Courtesy of MJ Felipe, ABS-CBN News
MANILA -- Claudine Barretto could not hold back her tears while sharing her unforgettable moments with Jaclyn Jose.
Barretto considers Jose her "nanay" since they worked together as mother and daughter in the epic soap opera "Mula Sa Puso"’ back in the '90s.
Barretto said Jose has always been there for her -- even in the most tumultuous times of her life.
“Not a lot of people know na magkapitbahay kami. Aside from her being my mom and you know, gaya ng sinabi ko, minsan 'pag galing siyang taping, bago siya umuwi, dadaan sa bahay, aakyat ng kwarto tapos sasabihin niya sa akin na parang ‘na-miss ka lang ni Nanay, kaya dumaan ako’,” Barretto said.
She added: “'Pag may problema naman ako, tatakbo naman ako sa bahay niya... Aakyat lang ako sa kwarto niya, papasok lang ako, tapos tatabihan ko siya at alam naman niya 'yung pinagdadaaanan ko. For the longest time, she’s always been there. And 'pag sinabi ko na, ‘Nay pwede bang dito muna ako?’ Patatahanin niya ako, tapos the next day may mainit na mainit na sinigang na ako from her.”
What baffled Barretto was that she didn’t see it coming, as she tried to explain the closeness and connection she had with the veteran actress.
“Basta 'pag may pinagdaraanan ako, nararamdaman niya ako. Kaya hindi ko siya maintindihan kung bakit hindi ko siya naramdaman,” Barretto explained.
She also regrets not communicating often with Jose. Their last conversation was three months ago "at pinagsisisihan ko 'yun,” Barretto lamented.
But aside from the tears, Barretto also shared a funny moment she had with Jose.
“Pumupunta sa bahay 'yan. Magdadala ng sariling cooler na may beer. Tapos sasabihin niya, ‘Nak, wala ka pa sa bahay dito, magswi-swimming ako, bahala ka!’ Tapos pagdating ko sasabihin niya, ‘Labas mo na 'yung buntot mo!’ Sabi ko ‘Ano ba 'yan, nanay’,” Barretto recalled.
On the second night of Jose’s wake, Barretto said it is important for her to be with Jose's daughter Andi Eigenmann at this difficult time. "I have to be strong for Andi," she said.