Carmina Villaroel: I did not walk out on ad shoot

CARMINA Villarroel feels she has to speak up.

Actress-TV host Carmina Villarroel had denied walking out on a TV commercial shoot after supposedly being irked by a co-star.

“There’s no truth to that,” Carmina told reporters during the press con for her new program, “Showbiz Inside Report,” which she co-hosts with Janice de Belen, Joey Marquez and Ogie Diaz. The show premieres tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. on ABS-CBN. “I’m very patient at work. Kung diva ka man, sasakyan ko ang gusto mo.”

None of that

Carmina was referring to an item in Dolly Anne Carvajal’s Inquirer column “Dollywood” on Monday, which said she almost caused the shoot to “pack up” because she was put off by Claudine Barretto’s “endless demands.” These supposedly included a bigger dressing room, a nap in the middle of the shoot, and a longer speaking line in the commercial.

“Yes, it’s true that we worked on a TV commercial together, but none of the stuff reported happened,” Carmina said. “I normally just keep quiet when I’m involved in a dispute, but I had to speak up this time. Claudine (who is vacationing in Europe with her family) is not here to defend herself.”

Moving on

Carmina swore she had a good working relationship with Claudine and actress Jodi Sta. Maria, who is in the commercial with them. “They said the source of the story was someone from the advertising agency that made the commercial,” Carmina said. “We did that a long time ago; I don’t know why this is coming out now.”

She speculated that it was the result of some people’s displeasure over her decision to sign up with ABS-CBN, after having worked for rival channel GMA 7 since 2005.

First home

“Nabibigyan ng ibang kulay,” she explained. “I’ll forever be grateful to the people I worked with in GMA 7, but it’s time for me to come back to the place I grew up in. ABS-CBN gave me my first TV shows (‘Palibhasa Lalake’ and ‘Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata’).”