MANILA, Philippines — Claudine Barretto can very much relate to the plot of her upcoming reunion movie with ex beau Mark Anthony Fernandez, “Deception.”
“I think kung nasubaybayan n’yo ‘yung journey ko, ‘yung mga pinagdaanan ko, ‘yung paghihiwalay ko, pagbebetray ng mga kung sino mang mga tao, lahat ng deception na ‘yun napagdaanan ko na. So ‘yung pelikula it hits close to home,” she shared at last Monday’s virtual press conference for the film.
“It really hits close to home because napagdaanan ko talaga eh, first hand. So there are some scenes in the movie and in the movies na parang totoo talaga… Ang hindi lang nangyari siguro ‘yung mga part ng mga murder-murder, pero deception has always been part of my life. It has always been done to me in so many ways.”
Related: Claudine Barretto bares Mark Anthony Fernandez's playboy tricks; admits 'ghosting' him
After the movie, she revealed that she is also slated to star in a comeback TV series.
“Yes. Right after nu’ng movie, siguro pahinga lang ng sandali tapos magteteleserye na. May nakaprepare na eh. Tatapusin lang muna ‘yung movie.”
It took her a while to return to showbiz, she said, because apart from being picky when it comes to scripts, she was deeply affected by her breakup with former husband Raymart Santiago, and she had to prioritize their four kids.
“When Raymart and I, naghiwalay kami, I felt that I had to step back from show business because kailangan ako ng mga anak ko. I don’t want them to feel na one day, paggising nila, wala na silang nanay, wala na silang tatay. It was a very painful decision but of course, at the end of the day, the priority is still my children… I have four kids. It’s such a blessing and I would never ever regret stepping back for them.”
Although she is back on track, she stressed that motherhood remains her top priority.
“Hindi ko pwedeng sabihing break muna ako. But my passion has always been show business. This is all I know. This is what I think I’m good at. Now that my children are bigger na… I made sure to ask my children if it’s okay for them for me to go back to work.”
Since her kids, the eldest being 17, said that it is all right for her to return to work, Claudine looks forward to bask in the limelight again.
“Namimiss ko ‘yung chaos. Kahit nga pati puyatan nami-miss ko nga. Iba talaga kasi if this is your passion, there’s no looking back.”
RELATED: Claudine Barretto defends Julia Barretto: ‘Pamangkin ko pa rin ‘yun’