MANILA, Philippines – Young Kapuso actress Sarah Lahbati was firm in denying that she’s being courted by former child actor-turned-musician Carlo Aquino.
According to online and TV reports, Aquino has been spotted visiting Lahbati on the set of her drama series “Kokak,” leading to such speculations.
“Ay, hindi po! Hindi!” Lahbati exclaimed in an interview with PEP posted on Feb. 10.
While the visiting part had been true, Lahbati clarified that Aquino – whom she met “through a common friend” – was there only there once to teach her how to play the guitar.
“A, oo! Kasi naggi-gitara ako. Actually, nag-aaral pa lang. So, malapit lang kasi ang mga locations ng ‘Kokak,’ e,” she said.
“Pero hindi talaga siya nanliligaw sa akin,” she stressed, describing the actor-musician as “a good friend.”
Lahbati also belied the report that she allegedly lost her focus the time Aquino was around.
“Kapag tinawag na ako para mag-take, ready agad ako. Hindi ako gano'n kadaling ma-out of focus sa trabaho. Work first ako palagi. At alam ko naman po na dapat kapag nasa set ka na, naka-concentrate ka sa trabaho.
“Never pong nangyari na nawala ang focus sa trabaho kapag nagti-taping ako,” she was quoted as saying.
Apart from Aquino, Lahbati is also being linked to her fellow Kapuso actors Derrick Monasterio and JC Tiuseco.
“Ang dami namang inili-link sa akin! Ano ba 'yan? Pinagpapawisan tuloy ako dahil diyan!” she commented, laughing.
However, Lahabti said that the purported “tampuhan” issue between her and Monasterio isn’t true; neither is the one alleging that Tiuseco is making a move on her.
Meanwhile, the actress admitted hearing about the news the she’s among those being considered to be paired with Richard Gutierrez for a possible new primetime series; however, she claimed, “Hindi ko pa po alam ang tungkol do'n.”
“Sino ba ang hindi magugustuhan na makasama siya [Gutierrez] sa isang project? So, sana. Kung matutuloy, okey. Kung hindi, next time,” Lahbati told PEP.