Claudine Barretto says she’s happy at home, saddened by biz intrigues

Claudine Barretto: “I’m open to anything.”

The question gave her pause: How were things between her and former mentor Johnny Manahan?

The usually loquacious Claudine Barretto replied with another question: “Do I have to answer that?”

Apparently, all is still not well since their very public falling-out last year, following Claudine’s also very public altercation with erstwhile friend Angelica Panganiban.

“We have no communication,” Claudine told the Inquirer in a phone interview. She was on the set of her new GMA 7 series, “Spooky Nights: Nuno sa Feng Shui.” She added: “Both sides are quiet. No one’s talking anymore.”

Last year, everyone chatted up a storm over the Claudine-Angelica word war. Mr. M, as the Star Magic boss is known in the biz, joined in the fray.

She “learned a lot” from that episode, Claudine said: “Especially, to be more careful in choosing the people I let into my life. I’m more cautious now. I’m scared of getting hurt again. It’s painful to lose friends.”

Is she open to patching things up with her former Kapamilyas? “I’m open to anything,” she quipped. “In time… when things are more settled, when people are less emotional.”

Her marriage is not spared by intrigue-mongers. “[My husband] Raymart and I just ignore the rumors,” Claudine said. “We’re okay. We’re happy.”

So how does she cope with the incessant talk? “We just pray. We’re a prayerful family.”

Actually, she’s also too busy with work to mind it. After her run on “Spooky Nights,” she is set to start taping the new show “Iglot,” also on GMA 7.

“Iglot” reunites her with fellow “Ang TV” graduate Jolina Magdangal and former ABS-CBN colleagues Marvin Agustin and Luis Alandy.

Said Claudine: “I never got to work with Jolina over at ABS-CBN. We did a movie, ‘Flames,’ but we were in separate episodes. She was paired with Marvin; I, with [the late] Rico [Yan],” she said. “We’ll do a lot of catching up on the set.”