John Prats speaks up on 'playboy image'

Forget the playboy image.  John Prats wants to finally settle down in two years.  By then, he’ll be 31 and done with squiring pretty  ladies – showbiz and nonshowbiz.
 
“I’m excited to see how my baby looks like,” he explains at the presscon for the  1st John Prats Cup Golf Tournament set at Eastridge Golf and Country Club on Friday, Feb. 22.
 
Nathan, his little nephew by sister Camille Prats is an inspiration.
 
“I want to enjoy fatherhood while I’m still young,” John explains.
 
Our young Romeo’s eyes are fixed on Isabel Oli, whom he didn’t exactly have an easy time winning over.  John relates that his playboy reputation made Isabel hesitate in giving him her contant number at first.
 
ALSO READ: Sister Camille wishes the best for John, Isabel

‘Stupid image’
 
“Here we go again with that stupid image,” John sighs.
 
To his relief, and as we all know by now, Isabel relented.  We’ll never know if Camille’s influence played a big role.  After all, it was Camille who played Cupid between John and Isabel. John relates how his concerned sister sent a Facebook message to Isabel.  And the rest, as they say, is history.
 
John’s case proves once more that love, the song goes, comes in unexpected places. After he and Bianca Manalo broke up, dating again was the farthest from John’s mind.  In fact, he has accepted the possibility of becoming another Vic Sotto.
 
“Maybe I was meant for the single life,” he told himself.  “Failed relationships (and he has a string of them) only frustrate me.”
 
Camille and their dad shook their heads. It’s not good for a man to have no family, they reminded John.
 
Okay, okay, he relented. That was December of last year. Up to that time, John never prayed for a love life.  It just happened.  But this time, he woke up early to complete the Simbang Gabi in their parish and went down on his knees.
 
“Sige Lord, surprise me next year. I won’t look for it (a love life),” John whispered.
 
The answered prayer came not loo long after.  John was watching TV at home when he saw Isabel.
 
“Oh, she’s beautiful,” he told Camille.  But he had no way of reaching out to her.
 
That was when Camille decided to take charge.
 
John has never looked back since.  He admires Isabel for many things – being God-fearing, family-oriented, caring.  But he admires her most for one thing: she is ready to settle down like him.
 
She joined John’s family during his recent birthday dinner at home.  And he wants to return the favor by meeting Isabel’s mom and the rest of her family in Cebu.
 
Isabel’s mom, like her daughter at first, is wary of John’s playboy reputation.  But he’s not afraid.
 
No fear
 
“There is no need to fear if your intention is good,” states John.
 
He has found an ally in Isabel’s brother, who is joining  John’s charity sporting event at Eastridge.  The golf tournament also coincides with John’s 20th anniversary in showbiz.
 
Also expected to attend are John’s friends, Zanjoe Marudo (they are golf buddies), Bea Alonzo, Jason Gainza, Smokey Manaloto, Lito Camo and the cast of the show “Banana Split” and others.
 
John continues to give back by earmarking the proceeds of the tournament for the rebuilding of the Holy Trinity Parish in Cainta, where John lives, and a new cause – helping the aged at Kanlungan ni Maria in Antipolo.
 
“My paternal lola invited the residents over to our house last Christmas, so I decided to help Kanlungan ni Maria,” he explains.
 
The event is also John’s way of saying, “Thank you, I’m still in showbiz.”  He knows that of his batchmates, only a handful (including John Lloyd Cruz) are blessed with projects.  The rest lead nonshowbiz lives.
 
The reason?
 
Luck  is one.  John feels grateful for the chance to be trained by Star Magic Magic’s Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan and directors who disciplined him.
 
“Pag 6 a.m. ang call time, dapat 5 a.m. nandon ka na,” he points out.
 
Eddie Garcia taught John to report well-dressed for tapings or shootings.
 
“Pagdating niya sa set, naka polo siya, nakaporma.  He treats his work as a professional would.”
 
John also learned to be strong since “you can’t please everybody.”
 
As for the past loves (e.g. Heart Evangelista, Rachelle Ann Go, Shaina Magdayao), John has this to say, “I never badmouthed them.  And not once did a third party cause our breakup.”
 
After loving often, John has learned that relationships are like sand in one’s hands.
 
“Hawakan mo ng mahigpit at mawawala. Kapag masyado namang maluwag, mawawala din.  I’ve learned to trust the lady.  She can go out with friends, even if it means going somewhere far away from me.”
 
It may have cost him a lot, emotionally.  But John is now reaping the rewards of his romantic investments.  He has learned his lessons.  And now that he and Isabel finally found each other, John hopes he won’t ever commit a single mistake  -- again.

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