MANILA — In the two years he has been on hiatus from showbiz, John Lloyd Cruz shied away from on-camera interviews completely — a sharp turnaround from two decades as one of the most visible actors on television and on the big screen.

Cruz, however, now appears to be warming up again to being in front of cameras as he joined fellow Star Magic artists Bea Alonzo and Piolo Pascual early this week in a press event.

Cruz and Alonzo were officially introduced as endorsers of a popular shawarma brand, in addition to original ambassador Pascual.

Bearded and with long hair under a cap, Cruz embraced a style that couldn’t be farther from the boy-next-door image he had been known for for years.

He also sat down for an interview about his new endorsement project — a welcome treat for long-awaiting fans who have missed hearing Cruz speak.