s and 30s and I pat myself on the back for the constant work I do to better myself as a woman.” She winks.
Geneva is also a firm believer in spreading kindness, promoting body positivity, and supporting fellow women. “With the rise of social media, you can encounter so much scrutiny, cruelty, and negativity. Instead of bashing, people should respect and be kind to one another. We are all going through our respective journeys with inner struggles and there should be more room for love vs. hate,” she expresses.
Whether Geneva is singing her latest single, performing song and dance number on stage, or playing the most controversial role, she believes in being genuine. “I’ve always been pretty straightforward with how I deal with my life; what you see is what you get. I practically grew up in the business, but I never allowed the biz to dilute who I really am to the core,” she conveys.
After all these years of being in the limelight, Geneva knows first-hand that each act, performance, or role she plays are fragments of her life that provides meaningful experiences, moments, and life lessons. “I’ve learned that the world is a stage only if you allow it. We can always separate our personal lives and not take everything personally. It’s essential to be kind to the fans because, without them, we are nothing, and to treat every person no matter what their status is the way you want to be treated,” she reveals.
Despite all her accolades, Geneva has encountered many challenges in her life but always bounced back stronger than ever. “I’ve faced many obstacles like ending my ten-year marriage with my ex and other issues. Yet, the biggest adversity was my mother’s passing last April. My mom meant everything to me. She has always been with me through good times and bad, and losing a mother is like losing a part of your heart forever.” Tears spill from her eyes.
To add a feather to her cap, Geneva is a reservist sergeant for the Philippine Air Force. “Respect, loyalty, and honor are big words I often heard and learned as a kid but I could never truly grasp its true essence until I joined the Philippine Air Force. I’ve always wanted to serve my country without entering politics and perceived that the only way I could do this is to join the military. I’m very fascinated by the mystic and allure of a soldier’s life. I also told myself, if I can’t find a good military man to be with, then I will just be the military man,” she quips.
To keep a work/life balance, Geneva spends time with her daughter, sisters, and best friends. She loves visiting the beautiful islands and snapping photos to preserve memories and show people how amazing the Philippines is. She’s fond of listening to music while sipping a glass of wine, playing the guitar, composing songs, reading books, and painting. Geneva values prayer and solitude since this is where she finds tranquility and can recharge and rejuvenate.
This versatile woman is ecstatic about portraying her next role in an upcoming teleserye and will also be fulfilling a one-year residency at the Winford Manila Resorts and Casino in November. As she continues to evolve in her career, Geneva hopes to keep performing, have more concerts here and abroad, play more roles in TV and movies, and establish a lucrative business. “I’m ecstatic about all my projects which have been a dream come true. I also hope to fall in love, lay low, and live somewhere near the beach. I definitely want it all, a stronger body, a wonderful job, amazing family and friends, and true love. A girl can dream, right?” She giggles.
Geneva concludes her story with meaningful words of wisdom to the youth who dream, wish to follow their true path, and embrace their passion. “Find inspiration in all that you do. As much as possible, use your pain and vulnerability as fuel to transform your lives. It’s never smart to tear other people down most especially our fellow women. If someone irritates you, revert to your inner psyche and ask what compels you to feel or react this way. Your reaction is a manifestation of how you feel about yourself. We may not be able to choose our thoughts, but we can definitely choose our actions. Stay humble, yet fierce, and never stop growing, since there’s always room for improvement.”
Geneva has set her mind, heart, and soul throughout the stages of her career to entertain, inspire, and make a difference in people’s lives. Geneva Cruz defines her purpose by unlocking her best self.