The revenge of Klaudia Koronel

Curtain-raisers:

• Condolence to the Tan family (Dr. Nellie Tan-Yu, Seiko boss Robbie Tan, et al) whose matriarch, the well-loved Aurora “Mommy Seiko” Tan, died of pneumonia yesterday morning at the Polymedic General Hospital in Mandaluyong City. She was 84. Her remains are at Santuarium (Araneta Avenue corner Quezon Blvd., Quezon City). Interment date will be announced later.

• Also, condolence to dzRH reporter Jenny “Flower” Simon-MacDonalds whose father, Jose “Peping” Simon, also passed away. His remains are also at Santuarium (Rose Garden Chapel) and will be interred tomorrow, Feb. 7, at Heritage Park, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, after a 10 a.m. Mass.

• Meanwhile, congratulations to former ABS-CBN vice president and San Beda College Golden Jubilarian Lito Balquiedra who was recently given a special award by his alma mater for his pioneering spirit in conceptualizing Frolics, an annual school fair that has promoted camaraderie among its alumni for the last 47 years. On Feb. 10, Lito will also be honored as an Outstanding Bedan in the field of Media and Communications at The Tent, The Fort, Taguig City.

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Like other sexy stars, Klaudia Koronel used her body to promote her career, and she doesn’t deny nor is she ashamed of it.

But unlike most sexy stars who end up empty-handed when they are past their prime, Klaudia also used her head, and she’s mighty proud of it.

During her more than 10 years in showbiz capped by Live Show (directed by Joey Javier Reyes), the controversial 2000 way-out bold skin flick that cost Nic Tiongson his job as head of the MTRCB, Klaudia saved her earnings and, looking beyond showbiz, financed her studies at New Era College where she finished Computer Science in 2005. Then, she put up her own Internet business (the mabuhaycity.com the bahaytalaan.ph. and the roomate.ph) which earned her good money.

“Through my sites,” explained Klaudia, 32. “OFWs can exchange views and get all the information that they need.”

It was through her business that Klaudia (Milfe Dacula in real life) met, Andy Zhang, the man she’s going to marry on Aug. 28 at the Iglesia ni Cristo church. Zhang, 41, is a 6’1”-tall Chinese-American IT (Information Technology) consultant who travels around the world.

“He saw my graduation photo on the Internet and we started sending each other e-mail.”

It didn’t take long before Andy began courting Klaudia. He brought her on his trips. Barely three years later, convinced that they were meant for each other, Klaudia and Andy decided to get married.

“I have gone around the world,” said Klaudia who came home late last year from Atlanta, Georgia (where Andy is based), and is leaving in two weeks time. “I will be back in June in time for our wedding.” Andy, who is a bachelor, must really love Klaudia so much because he decided to embrace her religion (Iglesia ni Cristo).

“For me to decide to marry him, in love talaga ako sa kanya. I used to be afraid of marriage because of my sad experiences with men whose families looked down on me because of my being a bold star.”

Andy knows that Klaudia (whose last appearance was on the 2005 ABS-CBN soap Mga Anghel na Walang Langit) is an actress. She has shown him still pictures and DVD copies of her films.

“Okay lang sa kanya,” said Klaudia. “He even told me to go on working as an actress even after our marriage.”

That’s Klaudia’s “revenge” against those who treated her like “dirt.”

If they could only see her now!

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