Ina Raymundo. Image: screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network
Ina Raymundo described starring in ’90s erotic films as a “dark moment” for her, revealing she was “forced” to show more of herself than what she had initially agreed to in some of her movies back then.
The actress made this revelation after she was asked by TV host Boy Abunda whether she had regrets over doing “daring films,” in an episode of “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on Wednesday, March 29.
“Of course. Kung maibabalik ko lang, ayokong gawin ‘yon kasi sa totoo lang—ito, ayokong pag-usapan ito but—na-force ako. Na-exploit talaga ako,” she revealed. (Of course. If I were to go back to that time, I would not want to do it because honestly—I don’t want to talk about this but—I was forced [to do it]. I was exploited.)
“May movie akong ginawa na ang usapan breast exposure lang, tapos ang ending [nung] nasa movie na, they wanted more. ‘Yun talaga, sobrang dark moment ‘yung time na ‘yon,” she recalled. “Buti na lang kumita nang husto ‘yung pelikula so in a way parang na-vindicate ako.”
(I made a movie wherein I agreed to doing a breast exposure but [when we were already filming], they wanted more. That was a very dark moment for me. It was a good thing that the movie earned a lot, so in a way I felt like I was vindicated.)
Raymundo further disclosed that she experienced maltreatment while filming the said movie, but she opted not to mention the names of those who did such to her.
“Parang they treated me like a child na sinisigaw-sigawan dahil ayokong gawin ‘yung eksena. [Ginawa ko] dahil meron pang pananakot na isu-sue pero kung tutuusin that was just a bluff because wala naman kaming written na usapan na mag-o-all out ako,” she said.
(It was as if they treated me like a child who they yelled at for not wanting to do the scenes. I eventually did it because they threatened to sue me, which was a bluff because we actually did not have a written contract saying I would do an “all-out.”)
Raymundo said she made her children aware of her experiences, adding that her eldest child, Erika Rae Poturnak, even urged her to take legal action against the people who had wronged Raymundo. The actress opted not to do so, saying she had already buried that memory in the past and that she’s just grateful she’s already “healed and stronger.”
“I’m so thankful na ‘yung mga anak ko, hindi nila pinagdaanan ‘yon or pagdadaanan ‘yon. ‘Yun ang talagang masaya na ko sa gano’n,” Raymundo told Abunda. (I’m so thankful that my children did not and will not experience such. I am really happy just to know that.)
“Ayoko lang talaga ng gulo. I don’t like controversy and I’m sure right now mapag-uusapan though, but first and last time kong pag-uusapan ‘yon,” she stated. “But never kong ni-bring up ‘yan sa kahit anong interview—na na-exploit talaga ako sa mga past movies ko.”
(I don’t really want any trouble. I don’t like controversy, although I’m sure it will be talked about now, but this will be the first and last time I will address this. I never brought this up in any of my past interviews—that I was exploited in my past movies.)
Raymundo also addressed her fellow women who are in the same situation, reminding them that they have power over their bodies and that they can say “no” to such demands.
Raymundo, who is married to her businessman husband Brian Poturnak, has five children, namely Erika Rae, Jakob, Anika, Mikhaela and Minka. The actress celebrated her 47th birthday in December last year. /ra