Actresses Camille Prats and Katrina Halili shared their experiences of losing their partners and how they coped with grief while continuing to work.
A Bond Strengthened by Shared Pain
In an interview with Nelson Canlas on 24 Oras, Camille recalled how Katrina was present during one of the lowest points in her life—the passing of her first husband, Anthony Linsangan, in 2011.
“When I lost my late husband, I was working with her during ‘Munting Heredera,’ so somehow she witnessed that season of my life,” Camille shared.
Years later, the roles reversed. While filming their upcoming series “Mommy Dearest”, Camille stood by Katrina as she dealt with the passing of her boyfriend, Jeremy Guiab, in January 2024.
“She saw me at my lowest. Now, I’m here for her while she’s going through this,” Camille said.
Grieving While Working
Unlike others who might take time off to heal, both actresses chose to keep working while grieving.
“Some people wouldn’t take on work while going through something like this, but we accepted it,” Katrina said.
For her, acting became a distraction from her grief. She revealed that she would hold back her tears while filming and only allow herself to cry after the cameras stopped rolling.
“During a take, I’d hold it in. I’d hold it in until the director calls ‘cut.’ Then after packing up, that’s when I’d cry. But if I just stay at home, I’ll keep crying, and my eyes will just swell, right?” she explained.
Moving Forward with Hope
Years after losing her husband, Camille found love again and married VJ Yambao, her grade school classmate, in 2017.
Meanwhile, Katrina remains hopeful about starting her own family despite her loss.
“I won’t stop just because of what happened. I still dream of having a family. I want a partner to help me raise Katie (her daughter). I need to move on. My life won’t stop there,” she said.
While she isn’t in a relationship at the moment, she hinted at someone special in her life.
“Happy lang kami. Walang label, basta happy lang,” she said. (“We’re just happy. No labels, just happiness.”)
Upcoming Project: “Mommy Dearest”
Camille and Katrina will soon star together in the GMA Afternoon Prime series, “Mommy Dearest”, alongside Shayne Sava. The show is set to premiere on February 24 at 3:20 PM on GMA Network.