Credit Pauleen Luna for being professional despite the recent death of her grandmother. Still nursing her grief, the young actress showed up at the press conference of GMA-7's upcoming fantaserye Luna Mystika, held last night, November 11, in Studio 3 of the GMA Network Center, Quezon City.
Pauleen's grandmother, Mercedita Jimenez, was gunned down last November 5 by an assailant who was immediately caught and identified as Edison Antonio. Mrs. Jimenez was making her usual early morning rounds at the Blumentritt public market in Manila when she was shot four times by the suspect. Initial findings pointed to robbery as the motive. But police investigators started looking into other angles after Edison claimed that he was just hired to kill Mrs. Jimenez.
Pauleen, a mainstay on Eat Bulaga!, was supposed to have a party on her birthday last November 10. Instead, she spent her birthday quietly at the wake of her lola, who had been on top of preparations for Pauleen's birthday party. Her sudden death became doubly painful for the young actress to accept.
Mrs. Jimenez's remains were interred yesterday. Reporters at the press conference last night did not expecting Pauleen to attend, given her bereavement.
They asked Pauleen if she was starting to accept her loss. "A little. Wala, iyak pa din ako nang iyak," she replied, trying to hold back her tears.
MAKING PEACE WITH MICHELLE. The death of her grandmother overshadowed a positive episode in Pauleen's personal life. Just recently, Pauleen made peace with erstwhile rival Michelle Madrigal, with whom she had a bitter misunderstanding over the latter's ex-boyfriend and current La Lola male lead star, JC de Vera.
According to the accounts given by those in the know, Michelle wrongfully accused Pauleen of calling JC incessantly on the phone during a Boracay vacation a few years ago. Michelle and JC eventually split.
In a past interview granted by Pauleen, she firmly ruled out the possibility of initiating the first move to settle the tension.
"Sa akin, okay lang kung makipag-ayos siya. Open naman ako. Pero hindi ako ang gagawa ng unang move. Alam naman niya na hindi ako ang may kasalanan dito. Wala akong nakikita sa kanya na incentive to make the first move, hindi na muna ako gagalaw. Nagpapakatotoo lang naman ako, ayoko ring gumigimik," Pauleen told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in a conversation last October 23 at an Internet shop in Quezon City.
The issue between the two was rekindled when Pauleen and Michelle were tapped by GMA-7 to co-star in the primetime fantasy series Luna Mystika. It would be difficult for both actresses to avoid each other since their roles and most of their scenes required that they work closely together.
Given Pauleen's tough stance barely a month ago, it was surprising to know that she eventually relented by calling Michelle to patch things up. The phone conversation occurred a few days before their first shooting day for Luna Mystika.
Both parties refused to spell out the details of their conversation. Pauleen said, "'Yong usapan namin, sa amin na lang. But it was a good talk and okay na."
While the idea of working together might have influenced their decision to reconcile, Pauleen stressed that it had nothing to do with the project. It was a personal decision they both deemed necessary for their own peace of mind.
"No, it's not because of the project," Pauleen told PEP. "Of course, ayaw mo naman ng meron kang kaaway and, as we always say, sana ‘wag kaming pilitin because eventually it will happen and you know tamang timing dahil meron kaming project."
Michelle pitched in: "Maganda na ‘yong hindi kami pinilit dahil feeling ko kung pinilit baka hindi kami ganito, parang ‘hi', parang ganun pa rin, parang ang plastic pa rin. Kasi ‘pag pilit ka tapos hindi mo pa talaga feel parang hindi maganda ‘yong kakalabasan."
GETTING THERE. Michelle and Pauleen stressed though that their present relationship is still far from being chummy. Their phone talk was just the first step.
"Hindi in a snap of a finger siyempre ‘yong bigla," said Pauleen. "Aminado naman kami na, you know, we could have said something na we didn't mean because nga may narinig kaming ganyan, may nasabi kami and we both said sorry for it. So, the important thing is, the willingness is there, tapos ‘yong effort na maging okay nandoon."
The death of Pauleen's grandmother happened on their first shooting day for the series, making it awkward for both parties to chat warmly.
"Isang beses pa lang kami nag-taping, tapos ‘yon pa ‘yong day na namatay ‘yong lola ko," said Pauleen.
"Hindi pa siya siyempre puwede makipag-chikahan dahil parang ‘pag namatayan ka, di ba, hindi ka naman puwede chika agad," seconded Michelle.
But are confident that, this time, their friendship will prosper once Pauleen is over her mourning and both of them feel comfortable in each other's company.
"Dahan-dahan lang, hindi naman puwedeng pilitin agad na okay, close na kami, alam mo 'yon. Sa taping, feeling ko dahil ang taping naman e pa-morningan, siguro naman hindi lang kami magtititigan habang naka-harness," Michelle remarked. Pauleen smiled and added in closing, "Palagi kaming naka-harness dito [Luna Mystika]."