Claudine is her own woman now

She’s no longer just anybody’s (like ex-boyfriend Zoren Legaspi’s) girl. Claudine Trillo – she with the sunshiny smile that perks us early mornings at ABS-CBN‘s Magandang Umaga Bayan – has come into her own.

She cracks jokes with fellow segment host Bobby Yan, and twists her tongue saying heavy Tagalog words, but televiewers don’t seem to mind. In fact, some find it amusing, in much the same way that they found pleasure in Toni Rose Gayda’s bloopers on TV years back.

That’s the problem when you’re born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Claudine need not work too hard because the family can very well take care of her. The Trillos own a chain of wine cellar bars, with Claudine managing three of them: Pravda, Cork and the newest, Magnum.

But TV is the 23-year-old lady’s passion. Even while studying Business Management at De La Salle University, where she finished college, Claudine was already facing the TV cameras. She was hosting for Trend TV and ABC 5’s Planet 4.

Her people-oriented, inquisitive nature surfaced each time she interviewed personalities. Claudine was always fascinated by how people think and act the way they do.

"I love having Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon as interviewee. He‘s passionate, articulate, on the go. You simply get carried away by his zest for life," observes Claudine.

Former President Joseph Estrada, with his colorful life, is a dream interviewee.

"My ideal show is something like Private Conversations with Boy Abunda, or the kind Cito Beltran does," reveals Claudine, who has turned down movie offers when she was still going out with Zoren.

"Lifestyle shows are not for me. I’d rather go for the more serious stuff," she explains. Magandang Umaga Bayan is seeing to it that Claudine gets her wish, at least, the serious stuff part. Starting last Monday, she got more exposure via three new segments– motoring, music news and the Sale ng Bayan.

The prospect of writing her own script in these segments excites Claudine no end. No more spoonfeeding from other writers. Now, she, and the rest of her co-hosts, who have become her friends, can feel their "roles" more by writing the script themselves.

It’s on-the-job training Claudine can’t wait to get.

"I always felt TV is my world,’ says Claudine." "Now, I want to become more exposed so I can branch out to other kinds of shows."

ABS-CBN top honcho Freddie Garcia knew Claudine had the makings of a host the first time he set eyes on her, during an event for E! Philippines last year. He offered her a hosting stint right then and there.

Last September, Claudine started waking up earlier than usual to join Julius Babao, Cheryl Cosim, Erwin Tulfo, Bobby Yan, Edu Manzano, Pia Guanio, and other Magandang Umaga Bayan mainstays in their daily hosting chores.

Now that she‘s finally realizing her one big dream on TV, will Claudine still have enough time for herself?

"Why not?" she shoots back, eyes sparkling.

As it is, Claudine has enough time for her boyfriend of two years, Jason Webb. She’s even flattered to hear frequent remarks that she and Jason look alike.

"Our respective dads even look alike!" she adds. Ah, young love!

Meanwhile, let’s switch on the TV set and see how Claudine is facing her new challenge as host and writer of her segments in Magandang Umaga Bayan.