Donnalyn Bartolome Gets Raped For The First Time In 'Jacqueline Comes Home' And Is Able To Identify With The Real Life Rape Victims

DONNALYN BARTOLOME was victimized by intruders who belong to an Akyat-Bahay Gang in “Cry No Fear” with Ella Cruz. Now, she is a victim of rapists-murderers in “Jacqueline Comes Home, The Chiong Story”, which is now showing in theaters nationwide, along with Meg Imperial. So how is it being raped, even if only for the camera?

“Siempre, kinakabahan ako kasi first rape scene ko ito, e,” she says. “I told our director, Isabelle Peach Caparas, about my apprehensions, and she assured me naman na they’ll be careful. And in fairness, naging maingat ang rapist ko sa movie, si Ryan Eigenmann.”

So she didn’t feel she’s sexually harassed at all? “No, walang ganun. But during the take, I felt the pain nung mga babaeng ni-rape. Habang sumisigaw-sigaw ako sa eksena, I realized ganito pala ang ginawa sa kanila, dun sa victims na Chiong sisters. E, siempre, babae ako kaya naka-identify ako. Kaya lahat ng mga sigaw at iyak ko sa eksena, totoo lahat yun. Hindi fake. Hindi ko ma-imagine kung sa akin mangyayari yon. When Direk Peach said cut na, I really cried. Sobrang sakit para sa akin na may ganoong nangyari sa totoong buhay dito sa mundo natin.”

So her acting is pang-award? “Sana po, pati si Meg Imperial who played my Ate Jacqueline. Napakahusay rin niya rito. We really gave our best.”

The movie had its premiere night at SM Megamall last Monday and everyone who saw it are praising her and Meg’s performances as the tragic Chiong sisters. What advice can she give to young women to avoid such tragedies?

“Siempre, my advice is mag-ingat sila lagi. Ibang panahon ngayon, maraming masasamang tao so buti na yung always be careful. Ako nga, very protective sa mga kapatid ko kapag lumalabas kami. Ayokong nawawala sila sa paningin ko.”

How is it working with Meg as her sister and with a new director like Peach Caparas? “Si Meg, napakabait niya. Big achievement sa’king makasama siya kasi dati napapanood ko lang siya sa TV, sa movie. She’s very good to me kahit may karapatan siyang magtaray sa’kin. Si Direk Peach, hip and cool sa set. Millennial din kasi siyang gaya namin ni Meg at hindi nagkakahuli ang mga edad namin, so we can really relate with each other.”

Viva seems to like her a lot since she was just seen in “Cry No
Fear” and now she has a quick followup with “Jacqueline Comes Home”. She seems to have left Ella Cruz behind. “Ay, nakakaloka naman yang ganyang comments. That’s not true. Matagal na si Ella sa showbiz dahil child star pa siya. Beginner lang po ako. Itong ‘Jacqueline Comes Home’, kailan lang din naman ginawa at nagulat din ako kasi ipapalabas na agad. Kasi in time daw roon sa 21st anniversary ng krimeng pinapakita rito na nangyari noong June 16, 1997.”