John Prats no ‘contravida’ in Shaina-Rayver loveteam
By: Ronald Constantino   From: Tempo tabloid
[December 01, 2007]

NO ‘CONTRAVIDA’
    John Prats insists he’s no contra-vida to the Shaina Magdayao-Rayver Cruz loveteam, "Why should I be considered an intruder?" The contravida tag came about as he’s rumored to be the current (and first) boyfriend of Shaina, who’s paired with Rayver on television and the big screen. The Shaina-Rayver loveteam is cast in two Metro Manila Film Festival entries, "Katas ng Saudi" and "Bahay Kubo."

    Shaina, who turned 18 recently, confirms that John, 23, and Rayver, 18, are indeed courting her. But she says that while she is close to both guys, "Wala pa akong sinasagot." But some movie columnists say otherwise, that Shaina’s really going steady with John. Hence the "contravida" and "threat" and "intruder" accusations.

    But Shaina was quoted as saying that she was actually closer to Rayver than John. And that her mother likes Rayver very much. She doesn’t deny the quotes but John says at the launch last Tuesday of Motion, of which he is the first endorser, that Shaina said she should not have compared her two suitors.

ANOTHER ‘GREAT LOVE’
    But before answering more personal questions, John Prats says Motion, the new signature from Scent Station, is another "great love" – just like dancing and acting and, of course, Shaina. Scent Station is the local and more affordable adaptations of original, imported branded perfumes. To date, it has come up with more than 50 variants for both men and women. Scent Station President and General Manager Michelle Dula Asence says that John personifies the scent of Motion: wholesome, fresh, dynamic. Michelle is looking for a lady endorser of Scent Station. Actually, she’s found one, but isn’t ready to divulge her name (an actress) as negotiations aren’t final yet.

‘BALIW’
    But back to Shaina Magdayao, who John calls "baliw"… with affection. "She looks demure, but when you get to know Shaina well, she’s ‘baliw.’ Ang sayang kasama, no boring moments. Ang bait ng family niya. Aliw na aliw ako sa mga pamangkin niya. Siguro dahil magkakaroon na rin ako ng pamangkin."

    John’s younger sister, Camille Prats, is giving birth early next year in California. The whole family is spending Christmas and New Year with her.

    He recalls that four or five years ago, he had a misunderstanding with Shaina, who was barely in her teens. They didn’t speak to each other until early this year, when they were cast in "ASAP" and "Lovespell." John says he apologized to Shaina if he offended her and from then on they became close – until he fell in love with her, by then a very pretty young lady.

‘MAS MAHIRAP’
    John says that he isn’t keen on being paired with Shaina onscreen. "As it is, masaya ako. Walang hassle, walang tension, walang pressure. ’Pag pinagtambal kami mas mahirap."

    He recalls that when Heart Evangelista was his sweetheart on and offcam, the relationship was plagued by tampuhan and selosan, mostly on the part of Heart. But of course that is history as Heart now "belongs" to Jericho Rosales.

    But why should there be such working relationship complications when according to him and Shaina, too, they are not sweethearts. Unless they are keeping a secret. In which case, the contravida tag may be, just may be, valid.

    "I’m excited and proud to be the first endorser of Motion," says John, obviously not eager to pursue the romantic topic – in which he is being typecast as "the other man."