POKWANG celebrates her 2Oth anniversary in showbiz this 2O24.

“2OO4 kasi when I joined the search for new comedians in Clown in a Million at doon ko unang na-meet si Eugene Domingo or Uge for short,” she says. “Napakabait niya. Hindi niya alam na fan na niya ako noon pa man sa TV shows na ginagawa niya.”

Her favorite show then was “Marina” by the late Direk Wenn Deramas. “Yung character niya as Lorelei, isang sirena, fan na fan ako. Nang magkasama na kami, very accommodating siya. Nakikisakay pa ako sa kotse niya pag-uwi from our taping. Kaya nang pagsamahin kami sa ‘D’ Lucky Ones’ in 2OO6 na pantay kami ng billing, it was a very big honor for me.”

They were also together in the Prime Video comedy “Sampung mga Kerida” but Pokwang was just one of the ten mistresses while Uge played the lead role. Now, they share the same topbilling again in the Metro Manila Filmfest entry, “Becky and Badette”, where Eugene plays Becky and she is Badette, friends for life who people eventually thought are lesbian lovers.

Pokwang says she really enjoys working with Uge as her BFF. “Napakasarap katrabaho ni Uge kasi she’s a giver,” she adds. “Sa mga eksena nyo, sasakyan niya yung trip mo. And I can really feel yung concern niya sa akin, sa amin ng mga anak ko. Kaya Sis talaga ang tawagan namin sa isa’t isa.”

At the time she has having problems in her relationship with Lee, Uge was there to listen to her, giving her a sympathetic shoulder to cry on.

So, what was the real reason behind the breakup?

“Bago ko pa pinalayas si Lee sa bahay ko, we’ve already been distant to each other kasi I felt wala na yung respeto ko sa kanya. Ni hindi na kami nag-uusap. It’s as if we don’t exist to each other. Nagkakasalubong kami sa loob ng bahay, ni hindi kami nagkikibuan. Parang wala lang.”

She says she defied her family when she went into a relationship with Lee. “Ipinagtanggol ko siya sa pamilya ko kasi winarningan nila ako about him. Pero parang nabalewala lang ‘yung mga sacrifices ko for him. Kaya nasasaktan talaga ako kasi sayang lahat yung mga ginawa kong pakikipaglaban para sa kanya.”

She now doubts if Lee really ever loved her. “Sa klase ng ginawa niyang pagtrato sa akin, feeling ko, hindi niya talaga ako minahal.

Nagkaanak nga kami pero parang nandyan na, nangyari na, e. Tuwing may away kami, for six years na nagsama kami, never kong narinig yung word na sorry kahit siya ang may kasalanan.”

The last straw was when she inquired from him about their business which he put up with the money coming from her as capital. “Feeling ko, it’s my right na magpa-update how our business is doing, kasi one year nang wala akong naririnig. Minasama niya agad ‘yun. Hindi niya nagustuhan. Kaya nga kami nagnenegosyo, para sa anak namin, si Malia. Pero parang tinanggalan na niya ako ng karapatang malaman what’s going on sa aming business. Tapos, after that, mismong daughter namin ang nagsabi sa’king may kasama siyang ibang girl habang out of town ako sa Dumaguete. Napaiyak talaga ako at dun ko na-realize na wala na talaga. Dati, umaasa pa akong magkakaayos pa kami. But after that, I kicked him out na.”

She is glad that her career continues to prosper. She has regular shows with GMA- and with Buko Channel. And she also does movies like “Becky and Badette.”

“It’s a big honor na our movie made it as an official entry in the Metro Filmfest,” says Pokwang. “Super promote kami ngayon at una kaming nag-personal appearance sa O Bar sa Ortigas and very warm ang pagtanggap sa amin ng dancing drag queens as their special guests noong Friday, December 1st. Talagang tinanggap nila kami nang bonggang-bongga and they all promised na ‘Becky and Badette’ ang una nilang panonoorin sa darating na festival!”