But as she reached the peak of her career, one scandal knocked her down to a ground deeper than where she had started.
A year later, she tried to make a comeback in showbiz but it was cut short when she announced that she was pregnant with Kris’ baby.
Now, with a bouncing baby girl to inspire her and a supportive boyfriend to back her up, Katrina is back on track and is determined to make her story a source of inspiration.
“Actually ang hirap nga. Noong una pumayag ako kasi para sa akin okay lang na gawin nila yung life story ko kasi alam ko na merong matututunan ang mga tao sa mga nangyari sa akin, pero ang sabi ko huwag lang ako ang gaganap bilang sarili ko,” shared Katrina.
Katrina had a valid reason for initially declining to portray herself in the episode.
“Tingin ko kasi magkakaroon na naman ng issue at ayaw ko na ng gulo, ayaw ko na ng may issue kasi nananahimik na ako diba? Pero ininsist nila sa akin na ako na lang tapos nung nabasa ko na yung script okay naman pala siya, hindi siya yung tipong pagmumulan pa ng panibagong issue at hindi naka-focus din dun sa dating issue,” she explained.
Since the sex video scandal she was involved in was a major pivot point in her life’s story, including it in the episode is inevitable. Katrina, however, clarified that the episode will not dwell so much on that incident.
“Parang dinaanan lang. Kasi kung hindi mo dadaanan, parang magkakaroon ng question sa utak ng mga manonood na parang, ‘So ano ang nangyari?’ So dinaanan lang,” the actress said.
The “wounds” caused by the incident may not have completely healed yet and dramatising the scandal on TV could stir another round of discussion about the almost forgotten issue. But Katrina is not deterred. Instead, she is determined to make her life story a testament that every one deserves a second chance.
“Kaya rin talagang gusto ko siyang ilabas ay para ipakita sa mga tao na yung mga problema ay kayang daanan lahat ‘yan, at lahat tayo — kahit sino ka man — ay binibigyan ng problema pero iba-iba lang. Kahit ano pa man ‘yan, kayang lagpasan ‘yan at makakabangon tayo,” she said.
“Gusto kong ipakita sa kanila na eto ako, OK pa ako ngayon, nakakaharap ako sa tao kahit alam kong hindi naging maganda ang past ko. Hindi ko ipinagmamalaki yung past ko pero tao lang ako, nagkakamali din ako pero at least sinusubukan kong mag-improve ako,” she added.
Watch “Ligaw na Diyosa: The Katrina Halili Story” this Saturday (January 26) in “Magpakailanman” after “Kap’s Amazing Stories” on GMA-7.
Check out the official Facebook fan page of “Magpakailanman” at www.facebook.com/GMAMagpakailanman.
