CLAIRE CASTRO is grateful that her performance in her first major role in a soap, “Nagbabagang Luha”, got very positive feedback from viewers.
“Nakakatuwa kasi they all agree na nagampanan ko naman po effectively ang contravida role na ibinigay sa akin at nagalit talaga sila sa character ko, hindi sa akin,” she says.
She is now given the chance to play another challenging role in “Myra’s Miracle”, the story featured this Sunday on “Regal Studio Presents”.
“Si Myra po, isang mabait na anak,” she says.
“Siya ang breadwinner sa pamilya nila, then one day, they got an eviction notice kasi di sila nakakabayad sa tinitirhan nila.
"Sobrang nakakalungkot kasi magpa-Pasko pa naman. So she prays for a miracle to Baby Jesus para naman hindi sila maging homeless at Christmastime.”
By stroke of luck, she meets someone who refers her to a rich but sick lady, Olivia (played by comedian Mosang), who needs a caregiver.
Myra is hired as Olivia’s caregiver and she tries her best to please her employer, who is confined to a wheelchair and is always grouchy.
At first, Olivia is very hostile to Myra, but Myra’s patience and perseverance pays off when Olivia eventually opens up to her and wins her confidence.
Does Claire believe in miracles?
“Of course, yes, I really do. Itong pagkapasok ko sa GMA and getting a plum role in ‘Nagbabagang Luha’ is a miracle in itself. Bata pa ako, dream ko na to join showbiz but ayaw ng parents ko (Diego Castro and Raven Villanueva who used to be a love team in TGIS).
"Sabi nila, baka hindi ko makaya ang pressure. Kasi when you’re young, ang nakikita mo lang, yung glamorous side of showbiz.
"Now, I know it takes a lot of hard work. But okay lang. kasi I find the job of an actress very satisfying, very fulfilling.”
Her parents separated while she was still a child and she grew up more with her grandma, June Keithley, the EDSA Revolution heroine of Radio Bandido, who passed in 2013.
She’s now with her dad but her fervent wish is to see her mom again who now lives in the USA with her own family there.
“The last time I saw her was when she visited Manila about 7 or 8 years ago,” she says.
“Miss ko na nga siya and it will be a big miracle kung sakaling mabigyan kami ng chance na magkita uli and I can tell her, look Ma, nasa showbiz na rin ako.”
Meantime, don’t miss Claire in the heartwarming episode of “Myra’s Miracle” in “Regal Studio Presents” this Sunday afternoon at 4:35 PM, right after “Dear Uge”.
