er nights of fun are over - these days, Angelika dela Cruz would rather spend time in her newly built private paradise in Malabon.

There was a point when I hardly had time to spend with my family. But today I make sure that I make time. It's really nice to have a family that supports you along the way, through thick and thin, without any reservations. Maybe that's one thing that I am very proud of.

We are talking to Angelika dela Cruz, who is touring us around her family's newly built house in Malabon. It's almost a separate "house within a house" for the young actress and singer. If there's any place and time where she can spend "quality time" with her family, this is it.

To think the Malabon house almost never came up. For Angelika and the rest of the family, it would've been more practical to build a new place in Quezon City, which is more accessible to the ABS-CBN star (who is now back in the network, appearing in Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas opposite ex-boyfriend Jericho Rosales). But her father, Ernesto dela Cruz, a former member of the Bayanihan dance troupe, insisted on staying in Malabon, because that is where he and most of the dela Cruz clan grew up.

It could also be the perfect base for a political career. "Oo nga, marami ang gustong tumakbo ako," admits Angelika. "If my schedules permit, why not? It would be another way to prove my worth. So, should there still be a place for me in that aspect, I think I am going to grab the opportunity."

The Malabon house has its own sentimental value to Angelika. After all, the previous house is where her controversial relationship with actor Victor Neri bloomed. She still remembers, with just a trace of disappointment, how tabloids spread rumors that she allegedly got pregnant with Neri and had an abortion.

"Nakakatawa nga, at syempre, may konting asar din dahil feeling ko wala na silang magawa," she now says. "I thank God because I am always reminded that I am in show biz. Kung hindi siguro sa Kanya ay maaring naasar at nagalit narin ako sa isyu. In this kind of life kasi, ang pikon ay laging talo. So I'll just prove them wrong in the end.

These days, Angelika would rather star home and chill out. Since the new Malabon house was going to be big, the actress was able to ask the architect to make a "split-type" arrangement for her own living space. Angelika's "house with a house" has its own living room and stairs leading up to her quarters.

"This is my paradise," says Angelika, as she points out to the yellow-painted walls of her living area. There are days when she spend her whole time in her room, chatting with her friends either live or on the phone or watching DVD and listening to her favorite music.

"Lately, nagiging homebody ako," she explains. "Nagsawa na rin sa kagi-gimik. Dito na lang kami sa room ko nagba-bonding ng mga friends, sila ang nagpupunta dito. Kung hindi naman, watch lang talaga ako ng mga favorite kong DVD or telebabad lang buong maghapon."- -