ACTRESS Claudine Barretto is aware of what some people have been spreading around that she is not fit to become a mother to her four children.

Her eldest, Sabina, is turning 20 and is attending Brent International School. Second child, Santino, 16, is Claudine’s only biological son with her former husband Raymart Santiago. Third child is Aryanna or Quia, now seven, while the youngest is Noah, five.

Throughout her motherhood, Claudine never fails to show her equal and unconditional love to all four kids. There were times when netizens bashed the children, but Claudine never failed to call out her bashers to defend her innocent kids.

“Hindi ko sinasabi na sobra akong mabuting ina,” attested Claudine. “Yung ibang mga naririnig ko, ‘yung iba totoo, ‘yung iba hindi. Pero tinatanong ko sa apat kong anak, may teenagers ako at may younger kids ako.

“May college na ako at may 16-year-old na rin ako. Kung meron man akong pinakamalaking award sa buhay. ‘yun ang mga anak ko.

“Ang dream ko noon to have a little sister or a younger brother, kasi youngest ako. Alam ko I will spoil that kid.

“I want to request the government to create a law for adopted kids. Even if it’s true, hindi magandang pakinggan ‘yung adopted or ampon. Kung anak sa labas, hindi naman sinasabi ‘yun.

“I really get offended when I hear ‘ampon’ for my kids. Sana mapalitan ‘yung adopted ng ‘chosen one.’ When I was young, we went to an orphanage where we shot ‘Mula sa Puso.’ Meron doong isang bata na muntik nang i-adopt ng parents ko. Pero nasunog ang orphanage.”

When Claudine had Sabina, she considered the girl a blessing. “Siya siguro ang kapalit nung girl sa orphanage,” Claudine shared. “Blessing siya na binigay sa akin.

“Lagi kong sinasabi, blood is not thicker than water. Kung ang asawa mo o boyfriend mo kaya mong mahalin unconditionally, bakit hindi mo kayang magmahal ng mga bata. They are angels.

“Now, I have the perfect relationship with my children. Never kong nararamdaman ang mga problema ng mga mommies who have teenage kids. Motherhood doesn’t come with a manual. Iba-ibang personalities ang mga anak. I am learning their love language.

Wherever she goes lately, Claudine makes it a point to bring her children along. When she played a special role in director Gabby Ramos’ When Magic Hurts, which was filmed in Atok, Benguet last year, Claudine brought her children to the shoot.

That was why Quia was given a bit role to play the young Mutya Orquia in the film. “Basta may tent at nag-shooting ako, gusto nila kasama sila,” disclosed Claudine.

Claudine did not hide the fact that she struggled with her finances. “Alam ng marami what happened to me,” admitted the actress, who previously starred in director Olivia Lamasan’s Got To Believe in Magic (2002).

“Not because naging maluho ako or winaldas ko ang pera ko. Dahil may kumuha. ‘Yun talaga ang nangyari. Pero naitawid ko ang mga anak ko. I told myself, kung kailangan talaga, uutang ako para sa mga anak ko. Pero hindi naman nangyari ‘yun.

“They still attend the best schools and they are all doing very well. It’s not always easy, but we are still living a comfortable life. Sa dami rin ng trabaho ko.”

Her children are also the reason Claudine has not been getting into any serious relationship since the breakup of her marriage with Raymart.

“Kung darating, darating,” Claudine asserted. “Hindi na baleng mag-isa ako sa buhay, basta mabigay ko lang ang buhay na kailangan at gusto ng mga anak ko. I want to be a part of that. I am still not yet in that stage where I can share my love to another person other than my kids. They are enough.”

She denied any romantic involvement with actor Yasser Mata, her costar in GMA 7’s ‘Lovers and Liars,’ where they were paired. Yasser even declared she was his crush.

“Masyadong bata para sa akin si Yasser, but I had no idea that he likes me,” Claudine stated. “The kids are very close to him. He even goes to the house kasi malapit lang ang bahay niya sa amin.

He is very close to the kids.”

Claudine continues to shine not only as a successful actress, but also a great and loving mother.