Raymart Santiago On The Possibility Of Having A Second Chance With Estranged Wife Claudine Barretto

RAYMART SANTIAGO turned 42 on July 20 but he looks at least ten years younger. In his new soap, “Second Chances”, he appears shirtless in a couple of scenes and his trim physique will certainly put to shame some guys who’re much younger than him.

“Para naman sinasabi nyong nakaganda at nakabuti sa’kin ang pagkakahiwalay ko,” he grins.

The title of his new show is “Second Chances”. Can this refer to his relationship with estranged wife Claudine Barretto? “If you asked me that three years ago, sasabihin kong oo, may chance pa. But sa ngayon, wala na. Masyado nang maraming nangyari between us. Kung may second chance mang mangyayari, sa pagiging magkaibigan na lang uli siguro. Gusto ko namang maging friends kami alang-alang sa mga bata.”

Was he able to be with Sabina and Sandino during the last Christmas season? “May visitation rights naman ako, pero sana, huwag na lang nating pag-usapan yan. Basta may schedule ako sa mga bata.”

He used to shun doing sexy scenes. How come he appears bare chested in “Second Chances”? “Yun ang gusto ni Direk Laurice Guillen, e. I respect her so much at mga eksena naman sa beach ang kinunan sa’kin so okay lang.”

“Second Chances” is something different from the past projects he did with GMA-7. He used to be just a supporting actor in shows like “Zaido, Pulis Pangkalawakan”, “Gagambino”, “Darna”, and he played father roles in “Bantatay”, “Home Sweet Home” and “Villa Quintana”. But now, he is the male lead in “Second Chances” and he appears opposite Jennylyn, one of the top leading ladies of the Kapuso Network.

“I’m really grateful to GMA kasi hindi nila ako pinababayaan. Napakagandang project ng ‘Second Chances’ at challenging talaga ang role ko as Bernard. Asawa ko rito si Jackie Rice, pero mamamatay siya, then I will meet si Jennylyn na isa ring biyuda. Mabibigyan nga kami ng ‘Second Chance’, pero may sekreto akong matutuklasan niya kaya magkakalayo kami uli. Complicated yung kuwento kaya tiyak maiintriga ang viewers at tututukan nila ito gabi-gabi.”

Jen looks so sexy these days and she’s very much unattached. For sure, they’ll be linked to each other. “Actually, na-link na rin kami noon nang magkasama kami sa ‘Futbolilits’. Normal naman yung ganyan sa mga nagkakapareha sa showbiz. Napakaganda ni Jennylyn at madaling ma-attract kahit sinong lalaki sa kanya, pero hindi pa ako handa. Pina-process pa ang annulment ng marriage ko. Inaayos ko pa ang buhay ko. Na-link din ako kay Bettina Carlos nang gawin namin ang ‘Villa Quintana’, pero hindi rin totoo yun. Matatagalan pa siguro bago ko makipagrelasyon uli. Trabaho lang muna ako nang trabaho habang may opportunities na dumarating sa akin.”


As one wag says: “At least, si Raymart, may career pa, at maganda ang takbo. E, ang ex-wife niya?”