Claudine Barretto says Vilma Santos saved her life after Rico Yan’s death

Claudine Barretto and Vilma Santos | Image: @carla_valeroso IG

Claudine Barretto said a phone call from Vilma Santos saved her when she attempted to end her life after her real-life boyfriend and love team Rico Yan died in March 2002.

Sitting down with Luis Manzano on Luis Listens, Barretto recalled the lowest moment of her life and how the “Star for All Seasons” provided her comfort at the time. Manzano is Santos’ son with Edu Manzano.

“Those were the times that I really wanted to give up. When you’re really down and depressed, you can’t really think straight and your mom (Santos) is parang angel talking to me. At the time, I wanted to end everything. I was writing a goodbye note,” the actress shared.

Barretto considered the phone call from the veteran actress as God’s way of stopping her from ending her life at the time.

“After I think 3 or 4 hours, your mom called, out of the blue, and sabi niya how are you, then umiiyak na ako ng umiiyak. Sabi niya, ‘Don’t do anything.” I think that’s God’s way, divine intervention na tumawag ‘yung mom mo,” she said.

The 44-year-old actress further said that Santos is someone she cannot say no to, so when the renowned actress told her to “not do anything,” Barretto complied.

“This is somebody I cannot say no to. Ganon kataas ang respeto ko sa kanya na kapag sinabi niya na ‘Don’t do this,’ hindi ko gagawin talaga,” said the actress.

Lifesaver a second-time

Barretto also recalled the second time the veteran star comforted her as she hit rock bottom again.

“Pumunta siya sa bahay. But this time, I wasn’t thinking naman to do anything bad. I was just really having a nervous breakdown. Pumunta siya, she tucked me in, like a mom,” she said.

Incidentally, the two actresses starred in one of the most acclaimed Filipino films, “Anak,” where they played a mother and daughter.

Barretto first opened up about the veteran actress saving her life twice when Santos celebrated her 60th year in the acting industry. 

“Kasi kung kaya akong mahalin ng isang Vilma Santos, kaya kong mahalin sarili ko… Because of you (Santos), my children still has a mom,” she said.