MANILA, Philippines – After their last teleserye together back in 2008, Diether Ocampo reunites with Claudine Barretto in the upcoming teleserye Bakit Manipis ang Ulap.

After years apart, Diether spoke to media about what it was like to work on a new project with longtime friend Claudine.

During the press conference for Bakit Manipis Ang Ulap, Monday, January 18, Diether said that although he was taken by surprise, he was happy to be reunited with Claudine, who he teamed up with in a number of movies and TV projects – to name a few: Mula Sa Puso (1997), Saan Ka Man Naroroon (1999), and Iisa Pa Lamang (2008). 

“Nung unang inoffer sa akin yung project [and malaman ko na siya ang makakasama ko], I’m very excited. Knowing that – contrary to those rumors na lumalabas about her being unprofessional, I can vouch na malayo doon sa kung anong sinasabi ng mga tao. And matagal ko na itong nakatrabaho in a few films.

(When the project was first offered to me and I found out that I would be working with her, I was very excited. Knowing that – contrary to those rumors spread about her being unprofessional, I can actually vouch for her. I’ve worked with her in a few films.)

“So I guess with this project, yung pinagsamahan namin ngayon (what we’re doing now), it would be a very exciting teleserye for all those fans na nabuo namin dalawa for (that we’ve formed in) the past years. More than anything, I think dapat magpapasalamat din ako sa kanya (that I should be thankful to her), for giving me this opportunity,” he said.

In the same press conference, a reporter asked Diether about his and Claudine’s long-held pact that if neither one of them end up getting married in their 30s, they would get together as companions. 

“Kung yung companionship ang pag-uusapan, walang problema doon dahil hindi namin pinag-uusapan iyon. It’s a mutual understanding for two people who have high respect for each other. Kami ‘yung dalawang tao na siguro bago pa kami nagsimula mag teleserye, marami na kaming pinagdaanan.

(If we’re talking about companionship, that’s not a problem at all because we really don’t talk about it. It’s a mutual understanding for two people who have high respect for each other. Even before doing this teleserye, we’ve been through a lot together.) 

“So I guess like what she mentioned earlier, may good foundation, that friendship have lasted for so many years, and kahit ano pang pinagdaanan namin pareho (and whatever we go through) [in] our personal lives, hindi iyon makakaapekto sa trabaho namin pareho (that won’t affect our work),” he said. 

Claudine was married to actor Raymart Santiago, but they separated in 2013. Diether meanwhile remained tight-lipped about news surrounding his alleged breakup with Michelle Cojuangco Barrera.

When asked if he ever entertained the possibility of being linked romantically with Claudine, Diether responded, “Sabi [ni Claudine] soulmate kami… may mga ganun taong pinagtatagpo. Hindi nga kami naguusap niyan for years eh. Pero pag magkita kami, parang lagi kaming magkasama, so we’re really blessed.”

(She said that we’re soul mates… some people are just like that. We hardly got to talk for years. But when we see each other, it’s as if we’ve been around each other for a while, so we’re really blessed.)

Directed by Joel Lamangan, Bakit Manipis Ang Ulap is an adaptation of the 1985 film written and directed by Danny Zialcita. The movie originally starred Laurice Guillen, Mark Gil, Tommy Abuel, Janice de Belen, and Chanda Romero.

Aside from Claudine and Diether, Bakit Manipis Ang Ulap also stars Meg Imperial, Cesar Montano, Dindi Gallardo, Samantha Lopez, Bernard Palanca, Brett Jackson, and more. The show is scheduled to air in February. – Rappler.com