he last time I talked to singer Geneva Cruz was the second time. It was also the time when she had just made one of the most important decisions in her life.

Calling It Quits

Geneva has just converted to being a vegetarian. That would have been tough for any meat lover but not for her. She preached about her newfound religion like a Baptist speaking in tongues. After hearing about, cannibals from Europe , she has finally, officially, denounced her relationship with pork, beef, chicken and seafood. “Hindi ko na kaya. Kumain ka ng sinigang, ‘di ‘ba merong buti-buto ‘yon?

“Mas okay ako ngayon. Mas hindi ako tinatamad, mas hindi ako naggi-guilty, mas meron akong energy,” she says.

Aside from turning to an all-veggie diet, all other things are just exactly the way they were. “I really don't like change,” she says. “I like naman my life the way it was before. I mean, nandiyan si KC, nandiyan si Heaven, my family. We have a nice home. I have three dogs. My career's good. We're happy naman.”

No one would deny that her boyfriend for seven years, MTV VJ KC Montero, is still very much in love with her. Though most people think she owes it to her faithful boyfriend, Geneva does pay her dues as a loving partner. She takes care from him. She might have has proven to everyone that she deserves something better.

Take It From Her

Together with Geneva 's son, Heaven, the couple has been living together for more than a year now. It takes more that sheer will to make the relationship work. For this she takes pride in sharing what she does to keep the love alive.

“You have to be creative and thoughtful,” she explains. “I said that in a concert with Rachel Alejandro. I'm very colorful and very passionate. Kaya ‘di kinaya ni Paco (Arespacochaga). ‘Di niya kinaya. I think, ako ‘yung babae, nagagawa ko ‘yon, I think that the guy should do the same thing for you. Hindi naman ‘yon rule. Naging masyado siyang komportable. To me, you really have to be on your toes.

“You also have to be flexible,” she adds. “You have to be consistent. If you're consistent, alam niya na kung anong sasabihin ko. Kunwari, papaalam ako. Nagpapaalam ka pa, alam mo namang papayagan ka.”

“That's why I keep a massage oil on the bedside table,” she teases.

On the other hand, “Impatient pa rin ako. A song for me nga raw is Paatience by Guns' N' Roses,” she says. “You know what, he is like a little boy. But somehow, there are moments when I'm the baby. I consider it good. It's always good for someone to be able to retain his child-like qualities. Kasi tatanda ka kaagad ‘pag masyado kang uptight. It's fun.”

Looking at the “family photos,” life with KC seems that fun.

A Little Crazy

The first seven years was a loopy roller coaster ride. Geneva admits to being the one who keeps getting to KC's nerves. “Before it was hard work,” she recalls. “We broke up to for two months in 2002. It was my fault kasi I was gaga. I was a little crazy. Hind pa siya sanay na may pagka-sira ako. Brat ako. Impatient ako. ‘Pag nagkamali siya, parang he was walking on thin ice.

“But, of course, when he came back to me, ako na nga may kasalanan, he came back to me pa. Where could you find a guy like that, na realize ko. Okay lang daw ‘yung little crazy but not too much.”

Feeling Country

Besides the farm property they bought in Tagaytay, Geneva and KC have been renting a 5-bedroom house in Quezon City since June 2005. It was empty when they came in. But now, it's a love nest Geneva intended to pattern after KC's family home in Seattle . “Gusto ko, at home si KC. Gusto ko rin ‘yung medyo country deco. Gusto ko Pinewood. Gusto ko ‘yung amoy ng Pinewood. All furniture I got from my favorite store at Megamall.”

It may lack a front porch or a vacation cabin view on the exterior and the timber frames in the interior, but, inside is a dream home that meshes cool, relaxing colors of pastel blue (Gen's favorite color), yellow and wood. With panels on the ceiling carefully installed to match wall texture on one side and the coziness of country sofa falling on a gorgeous wooden floor on the other, the young homeowners certainly knew what to make of the spaciousness of the place. Not even Gen's small work-out area and KC's gigantic television screen were able to spoil the atmosphere created by the country home ambiance (KC comes from a family of realtors).

“He bought that TV so he could invite his friends over to watch the Manny Pacquiao fight,” she remembers. “A ten in the morning, they started drinking beer already. I don't drink beer. I drink Tequila. I like Coke and Rhum. That's my only vice anyway. Drinking, but not to the point na malalasing ka na. Okay lang to get drunk here in the house.”

Perhaps, interesting ornament in the house would be the expensive hand-made masks Geneva bought in Italy and the very cute Slippy, the wonder dog.

Beside the stairs is a door that leads to KC's studio where he mixes his songs. “This is his. Hindi ko pinapakialam ‘to,” she says.

It's a different ballgame on the second floor where you can find KC and Geneva's room which comes with Geneva's hat collection, Heaven's which comes with his wrestling collectibles, KC's brother Colby's and a room for guests.

“Ang sabi ko lang, the bedroom please,” she says. “I'm a princess. I'm your queen. Gusto ko 'yung parang curtain. He didn't like that. Sabi ko, ‘Babe, you have your own room. Give me this room. This is our room but you're just going to sleep in here and play your X-Box anyway.' Okay! Compromise.”

If not dreaming of her own dance studio in the house, she likes finding something to fix. She has no plans of buying more furniture. “Ayaw ni KC sumikip ‘yung bahay,” says the diva. “Gusto niya ‘yung makakagalaw pa siya. ‘Tsaka this is not really our house so I think it would be a waste of money.”

Housemaking

Once in a while, Geneva hits kitchen to show off her cooking skills using only Canola or olive oil. “I cook for KC. Nilalagay ko sa tray. I bring it upstairs. We have helpers but I do it. I like doing that. I have to cook. Hobby ko ‘yun.” Displayed in the kitchen is Geneva 's collection of antique Coke bottles.

But you can't limit a good woman in the kitchen. The South Beach Diet fan is quite an all-around housemaker. “'Yung pag-ayos ng furniture,” she shares. “May pagka-OCD ako, eh. Just a little bit. For example, pag medyo ‘di nakaayos ‘yung frame, inaayos ko. If I'm watching television, kunwari paakyat ‘yung channels, kunwari papunta ako sa Channel 15 galing ako ng Channel 7. Pababa ‘yon ‘di ba? Binababa ko siya sa 14, tapos inaakyat ko siya para sa 15. See what I mean? I want everything to be, like upwards. I don't know why. That doesn't have anything to do with getting more luck. It's not that. It's just my way of thinking.”

The New Geneva

With two boys beside her, Geneva is sure to find her balance in life. “I take care of myself. I work out. I have a 10-year old son. I'm with someone who's 29 years old. He's like a child also so I see life as something to be careful for. I know how to enjoy myself. I have a lot of friends who are also fun. I'm not upright. I'm very colorful.”

Life is simple for Geneva , who, by the way, is addicted to Boracay and myspace.com. “I've noticed a lot of good things that have happened to me. Most of the time, I'm happy. I guess when you're happy, it shows.”

Geneva would also kill for Korean food. “When I was in Boracay, I pressured my boyfriend to take me Korean food,” she recalls. “So, we went there. There were a lot of Koreans. When Koreans are in other countries, they still go to Korean restaurants, right? Sometimes, Filipinos are like that. What do you call that? I love everything. That beef? They cook it in front of you. Even though afterwards you smell. I used to like that, when I used to eat meat. Of course, Kimchi. I like spicy, as in really spicy. I can eat wasabi. I like it when I'm almost crying.”

With life being so good to Geneva , this girl will surely not cry again.

- -