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Lorna Tolentino gets candid about career, family, and matters of the heart

Article (news)

Liezel dela Cruz

<p>We often see Lorna Tolentino&#x27;s serious and dramatic side on screen, but in the latest vlog of her “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/batangquiapo" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</u></strong></em></a>” co-star John Estrada, viewers get a rare glimpse of her bubbly and candid personality. In this interview, John and Lorna dive deep into her illustrious career, personal life stories, and their enduring friendship, making it an engaging and delightful watch.</p><p>Lorna fondly talks about her family, which is full of stars like Amy Perez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Iza Calzado. Growing up, their family gatherings were always lively and filled with entertainment. Amy was the hosting pro, Zsa Zsa dazzled with her singing, and Lorna was always drawn to acting.</p><p>Lorna began her career at age seven through FPJ Productions, making her a true-blue ‘FPJ baby.’ Her first significant role was playing the young Susan Roces in &quot;Divina Gracia,&quot; a dual role where she portrayed both a kind and a mischievous character. Out of over a thousand auditioning kids, Lorna was chosen, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey. Until she was 12, she worked under FPJ Productions before exploring other movie outfits.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="703" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BSep3q-LVwI" title="John en Lorna, The Lorna Tolentino Interview" width="1250"></iframe></div><p>While Lorna was destined to be an actress, she once dreamt of wearing a pageant crown. She remembers carefully protecting her legs thinking she would need to flaunt them in case she becomes a beauty queen. She also dabbled in singing, and recording songs like &quot;Who Broke Your Heart and Made You Write That Song&quot; and &quot;Don’t Stay Away Too Long.&quot;</p><p>Lorna became a breadwinner at age 12 after her parents separated and her stepfather passed away. This early responsibility pushed her to be versatile, taking on various jobs and opportunities including out-of-town shows. Her big break came with films like &quot;Lumuha Pati Mga Anghel&quot; with the late Eddie Garcia. She’s grateful that she has worked with many icons throughout her career, including being the lead in Lino Brocka&#x27;s final film, &quot;Kislap Sa Dilim.&quot;</p><p>With five decades in the industry, Lorna has never felt the desire to stop acting. She still looks forward to new challenges and roles, driven by her deep love for the craft.</p><div> </div><div><strong>True Love </strong></div><p>Lorna was married to legendary actor Rudy Fernandez for 20 years before his passing. Their love story is one for the ages and will forever hold a special place in her heart. She recalls how Rudy, the first time he laid his eyes on her, told her aunt, &quot;Tita, alagaan mo &#x27;tong mabuti kasi pakakasalan ko &#x27;to paglaki niya.&quot; He was 17 and she was only 7 then. Talk about manifesting!</p><p>True to his word, Rudy became Lorna&#x27;s first official boyfriend and the last man she ever loved. Their union was blessed with two sons, who are now building their own families. Lorna is a proud grandmother, and she openly admits that her grandchildren are quite spoiled by her doting affection.</p><p>It has been 16 years since Lorna Tolentino began raising their sons on her own, never having truly loved anyone else after Rudy. She has dedicated herself to her family, but now she finds herself becoming more open to the possibility of new love. She acknowledges the importance of alone time and me time, recognizing that one day she will need to step back and let her sons lead their own lives.</p><p>While she has met some good men, Lorna straightforwardly answers, “Wala,” when asked if she has a boyfriend. Her friend, John, however, playfully doubts her claims of being single, especially when she insists on keeping her personal life private. Despite the teasing, John stands firmly by her side, ready to support whatever choices she makes because he believes she deserves happiness above all.</p><p>And even if someone new comes into her life, Lorna knows that no one will ever replace Rudy in her heart. She understands that people may come and go, but she firmly believes that everyone has their unique roles in our lives. This perspective has helped her appreciate every relationship and the lessons they bring.</p><p>During life&#x27;s low moments, Lorna draws strength and hope from her close relationship with God. Whenever her heart feels confused or troubled, she finds solace in the belief that God is holding her heart and will take care of it.</p><div> </div><div><strong>“Candle” </strong></div><p>Lorna and John share a remarkable friendship that has been forged through years of working together on various projects. Their bond is evident in the numerous shows they’ve starred in together, from &quot;Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay&quot; with Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz, which ran for almost two years, to &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/105070717-throwback-ella-and-miguels-wedding-in-dahil-may-isang-ikaw-2009-14369" target="_blank"><strong><u>Dahil May Isang Ikaw</u></strong></a>&quot; alongside Kristine Hermosa, Jericho Rosales, Gabby Concepcion, and Chin Chin Gutierrez.</p><p>Their collaboration in &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/23081917-throwbackminsan-lang-kita-iibigin-2011-15151" target="_blank"><strong><u>Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin</u></strong></a>,&quot; where they played the parents of Coco Martin’s character, further solidified their connection. However, it was during their lock-in time on &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/angprobinsyano" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano</u></strong></em></a>&quot; that their friendship deepened, with Lorna learning to be more open and vulnerable.</p><p>Their chemistry is undeniable, even their friends and co-stars have complimented it. John’s heartfelt promise to Lorna, &quot;Hanggang tumanda ka, I’ll make sure na okay ka, walang manloloko sa’yo,&quot; speaks volumes about their bond. They respect each other not just as colleagues but as friends and family. Lorna feels blessed to have John as a constant in her life, someone who helps her keep her sanity intact.</p><p>Fun fact: they call each other ‘candle’, taken from Lorna’s role as one of the candle sponsors at John&#x27;s wedding to Priscilla Meirelles.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Pakakak Questions</strong></div><p>To wrap up the interview, John posed some fun, rapid-fire questions to Lorna in the segment she jestingly called “Pakakak Questions,” allowing fans to see her playful side. Here she would choose between sets of two options, like bright or dark, sunrise and sunset, and more.</p><p>Catch Lorna and John in “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/batangquiapo" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</u></strong></em></a>,” airing weeknights, on <u><strong><a href="http://kapamilyachannel.com/" target="_blank">Kapamilya Channel</a></strong></u>, <u><strong><a href="http://kapamilyaonlinelive.com" target="_blank">Kapamilya Online Live</a></strong></u>, TV5, and A2Z.</p>

Viewers get a rare glimpse of Lorna Tolentino’s bubbly and candid personality in her interview with John Estrada.