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Claudine Barretto Reveals Closeness With Judy Ann Santos At The Height Of Their On-Screen Rivalry

Because of their on-screen rivalry, Claudine Barretto recalls, “Para kaming mag-boyfriend-girlfriend ni Judy Ann.”

TV fans may think that Claudine Barretto and Judy Ann Santos are not friends in real life as they have been longtimerivals, e specially during their heydays in ABS-CBN.

Despite being in one network, Barretto and Santos, as well as their projects, are considered rivals during the late ‘90s.

Both were touted as the Kapamilya network’s drama princesses at the time, headlining their respective shows: Barretto in “Mula sa Puso” and Santos in “Esperanza.”

With TV competition not too strong as GMA-7 was not yet competitive at the time, “Mula sa Puso” and “Esperanza” would compete on who got the better TV rating every day.

At one point, they also shared one leading man: Rico Yan. Santos first had Yan as leading man on TV via “Gimik,” then he was paired with Barretto in “Mula Sa Puso.” Barretto and Yan’s love team would become one of the most phenomenal love teams at the time.

Claudine Barretto
Claudine Barretto and Judy Ann Santos’ respective teleseryes dominated the ’90s primetime block on TV

But on Barretto’s guest appearance in “Fast Talk With Boy Abunda” on Friday, May 5, she reveals something about her relationship with Santos.

She tells host Boy Abunda, “You know, Judy Ann and I, people think we don’t get along, we never got along.

“But in truth is that even noong debut niya, right after, I remember that was a Sunday and everything was closed, the after-party was in my condominium.”

Barretto, however, admits that she and Santos went through a lot because of the rivalry. It is because Santos’ manager, late columnist Alfie Lorenzo, pegged them to become the next Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos.

Barretto explains, “Ang dami naming pinagdaanan ni Judy Ann. It’s just that during that time, we couldn’t…kumbaga, para kaming mag-boyfriend-girlfriend ni Judy Ann.

Bawal kaming makita sa labas kasi ayaw ni Tito Alfie, kasi dapat daw ala-Nora-Vilma. Parang ganyan.”

READ ALSO: Judy Ann Santos Updates On Comeback Series, Contract With ABS-CBN

Claudine Barretto touched by Judy Ann Santos’ gesture

Fast forward to 2009, Claudine Barretto reveals a moment with Judy Ann Santos that she really appreciates up to this day.

It was at the time when Barretto transferred to GMA-7, which she admits is the “lowest point of her life.”

Coming from her transfer and ABS-CBN’s celebration of 60 Years of Pinoy Soap Opera, the Kapamilya network proclaimed Santos as the “Reyna ng Pinoy Soap Opera.”

However, in one interview, Santos says that she and Barretto share the “Teleserye Queen” title.

Barretto says about this, “I would never forget what Judy Ann did to me, that’s why she is who she is. Judy Ann Santos is Judy Ann Santos.

“At my lowest point, when I also transferred from Channel 2 to Channel 7, in one of her interviews, they said that she’s the ‘Teleserye Queen.’

“She said, ‘No, Claudine and I share this title.’ I will never forget that moment ’til the day I die.”

Barretto also has the same dream as her and Santos’ fans: “And our dream is to be able to do a movie together, and I will be forever grateful for Judy Ann Santos…queens support queens.”

Primera kontrabida and FreebieMNL Spotlight cover star for April Gladys Reyes also said that she wants to be able to produce a movie featuring her and her fellow drama queens of the ‘90s: Claudine Barretto, Jolina Magdangal, Angelu de Leon, and Judy Ann Santos.

READ ALSO: Gladys Reyes: Winning In Life And Love

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