Claudine: The First Time/The Last Time

Everything that has to be written about Claudine Barretto is public knowledge. The whole world knows that she and Raymart Santiago are getting married in January next year, with Claudine wearing a Randy Ortiz gown as they swap "I do’s" for better or for worse, till death do them part. And then, after their honeymoon, they’ll settle down (rather continue to) in the dream house somewhere in Quezon City which they built together. (They have an adopted daughter but they want to have one of their own "ASAP," assured Claudine.)

She has fully recovered from the shock/trauma caused by the untimely death of her former boyfriend Rico Yan and has already smoked the peace pipe with the Yans and with her sister Gretchen as well after that ugly family feud on national television last year.

Just back from a two-week shoot in Dubai for a Star Cinema movie (tentatively) entitled Dubai (with, among others, Aga Muhlach who was first paired with her in Kailangan Kita; directed by Rory B. Quintos), Claudine is again ready to fly (day after tomorrow), this time to the Cannes Film Festival where her starrer, Milan (with Piolo Pascual), is one of the four Filipino films (the three others are Panaghoy sa Suba, Dekada ’70 and Bagong Buwan) to be shown in that prestigious filmfest’s new (non-competition) category, Cinema of the World (where films from six other countries will be shown).

Her new movie, Star Cinema’s Nasaan Ka Man? (with Diether Ocampo, Jericho Rosales, Gloria Diaz and Hilda Koronel), is opening early next month. Tomorrow night, her new soap, Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin (directed by Eric Reyes), will premiere on ABS-CBN, co-starring Diether Ocampo, Angelika dela Cruz, Shaina Magdayao, John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo.

Everything in the can. So what else is new?

For a change, Conversations decided to sidetrack any "issue/controversy" and let Claudine recall "The First Time" and "The Last Time" in her life. Brace yourselves as Claudine spills some untold beans.

• She Cried Really Hard

"The first time was when Rico (Yan, her former boyfriend) died in 2001. The last time was three years later when I made peace with Geraldine, Rico’s sister."

• She Laughed Really Hard

"The first time was many years ago. There were many funny incidents with my brother Jayjay...so many that I couldn’t single out one. The last time was last Tuesday in Intramuros while we were shooting an episode for Ikaw Ang Lahat sa Akin. There were so many cockroaches in that house so I kept on screaming and screaming. Takot ako sa ipis, eh. Then, I saw a little shadow and I thought it was another cockroach, so I screamed again. Direk Eric and I looked at each other and we both laughed so hard that the shooting was delayed for 30 minutes."

• She Got Really Angry

"I couldn’t remember when but the first time involved my sister Marj. She took my Barbie doll and hid it under the sofa so I got mad, really mad. The last time was...wait, I haven’t been that angry since then! With me, it’s not as much anger as hurt. When I get offended by somebody, I get hurt, not angry. I snap and then I scream and then I stop and simply keep quiet."

• She Felt Miserable

"The first time was a few years ago when I was new in showbiz. I was a teenager then. I was doing so many things at the same time – the movies Soltera and Mula sa Puso, and the soap Saan Ka Man Naroroon. I was burned out, stressed out, and I felt miserable. I disappeared for four days. I checked into Shangri-La Mactan by myself. I just stayed in the room and kept to myself. The last time I felt miserable? So far, none (knocking on wood)."

• She Felt Like a Queen

"The first time was when I joined the Repertory Philippines. I was the youngest Rep member and I was cast in Grease. Rep is part of my beautiful childhood memories. The last time was Raymart and my first Christmas together three years ago. His house was new then. That was the time I was feeling depressed. Raymart lit up the whole house, including the garage and the garden to brighten up my mood. You know what happened? The plants in the garden wilted due to the heat. I shed tears of joy."

• She Told a (White) Lie

"The first time was when I was small. My dad spanked me for that. The last time was a few years ago when I was depressed. I said I was okey when in fact I felt rotten inside me. White lie lang naman."

• She Said The Painful Truth

"The first time was when I told Mark (Anthony Fernandez, her former boyfriend) that we had to part. That was also the last time."

• She Felt Like a Millionaire

"The first time was when we were in Milan shooting the movie Milan. I was so tired but when I saw a beautiful pair of shoes, I perked up. Medyo mahal, so I was hesitant to buy it. I must admit na medyo may pagka-kuripot ako. I finally bought the shoes anyway after going back and forth to the store. When I first wore the shoes, I really felt like a millionaire. Mahal, eh!"

• She Realized That She Was In Love

"The first time was with Mark. The last time, well, siempre naman with Raymart."

• She Went Abroad

"The first time was when I was six years old. Sa Hong Kong, with my parents. The last time was recently when we shot some scenes in Dubai for the movie Dubai (with Aga Muhlach and John Lloyd Cruz, also directed by Rory Quintos). And then, of course, this trip to Cannes."

• She Got Sick

"The first time was when my parents again went to Hong Kong without me. I landed in the hospital! It was psychological, I think. As a kid, I used to sleep between my mom and my dad; I still do that up to now. So when they left, I got so homesick that I became feverish. Nag-convulsion pa ako, so I was rushed to the hospital. The last time was last year while I was shooting Marina (playing the title role as a mermaid). Pumutok ang ear ko, so I had to undergo surgery. Now, I have a hearing problem with my left ear."

• Her Priority

"My first priority is taking care of Raymart. And my last, being maluho."

• Investment

"My very first investment was a van. My last/latest? I got a condo unit last year in Fort Bonifacio."

• First Thing She Does When She Wakes Up in The Morning

"Wash my face and brush my teeth."

• Last Thing She Does Before She Sleeps

"Read The Bible."

• She Said ‘I’m Sorry’ To Anybody

"The first time was a few years ago...to my mom and dad. I realized that I was trying to prove something na hindi ko naman ma-prove. I hugged them and I said, ‘I’m sorry!’ Then, iyakan na kami. The last time was very recently...to my sister Gretchen."

• She Said ‘I Love You’ To a Guy

"The first time was when I was 15...to Mark. What did he say? ‘I love you, too!’ The last time was when I left home this morning...to Raymart. We say ‘I love you!’ to each other all the time."

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