Push Admin

‘90s ‘Primera Kontrabida’ Princess Punzalan juggles new career as a nurse, actress, wife, and mom in the US 

Article (news)

Liezel dela Cruz

Selina Matias – just the mention of that name brings shiver down our spine, bringing back memories of an evil laughter so iconic, brought to life by no other than Princess Punzalan, the Primera Kontrabida of the ‘90s.But where’s Princess Punzalan now, you ask.For the opening salvo of <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Entertainment</a>’s new digital offering “Wer Na U,” which is part of its “Made for YouTube” programs, Princess catches up with fans and lets them in on her busy life as a mother, wife, nurse, and actress – in Los Angeles.Teleserye enthusiasts of the ‘90s sure loved, and hated, Princess for her role as Selina in the classic ABS-CBN drama and later on full-length film “Mula Sa Puso.” She’s the evil aunt who made Via (Claudine Barretto)’s life a living nightmare, the one who celebrated with a sinister laugh while watching the bus she just exploded go down in flames thinking Via was in there.In this episode of “Wer Na U,” Princess looked back on her kontrabida days, saying most viewers knew how to draw the line while some really despised her for real. If you assume that she’s as kontrabida in real life, then you’re wrong. She likes to describe her approach at home as ‘balanced.’ She’s kind yet firm. Princess is a devoted mom and wife. A day in her life is enough proof. She wakes up before six o’clock in the morning to meditate and read emails, then maximizes the whole day taking on her mommy duties (this includes giving her daughter a shower, preparing snacks, taking her to practices, and driving and picking her up from school), household chores, errands, patient visits, and other activitiesWhen the sun is down, she cooks dinner, then prepare her kid for bedtime. Like most busy mommas, Princess stays up late at night for her personal appointments.Her life as an actress in the Philippines may be as hectic but she had helpers then. Now she’s an all-around busy woman. And it was the biggest adjustment she had to face moving in.Princess’ admirable discipline allowed her to juggle motherhood and her passion in acting and service. In her late 30s, she went back to school. From scratch, she started to pursue an acting career in the US, which is totally different from showbiz in the Philippines, with the tight auditions and all.Obviously, she learned to get the hang of LA life as an actress, add to that a registered nurse, mother, and wife. Princess mentioned that she also conducts acting workshops for young artists. With her stateside career booming, Filipino fans are curious if she still has plans of doing a project in the Philippines soon. Princess, now a member of Screen Actors Guild of America, says the idea sounds difficult but not entirely impossible.

Here’s your chance to catch up with Princess Punzalan, the iconic kontrabida you surely miss! 