Lorna Tolentino Challenged By Cougar Role In 'Pahiram Ng Sandali'

LORNA TOLENTINO has played an older woman who falls for a younger man before, Aga Muhlach who plays a D.I. (dance instructor), in “Bayarang Puso”. “Pero mas bata ang makaka-May-December affair ko ngayon in ‘Pahiram ng Sandali’, si Dingdong Dantes,” she says. “He’s in his early 30s at ako naman, turning 51 na sa December 23, kaya cougar ang dating ko dito. Kilala ko na si Dingdong, dati pa, noong sila pa ng pamangkin ko, si Karylle. Nakatrabaho niya noon si Rudy (Fernandez) sa ‘Atlantika’ and when Daboy got sick, dinadalaw nila sa ospital. I never thought then na magkakapareha kami balang araw.”

She prepared herself physically and emotionally for the role. “Nag-diet ako nang husto to lose weight kasi may scene na naka-swimsuit ako. Let’s face it, lola na ako. May apo na ko, si Tori, anak ng panganay kong si Ralph. So kailangan, maging desirable looking pa rin ako kahit lola na para maging credible na Dingdong will fall for me kaysa sa younger daughter ko ritong si Max Collins. First time ko rin to do a love scene with a much younger leading man, so may ilang factor kahit paano. But then, I just trusted my director, si Maryo de los Reyes, na nakasama ko na sa many movies from ‘Apat na Maria’ to ‘Diyosa’ and ‘Sa Ngalan ng Pag-ibig’. Alam kong hindi naman lalabas na objectionable ang delicate scenes namin sa ‘Hiram na Sandali’ that will start airing this Monday to replace ‘Coffee Prince’.”

LT’s eldest son, Ralph Fernandez, is now also with GMA-7 doing “Indio” with Bong Revilla. Her son Renz is still with ABS-CBN in a soap with Lito Lapid.