Sheena Halili happy to be single on Valentine’s Day

For most people, February 14 is Valentine’s Day but for singles like Sheena Halili, it’s just another ordinary Thursday.  

The kapuso actress and cast member of the GMA primetime fantasy series, “Indio,” says she doesn’t really mind if she has no romantic date on Valentine’s Day since she has been single -- she claims -- for several years now.

“Sa totoo lang, hindi naman sa nagmamayabang ako, pero meron naman diyang umaaligid na puwede naman, may mga nagpaparamdam naman diyan, hindi naman siguro masamang may nag-aadmire sa’yo.  Pero siyempre pinagdarasal ko kay God kasi sobrang gina-guard ko ang heart ko.  Gusto ko sana na kapag nakipag-relasyon ako sana ‘yun na.  Ayoko kasi yung paiba-iba.  I mean, kaniya-kaniya naman tayo ng desire diba?  Yung desire talaga ng puso ko ay i-guard ko na lang ang puso, maghintay na lang ako ng right timing ni God, sa right person na ibibigay sa akin ni God,” she explained.

Being loveless doesn’t necessarily mean that she is shunning Valentine’s Day altogether.  In fact, she is still celebrating the special day but with her single girl friends.

“Matagal na naman din akong single e.  Marami-rami na rin naman akong Valentine’s na sinelebrate bilang single kaya okay naman.  Nagpaplano kami ng Victory (Church) small group ko ng isang ‘Singles’ Night.’  Gagawa kami ng party na may theme.  Kasama ko diyan sina Rachelle Ann Go.  Okay naman at in-love pa rin naman ako... kay God,” she said.

Sheena admits, however, that she has admirers but she’s taking things very slowly and carefully.

“Wala pa naman sa courtship stage pero nakikipagkaibigan muna ako.  Actually, may sinasabihan nga ako na ayaw ko muna kasi gusto ko muna talagang mahanap yung happiness sa sarili ko bago ko hanapin sa ibang tao.  Lagi kong ipinagdarasal na kung hindi man siya ay ikaw na, Lord, ang maghanap ng way para sabihin sa kaniya,” she said.

The actress doesn’t mind if it would take long before she meets her “knight in shining armor” as long as he is the right one for her.

“Okay lang na tumanda ako nang tumanda nang wala muna basta ‘pag dumating na ‘yun ready na ako at ready na rin siya; siya na si Mr. Right at ako naman si Ms. Right para sa kaniya,” she said.

Sheena was once linked to kapuso hunk actor Roco Nacino until recently when rumors circulated about the two’s reportedly very unceremonious split up.  Ironically, both parties belied the rumors claiming that they never became a couple in the first place and that they were only “exclusively dating.”

Whatever caused the reported “split-up” surely didn’t show in the blooming face of the young actress when she showed up at the taping of “Indio” in Pagsanjan, Laguna early this week.  

The actress seemed proud to don her new hairdo – she had her hair cut shoulder-length.  The new haircut apparently was required for a “twist” in her character as Mayang in the said series. 

“Kasi may pagpapanggap na magaganap sa karakter ko dito sa ‘Indio’ kaya magandang abangan ‘yon ng mga manonood,” revealed the actress.

Sheena admitted that it will take a while before she’d totally get used to her new hair.

“Medyo nasasanay na rin naman ako sa bago kong buhok although may mga times na ‘pag hinahawakan ko ‘yung buhok ko nakakalimutan ko na maiksi na nga pala siya,” she shared.

Sheena used to sport a long hair that drapes up to her waist and she has never had it cut that short – ever!  Consequently, it wasn’t an easy decision for her to make.  

“Actually nagwo-workshop pa lang kami para sa show kinausap na nila ako. Pinuntahan ako ni direk (Dondon Santos) sa workshop tapos ang sabi niya sa akin, ‘Mayang (Sheena’s character), willing ka ba na ipa-cut yung hair mo para mas maging makatotohanan para sa character mo dito?’  Hindi muna ako sumagot.  Sinabi ko muna na pag-iisipan ko muna kasi siyempre, diba?  Iba pa rin kasi yung gusto mong magpagupit e kaysa sa gusto nilang magpagupit ka,” she explained.

“Sanay kasi ako na mahaba ang buhok ko tapos sa work namin kailangan talaga namin yung long hair para mas maraming puwede na ayos, iba-ibang look.  Tapos kinausap din ako ng executive producer namin.  Sa huli, naisip ko na magandang project naman itong binigay nila sa akin at magandang character yung kay Mayang at napaka-importante niya sa show na ito kaya pumayag na rin ako,” she added.

In the end, she was convinced to have her hair cut but on one condition: she wants her cut hair to be put to good use.

“Gusto ko kung ipapagupit ko yung buhok ko may pagbibigyan akong ibang tao kasi mahigit two years ko rin yung pinahaba at hindi naman biro yung two years na yun.  Gusto kong mapakinabangan naman ng iba kasi diba may mga taong kailangan nila ng wig,” said the actress.

Sheena recalls the day she finally agreed to have her hair cut:  “Hindi talaga ako nakatulog nung gabi bago ako gupitan kasi alam kong gugupitan na ako the following day.  Tapos sinabi ko sa sarili ko na hindi ako iiyak kasi inisip ko na may makikinabang naman at para ito sa role ko. Pero yung naririnig ko na yung tunog ng gunting at nung nakikita ko na siya, naging emosyonal na ako.  Tapos umiiyak na rin yung mga taong nandun, pati yung mommy ko.”

Sheena has already found a beneficiary for her hair – a child with cancer -- and she’s planning to personally hand over her gift to the child anytime soon.

“Mapupunta siya sa isang cancer patient.  Actually, nasa akin pa yung buhok ko.  Gusto ko sana kasi na ako mismo yung pumunta doon sa lugar at pumili ng taong pagbibigyan ko, yung talagang mata-touch yung heart ko.  Kaya lang medyo hindi pa ako nagkakaroon ng time kasi medyo naghahabol din kami sa taping, at yung mga eksena namin hindi talaga siya basta basta; sobrang madugo at matagal naming shinu-shoot bawat eksena kasi nga gusto naming maging maganda siya,” said Sheena.

The actress said that she does not regret her decision because she thinks it’s about time for her to have a fresh new look.

“Hindi naman ako nagsisisi kasi sabi naman nila bagay naman sa akin at saka new look, new Sheena, new me.  Para rin naman sa character ko ‘to.  Tsaka napakaganda talaga ng project na ito para sa akin.  Sobrang na-feel ko talaga yung favor ni God.  Ayoko ring ma-disappoint yung mga writers, yung buong production ng ‘Indio’ dahil lang sa ayaw kong magpagupit ng buhok,” she said.

Those who are following Sheena’s character (Mayang) in “Indio” are up for a big surprise in the coming weeks and the change will have a great impact on the lead character (Simeon/Indio) portrayed by Sen. Bong Revilla, Jr.

“Abangan niyo yung mga action scenes ko dito – action star na ako ngayon (laughs). Hindi lang nila ako ginawang dramatic o seryoso, ginawa pa nila akong action star.  May mga stunts ako dito na gamit ko ang arnis, may archery, etc,” she hinted.

“Abangan rin nila ang bagong character ko.  Kung mas challenging yung pagpapagupit ko, mas challenging pa yung bagong role ko na ‘yun.  Abangan din nila ang love story namin dito ni Dominic,” she added.

Don’t miss the exciting turn of events nightly on “Indio,” which airs from Monday to Friday, after “24 Oras” on GMA Telebabad.