CLAUDINE Barretto stages a comeback in “Deception” and she’s paired anew with her teen ka-love team, Mark Anthony Fernandez. This starts on Vivamax on January 28.
Claudine and Mark did hits “Pare Ko” and “Mangarap Ka,” with their love affair blooming on and off screen.
“Matagal na ang planong reunion namin ni Mark but we can’t find the right material,” she said. “Hanggang sa heto, nakahanap ng magandang script through Direk Joel Lamangan. Natagalan but it turns out this is the best project for us kasi it’s beyond the romcom genre.
It’s a dramatic suspense-thriller that comments about the justice system in our country.”
They’re now both more mature. “Yes, pareho kaming marami nang naranasan, pinagdaanan, we’re both parents now,” said Claudine. “And I think it helped for us to give better performances.”
Did they ever talk about their romantic past?
“Yes we did,” said Mark. “Napag-usapan namin ‘yun. Ano kaya kung nagkatuluyan kami, anong magiging hitsura ng anak namin? Hindi pa naman huli. Bata pa si Boss Clau, puede ko pa namang ligawan uli.”
Claudine plays Rose, a famous actress, while Mark is Jericho, a stuntman. They fall in love and start their own family, blessed with a son named Thomas. But what looks like a promising future for their family turns into tragedy and Rose is accused of killing Mark. She is sentenced to ten years in jail.
When she regains her freedom, Rose tries to start her life but soon finds out who framed her up. “The movie’s moral lesson is be careful who you trust,” said Claudine.
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“Prima Donnas” was such a big hit when it first aired in August, 2019. When it ended, the fans requested in social media for GMA to come up with Book 2 and now, it’s about to be aired on the afternoon slot.
The senior members of the cast were invited in their first press con: Chanda Romero as Lady Prima Claveria, Wendell Ramos as her son Jaime, Katrina Halili as Lillian the mother of the donnas, Aiko Melendez as the villainous Kendra, Benjie Paras as Agaton, the driver of Jaime, plus a new contravida, Sheryl Cruz as Bethany, a balikbayan from Australia who will help mess up the live of the Donnas. Also present are the two directors: Gina Alajar and Phillip Lazaro.
As the main director, Gina said this is more complicated and exciting than Book 1. “Naka-lock in taping kami for 82 days,” she said. “We’re the longest sa mga nag-lock in taping. Mahirap, but I believe na walang mahirap kung ang lahat magtutulungan. Eighty-two days kaming naka-lock in nang walang uwian. Andaming experiences and challenges na nangyari sa amin. Nagkasakit si Katrina, she had to leave kasi she’s in pain. Naospital siya.
Si Wendell, ‘yung wife niya, gave birth at hindi siya makalabas. Kundi kami nagkapit-kamay at hindi kami kumapit sa Diyos, nagkawatak-watak na kami. Thank God for His grace and mercy, we came out of it stronger.”
Katrina said it was an ordeal for her to get sick while they’re on taping. “Masakit ang katawan ko, naninigas ang mga kamay ko, hindi ko maigalaw. Tapos giniginaw ako nang sobra. Inalagaan nila ako, lalo na si Miss Chanda who’s very caring. Tinitiis ko talaga nung una, kasi ayokong maging cause ng problema sa set. Alam kong ang dami pang scenes na kukunan sa akin. But hindi naman puedeng mag-rely na lang ako sa pain relievers, so eventually nagpaalam ako na lalabas ako para magpadoktor. They allowed me naman to leave.”
She underwent a thorough check up. “Pina-MRI ako at nagkaproblema sa nerves ko at the back of my neck. But now, thank God, okay na ako, nakabalik naman ako sa set. And now, ni wala na akong maintenance meds na iniinom since last December. We’re really excited kasi napakaganda ng story ng Book 2. May bagong characters at masyadong maraming twists na pati kami sa cast, naloka. It’s great to have a director like Direk Gina na isang actress din and she really guides us in our roles.”
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‘Napupulsuhan namin kung ano ang gusto nila at hindi nila gusto, kung anong papatok at hindi.— Sen. Tito Sotto’
“Eat Bulaga” just renewed their contract with GMA Network. On its 43rd year, it is no doubt the longest-running noontime show not only locally but worldwide. Among those who attended the press con were Tito and Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Allan K. Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Ryan Agoncillo, Pauleen Luna, Jimmy Santos and Alden Richards. Conspicuously missing was Maine Mendoza.
What do they think is the reason why “EB” lasted this long and became an institution?
“I think it’s because, even then, we can already sense what is the pulse of the people,” said Tito Sotto. “Napupulsuhan namin kung ano ang gusto nila at hindi nila gusto, kung anong papatok at hindi. At mas na-develop ‘yun through the years and suwerte rin kami with the production people we get kasi malakas din ang pulso in reading what our kababayans like and dislike.”
“Aside from pulso, nandun ang puso rin,” said Joey. “Nasasakyan namin ang gusto ng tao, kung ano ang uso. ‘Di lang kami kapuso, kauso rin. O kami ang nagpapauso. Uso noon, mga TV hosts, naka-coat and tie, tapos kami mahaba buhok, naka-T-shirt at shorts lang kami, so namemohan kami. Salbahe kami. Rebelde.”
“Totoo ‘yung sinabi nila,” Vic agreed. “And now, legit Kapuso kami with our partnership with GMA.”
For the other hosts, how is it being a “dabarkads”?
“For me, being a ‘dabarkads’ is an eye opener,” said Pauleen. “I came to the show at a very young age, not knowing much about life. I got to meet a lot of people from different walks of life. Dito ko talaga nakita ang buhay, ang mundo, how the world works, and it’s a big thing for me as not everyone is given an opportunity to watch other people and learn from their experiences. And everyone knows dito ako nagka-asawa, dito ako nagkaroon ng pamilya.”
“Phenomenal and life changing ang EB for me,” said Alden. “Sa ibang ginagawa ko, may burnout pero sa EB, wala. Hindi ko kino-consider na trabaho hosting in EB. Seven years na ako with them and sobrang maraming nangyaring maganda sa buhay ko dahil sa EB, kaya malaki ang utang na loob ko sa kanila. Nakita ko kung paano nila ko inaalagaan, tinuruan, binigyan ng importansiya. Sobrang thankful ako talaga na naging part ako ng EB.”
