What career will LJ Reyes pursue after she graduates from college?

Now in her senior year, LJ Reyes is faced with one of the biggest decisions in her life: selecting a career path. Pagtutuloy ba niya ang kanyang acting career o susubukan ang buhay sa corporate world? She shares her sentiments in this quick interview. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco; interviewed with Jason John S. Lim. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. A different path Sabi ni LJ na undecided pa siya sa gagawin niya after graduation. Pero alam niya na meron siyang three options. The first is banking. "Gusto ko talaga mag-bank. Parang ang sarap, e!" she explains excitedly. Expected na ang ganitong career sa mga students tulad niya na may double-major course sa De La Salle University, Economics and Management of Financial Institutions. LJ knows, however, that once she takes this option, her work hours would not be flexible enough to accommodate showbiz engagements. "Syempre pag nag-work ako, mas marami na siyang time na maco-consume," she explains. A second option would be to stick to her current job, acting. "Gusto ko pa rin sana ituloy ito kung possible. Hindi ko naman ito bibitawan, kasi gusto ko rin ito gawin, e." Magaling naman mag manage ng oras si LJ so hindi naman imposible na kayanin niya magkaroon ng dalawang trabaho tulad ng ginagawa niya ngayon na acting at schoolwork. Ang third option ni LJ ay magtayo ng business. "Actually, ngayon pa lang, gusto ko na mag-start na ako, [kaya lang] ang mahirap kasi, [especially with] school and work, [wala nang natitirang time!] As in 24 hours a day, hindi ko na kaya! Mamaya magkasakit na ako, at saka hindi ko na matututukan. Siguro pag medyo okay na schedule." A different role LJ is known among her peers and fans as someone genuinely sweet and friendly in nature, a far cry from her onscreen character in Una Kang Naging Akin. She plays Liway in the Sinenovela, Jessa's (Maxene Magalona ) half-sister and archrival. "Kailangan ko talaga pag-aralan kung paano ako magmumukhang masama, pero kahit papaano, hindi ako yung wala lang dahilan na masama. Gusto ko, masama ako pero makaka-connect sila sa akin." She adds that she looks forward to scenes where the reasons for her actions are explained, so that she isn't just portrayed as a cold-hearted character. "[May] reason kung bakit ginagawa ko [ang mga bagay-bagay kahit ayoko], [kasi] obsessed [talaga] ako [kay Ronnie, played by Alfred Vargas )]. E [ang] love, sobrang strong di ba?" Despite admitting that she finds it hard to be mean onscreen, LJ still portrays Liway effectively. Could there be a real-life experience that inspired her portrayal? "Hahaha! Iba kasi kay Liway. Kaya ako medyo nahihirapan kasi yung kay Liway, obsession, e. Hindi na siya love. Hindi ko pa naman na-feel na sobrang obsessed! Wala pa, e! Hindi ko yata kaya ipahamak [ang sarili kong kapatid dahil lang sa lalaki]!" In the event that she pursues acting after graduation, what genre does she want to stick to? "Ako, I've always like drama at saka comedy. Kasi ang sarap ng feeling na hindi masyadong mabigat yung ginagawa mo. Parang naglalaro lang. Drama naman, gusto ko kasi ang sarap ng feeling pag naka-capture mo yung nandoon sa script, tapos nakikita ng mga tao, nakaka-connect sila sa'yo." This is probably why LJ enjoys doing her two shows right now: Camera Cafe and Una Kang Naging Akin—the perfect combination of her two acting interests. Text LJ to 4627 to bond with her via Fanatxt! For picture messages, text GOMMS LJ ON and send to 4627. Each SMS costs P2.50 for GLOBE, SMART, TM and TALK N TEXT, while it costs P2.00 for SUN subscribers. Each MMS costs P5.00 for all Networks. (These services are available only in the Philippines)