Sexy stars are always thought to be emotionally very tough, because of the pains and hardships they have gone through. But Klaudia Koronel seems to be of a different breed. You accidentally touch a softspot in her life, and suddenly you are surprised when she comes out teary eyed, like the sensitive makahiya. She claims she didn't have a happy childhood at all. "I was the eldest and my parents left me with my grandmother in Zamboanga when I was four. It was my lola who sent me to elementary school at du'n nagkakaru'n lang ako ng bagong damit once a year, during closing, kung sasabitan ako ng lola ko ng medal. Tapos, kinuha ako ng mga magulang ko when I was 10.
It was here in Manila that I experienced how hard life was. My father was a carpenter and unlike other parents, he wasn't interested at all in sending me to school. I practically had to fend for myself para makapag-aral lang. I did odd jobs at minsan natutulog kami ng mga kapatid ko sa ilalim ng tulay malapit sa SM Megamall. Despite my desire, hindi pa rin ako nakapagtapos ng high school. Gusto ng tatay kong makatulong kaagad ako sa paghahanapbuhay." She could not help but shed a tear on mention of her father. "I still remember the time when while we were having our dinner he would tell us, 'Kain na lang kayo nang kain. Hindi man lamang kayo nakakatulong.' Hindi lang sampal ang inaabot ko sa kanya kung minsan. Lahat ng klaseng sakit ng katawan tiniis ko."
She must have been really hurt by all the pains her father had caused her for when she mentioned her latest movie, "Pasasabugin Ko Ang Mundo Mo," where she had the chance to use a gun as an undercover, she told us, "Sanay akong humawak ng baril. Sa Zamboanga nasanay ako sa mga putukan. These are ordinary things when I was a child. But sometimes I think of aiming the gun at somebody..." Saying these things, we thought she must have had a 'death wish' for the guy who must have hurt her a lot.
But despite her bitterness, once she had herself established financially she built a house for her mom and her siblings. "Sa Project 8 ang bahay na naipatayo ko. That's where my mother stays with my brothers and sisters. Hiwalay na ang father at mother ko. He lives in our old house. When I started working, I had it repaired and now he rents it out kaya mayroon siyang monthly income. I am sending my siblings to school and I still have a six-year-old brother. Perhaps this is the reason why I hear rumors about my having a child. Minsan kasi kasa-kasama ko ang kapatid kong bunso. At kung talaga namang may anak ako gaya ng ibinabalita nila, I would readily accept it. The problem is there is no truth to it all." We found out too that she has one brother who was adopted by another family. "He's in high school. He found out recently that I was his real sister pero hindi ako nakikipagkita sa kanya. He might think of coming back to the family. He might have the wrong notion na mayaman na ako at puwede ko na siyang tustusan. I think he is in better hands with his adoptive parents." Having made one movie after the other, Klaudia can now afford to rent her own condo unit. She wants to be at peace and she treasures being alone most of the time. "I can rest without being disturbed unnecessarily."
Her greatest wish nowadays is to finally be able to find the right guy. She has a boyfriend, alright, "But we are just on the process of reconciliation. We broke up when I did 'Toro.' He wanted to marry me kaya gusto niyang huwag ko nang gawin 'yung 'Toro.' Pero iniisip ko naman ang pamilya ko. When I came back from Germany, however, bumalik siya. Usually, kapag nai-in love ako I give my all. In the past whenever he wanted me to go to Bulacan, tagaroon kasi siya, punta kaagad ako. But now I am more careful. If he wants to see me siya na ang pumupunta dito. I avoid having to face his aunties. Ayaw nila sa akin. Pero ang mommy niya mabait sa akin." Klaudia is happy the way her career has turned out. She has a regular show, "Kiss Muna," and she is scheduled to finish another movie, "Babaeng Putik." She idolizes Vilma Santos. "I can learn a lot from her- acting-wise. Pero sa tapang sa buhay I go for Osang. Sana maging kasing tapang niya rin ako sa pagharap sa mga intriga. Little things kasi can easily depress me... Like for instance when I lost my pet dog, a Shitzu. P18,000 ang bili ko sa kanya. I left her in the car at dahil mainit, pagbalik ko, patay na siya. It took me five months bago siya nawala sa isip ko!" For someone who used to sleep under the SM overpass, Klaudia Koronel has gone a long way. Unlike other actress she is in demand these days thus, she is able to help her family. She also has her boyfriend back, and can now afford to stay in a condo unit. What else then would she want in life?" I want to be recognized as an actress at gusto ko namang magkaroon ng award kahit minsan."
Klaudia Koronel revealed she is happy with her contract with Regal Films. Compared to Seiko films, she said: "Masaya ako sa Regal. There's no comparison, actually." Klaudia was Robbie Tan's most-prized talent after Rosanna Roces and Priscilla Almeda, but just like the two, Klaudia left Seiko "for greener pastures and better treatment." She ended in Dondon Monteverde's stable and starred in the critical success "Hubad Sa Ilalim Ng Buwan," which is making the rounds in international film festivals. (SNS)
Filipino movie star Claudia Koronel of the banned film show "Live Show" clenches her fist during a protest rally near the presidential palace in Manila, March 26, 2001. The banning of "Live Show" has provoked fierce protests from the film industry, which accused Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who banned the film which shows sex acts, of buckling under pressure from Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin, the top prelate in the largely Roman Catholic nation. The film had packed cinemas until Arroyo axed it last week./Erik de Castro (Reuters)
