As she gears up to celebrate her 35th anniversary in showbiz this year with her concert Gen Evolution happening next month, singer Geneva Cruz opened up to PUSH ABS-CBN about the stuff in her life that she holds most dear, including her son Heaven who is based in the US.
Heaven is Geneva’s son with former husband Paco Arespacochaga, the drummer of '90s Filipino pop rock band Introvoys that is now based in Los Angeles, California. The couple were married for five years and had their marriage annulled in 2001.
Getting pregnant at the age of 19 and becoming a mother and wife within the same year definitely changed Geneva’s life, but she told PUSH BETS host Gary Lastrilla that she has no regrets. “When I was a little girl, alam ko na, na isa sa mga dream ko eh maging nanay talaga. Ako yung isa sa mga babae na ganun ang dream. Gusto ko talagang magkaroon ng anak, ng mga anak.”
The Gen Evolution performer also shared some insight on how her life was like when she and Heaven’s father decided to separate.
“Nung una, siyempre we were together naman okay naman medyo mahirap lang kasi we were very young. Paco is five years older than me so pero siguro hindi pa rin talaga sya ready nung time na yun talaga. But when we separated, I had to work kasi siyempre single mom di ba and I had Heaven and Paco migrated to the US. That’s when I met yung ex-husband ko na si KC Montero who’s now happily married and I’m so happy for him. They have a baby. Pero si KC kasi yung tumulong sa akin to raise Heaven, so yun,” she explained.
Photos credit: genevacruzofficial Instagram
Geneva said that her son has also shown an inclination towards music but is not keen to follow in her career path. “That is right, yeah. He’s in sales now pero he raps on the side pero ayaw niya talagang maging celebrity. So I’m just you know, bahala siya dahil nasa edad na rin sya. Kung ano man yung gustong gawin nya sa buhay nya basta nakakatulong sya sa iba, go,” she said.
Photo credit: genevacruzofficial Instagram
Although she and Heaven are based in different countries, Geneva said she is thankful to maintain a good relationship with her son. “Alam niyo, very close si Heaven sa akin. Ano yan, tatawag yan minsan sabihin ako niyan, ‘Mom, I miss the Philippines! I miss, I miss mama’s cooking,' yung ganun. Miss niya yung Filipino foods kaya I ordered, yung ganon dun sa America, or he’ll say, ‘I miss you and my sister,’ mga ganyan,” she added.
READ: Geneva Cruz is on good terms with ex-husbands Paco Arespacochaga and KC Montero
On her son’s 29th birthday last March, Geneva shared all her favorite photos with her firstborn along with the caption, "Happy 29th Birthday to my son, Heaven! 🎂 I love you more than words can express, and I know this because I only pray and wish for what is best for you and what makes you happy. I know you’re having a wonderful time with your girl at your favorite beach, kaya mag-enjoy kayo!!! 😍 Your heart will always be my home. Mahal na mahal kita, anak.😘 “
In an Instagram post earlier this year, Geneva shared a video clip taken more than a decade ago when she was still in the US after just having given birth to her second child London. She wrote, “A friend in LA sent me this beautiful behind-the-scenes shot of me with my wonderful children from 2014. Two months before this shoot, I had just given birth to my daughter, London, and my son had just turned 18. You can also see how nurturing and caring my amazing mom was to all of us. I miss her so much today. 🥺🤍 I am grateful for all the lessons she taught me, and I’m also grateful for my children, who have given me a deeper reason to live. I understand our time on this planet is limited, so let’s spend it with those who matter most to us. ♥️💫💫💫”