At age 11, Claudine Barretto attended a Repertory workshop for the role of Sandra Dee in Grease while her sister Gretchen was the most popular star in that era and was even called “ST Queen”. In 1992, she was discovered by star maker Johnny Manahan and was cast in the popular “Ang TV” show of ABS-CBN. But no one thought back then that she would become more popular than her older sister who for a long time hogged the limelight.

For Claudine Barretto, the timing was right, the breaks fell in the right place, and now that she has cemented her spot as the Teleserye Queen and heir apparent to no less than the star for all Seasons, Vilma Santos, she is indeed the hottest star today, if not the most popular in this generation.

Is she comfortable with the title? “I take it as a challenge. I believe that as an actress, you should embrace the thought of being scared ‘pag may bagong show or may bagong katapat na artista. That’s the time you get challenged and you strive harder. Importante sa ‘kin na may kakambal na takot talaga para mag-survive yung soap ko. It keeps me on my toes,” she explains.

Claudine as Next Vilma Santos

The ceremonial handover of the star power was done unintentionally or unknowingly in the blockbuster movie Anak, where the present star Vilma Santos meets her future successor Claudine Barretto in that gripping movie where both showed their depth and class in acting.

In the process they became friends. “We call each other up until now,” Claudine relates proudly, “Kahit wala nang shooting at matagal nang tapos and promo ng movie, we have maintained our bond. We talk about everything actually, but mostly work. We both have the same attitude when it comes to work, I think that’s why magkasundo kami. Bilib ako sa pagka-organized nya. She really knows what she wants in her life”.

But more than the handover, Claudine earned her spot the hard way, as she has to prove herself teleserye after teleserye. From teenybopper roles, she transcended to a mature role as Olivia in “Mula sa Puso”, commencing to the primetime triumvirate of Rosenda. Rosario and Rosemarie in “Saan Ka Man Naroroon”, then on to Angelie in “Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan”, as the sentimental Meg of “Buttercup”, and then played a mermaid in the first ever fanta-serye in TVdom “Marina”

But apart from the teleseryes, Claudine is also considered today’s box office princess with movies Anak, Got to Believe, Soltera, Kailangan Kita with Aga Muhlach, and award-winning Milan with Piolo Pascual, all under Star Cinema.

For Milan, awards poured in for Claudine with Best Actress trophies from Luna Awards (her first), and recently from the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAMAS), and then of course from the prestigious International Cannes Film Festival.

”The Cannes Festival was indeed a wonderful experience. I was overjoyed. Even if you’re appreciated in your own country, its much more different if it’s by a lot of people all over the world. The moment we were walking down the red carpet, iba ang feeling. Kami lang dun ang naiiba because our guys wore barong, while the rest were in their tuxedos.” Claudine narrates.

Claudine as Nea in “Nasaan Ka Man”

Now she is reaping the success of yet another blockbuster movie “Nasaan Ka Man”. Claudine is optimistic about the good reviews of her role. “I’m not expecting to win an award for this. As an actress, I’m always ‘involved’ with my role. That’s why I cannot do two movies at the same time. In every project, I always give 100% of my self, especially in this movie. It demanded so much from me---emotionally, physically and even spiritually. We stayed in Baguio for weeks.”

Claudine also reveals that she had a hard time relating to the role because she hasn’t encountered such a character in real life. “In my past movies, I could get something from real experiences. Here, it was so hard coz the plot is too complicated, ‘di karaniwang nangyayari sa ordinaryong Filipino family. It was so dysfunctional. Imagine two old maids adopting three children. It’s weird, ‘di ba? I believe kasi sa isang artista dapat may pinaghuhugutan ng characterization, in Nasaan, wala. I have to use my imagination,” she explains.

Also in the focus on the mind of Claudine is her latest soap Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin and her upcoming movie Dubai.

She considers the role of ‘Nea’ as a very unique and new genre for her. “I tried to compare my role there sa mga soaps na nagawa ko na, but wala talaga akong makitang comparison, ibang-iba sya. My character is quite perky and bubbly. I’m not yung parang api-apihan or pinaiiyak palagi.  Nea is someone na sa dami ng pinagdadaanan niyang pagsubok, it’s like okey lang sa kanya ang lahat and pinapasa-Diyos na lang niya lahat. In real life it’s true. A lot of people, if they have problems, kahit na ano ang mangyari, they pray and leave their fate in the hands of our Lord.”

“I also have another movie coming up of course under Star Cinema with Aga (Muhlach) and John Lloyd (Cruz). It’s directed by Rory Quintos. Working title is “Dubai”. We are halfway finishing it, but we are hoping to finish it by September. It’s an exciting love story, a triangle with a different twist. Watch out for it

But with all this teleserye hoopla, as well as blockbuster movies and acting awards, Claudine is still excited in entering a new phase in her life…as married woman.

Claudine as Mrs. Raymart Santiago

 “January 5 (of next year) is our wedding date. Though we’re planning to move it to a later date, but same month pa rin. We realized kasi that most of the people just came from vacation, or baka wala pa sila. It’s going to be a Christian island wedding in Subic. But it will not be a regular beach wedding. The motif consists of different spring colors para masaya. Ang dami pa rin kailangan gawin like the permits, security, invitations…but I know in due time things will be settled.”

 She reveals that three principal sponsors have already confirmed like Marichu “Manay Ichu” Maceda, Boots Anson-Roa and her baptismal godparent. “I still don’t know the progress of the wedding preparations. Mga taga-Channel 2 ang may hawak coz of the TV coverage.”

 One thing is for sure though, Claudine is very much prepared to say “I do”.

 “So far, Raymart and I are not discussing about the things to be done or mga pagbabago after our wedding. I am the one pa nga insisting that I want to have a baby pag two years old na si Sabina. She just turned one year old. I want to have a honeymoon baby, but if I am to decide, I want to have two children at the most. It’s really  great to be a mom, but I know it’s hard too at the same time coz you don’t know hanggang kalian ang time you can devote your time to your kids, wag na lang magkaroon ng maraming anak.” 

Will she quit showbiz? “No. When we decided to get married, I asked Raymart if he will still allow me to stay in showbiz, and he said as long as I want to. He said what is important is that I know my priorities. At tama naman sya.”

 Claudine says that Raymart makes her feel very secure. “I feel comfortable when he’s around. You know that feeling na everything will be okay when you’re with him, and it’s like nothing will go wrong. He is very responsible and plans ahead. And of course, he’s paying for our wedding,” she points out.

 Given the chance to change something in Raymart, Claudine says it would be “yung pagiging stiff nya and tahimik pag kaharap ang ibang tao. He’s shy but pag kaming dalawa lang, he’s so kalog, kaya tuloy yung iba napagkakamalan siyang suplado.”

 At the end of the day, 26-year old Claudine hopes to be successful in her own reality teleserye as Mrs. Raymart Santiago. “I want to put my life in order for my daughters so I’m back in school now. I’m choosing good movies. I want Raymart and Sabina and our future children to be proud of me.”  DP