While some artists struggle to balance fame and personal life, Gian Bernardino, the vocalist of genre-bending band Cup of Joe, is having the time of his life despite his hectic schedule as he is currently dating.
In an interview with ABS-CBN anchor Bernadette Sembrano on YouTube, Bernardino discussed the state of his romantic life, given how quiet he had previously been about the subject.
“I have been single for a very long time. Hanggang ngayon pa rin naman po. Part na rin po siguro na gusto kong mag-focus sa bini-build naming career,” Bernardino told Sembrano.
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Noting that being single doesn't imply shunning the dating scene, he continued, “I’m not closing my doors naman. I let myself be happy pa rin.”
“[I’m now] dating exclusively. Saglit pa lang po. Three months,” he added.
Declining to reveal the person he is currently dating, Bernardino said, “[That person] understands me kahit sa sarili ko na hindi ko maintindihan.”
The Cup of Joe frontman also stated his preference on who to love or date, telling Sembrano, “I am attracted to people regardless of their gender. It's more about the individual's personality. As long as I'm happy with you, [whether] you're a man, woman, gay, lesbian, or transgender.”
Reflecting on what had previously held him back, he confessed, “I made bad decisions, rushed them, and ended up hurting not only the people who mattered but also myself. I reached a point where I hated myself for it. It became quite tormenting. Every time I look in the mirror, I see someone na parang ang hirap mahalin. I got this thought: I can't keep staring in the mirror because all I see is someone who hates. Even though I try not to see myself or the aspects of myself that I dislike, parang naging bubog na siya sa akin.”
“Kaya nagandahan ako sa perspective na you look at your bubog [as] a piece of diamond. Right now, I'm striving to get better,” Bernardino added.
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Bernardino also shared that he studied dentistry in college but had to make a decision and chose the band life.
“Art course po talaga ang gusto ko. Anything that has to do with media. Gusto ko rin pong maging filmmaker. I think common mindset ng older generation na walang pera sa arts kaya they wanted me to choose a practical course na sure-ball na kikita ka nang malaki kaya I took up dentistry,” he said.
“Nung naging physcially and mentally demanding na ‘yung work namin as artists, nag-start na kaming ma-drain. And then we really had to make a choice kasi sobrang naaapektuhan na ‘yung mental health namin. Nagapang pa rin namin ‘yun for one whole year — ‘yung setup na Manila-Baguio pero nagkaroon ng breaking point. Pero after that, we let go of dentistry na officially,” Bernardino said.