Katherine Luna. Screen grab via Julius Babao UNPLUGGED

MANILA, Philippines – Former sexy actress Katherine Luna asked for the forgiveness of her famous ex-boyfriend, “Batang Quiapo” star Coco Martin for owning him as the father of her daughter back then. 

After years of being elusive in showbiz, Luna finally agreed to resurface in an interview with seasoned broadcast journalist Julius Babao on February 27 on his online program “Julius Babao UNPLUGGED.” 

A teary-eyed Luna expressed her sincere apologies to Martin at the same time, thanked the actor for showing the willingness to assume responsibility for her daughter Nicole. 

“Sobrang hiyang-hiya ako. Kung ano man ‘yung mga nasabi ko dati, sana balang araw mapatawad mo ako. Gusto kong magpasalamat di katulad ng ibang ama dyan na kapag sinabing kanya yung walang pakialam na, sila pa ang lumalayo.” said Luna. 

“Pero ikaw tinry mo pa ding lumapit, tinry mong malinawan, mahal mo si Nicole.” Katherine added. 

“Pero ‘yun nga sorry dahil nagkamali ako, dala ng kabataan, dala ng mga maling nagawa ko noon. Pati ikaw nagulo buhay mo kaya humihingi ako ng dispensa, humingi ako ng sorry – sana mapatawad mo ako balang araw.” Katherine said.

It can be remembered that one of the biggest controversies of 2005 was the paternity issue of Luna’s daughter she claimed was fathered by the then rising Kapamilya leading man. In her interviews, she would repeatedly say with conviction that the actor had a child with him.

How they met

Luna looked back at meeting Martin on a movie set when he was still doing alternative films. They worked in the movie “Masahista.” From then, they started going out. 

“Nagkakilala sa movie. Kwentu-kwentuhan. Dun na nagsimula,” she said. 

However their relationship mellowed down and along the way, she met another guy who she shared one night with. Incidentally, she and Martin still spent time together after she met the other guy. 

“May nameet ako diba, ang hang out, labas kami, in short may nangyari sa amin pagkatapos nun nagkita pa kami ni Coco sa condo,” she said. 

“‘Yun na yung last,” she said. 

This overlap was where her confusion set in. 

“After three months nabalitaan kong buntis ako. Siya lang ang pumasok sa isip ko. Pero nung time na yun alam mong parang alanganin ka. Alanganin ako pero feeling ko lang baka siya kasi yung isa, isang beses lang naman yun eh,” she said. 

Despite doubts about her child’s paternity, Martin’s good intentions convinced Luna that the child was his. 

“Nung nilabas ko si Nicole, dumalaw siya tapos sabi niya pa kaya tumindi yung ano ko. Sabi niya kasi nung nakkita niya si Nicole binuhat niya tapos sabi niya Cat, nakikita ko ‘yung pictures ko nung bata ako. Nung baby daw siya nakikita daw niya ‘yung picture niya kay Nicole,” she said. 

“So syempre ako naman, assumera ng taon, nag-assume ako,” she said. 

Even without proof yet that he is the father of the child, Martin provided for Luna’s unborn child that left the award-winning actress to believe that he is really the father. 

“Nung bago ko manganak, bumili siya ng crib, binigyan niya ko ng P20k yata yun para sa panganganak. Binilihan niya ng gamit si Nicole,” she said. 

“Bilang ina, nabuo talaga sa isip ko na baka siya tapos nung pinanganak si NIcole dun talaga ako nag-assume,” she said. 

However, she herself saw that there was no resemblance between her and her supposed baby daddy. 

“Habang lumalaki si Nicole, syempre bilang nanay makikita  mo yung mukha eh parang hindi niya kamukha, parang iba yung mukha ni Nicole tapos dun na nabuo sa isip ko na hindi siya, hindi siya ang ama,” she said. 

From here, she was already sold to the idea that Martin is not her father’s child but as a mother, who already claimed to the world that the famous actor was her child’s father, she could not find the strength to take back her words. 

“Nararamdaman ko na nga noon na hindi, hindi ko lang alam kung paano ko sasabihin sa kanya, kasi nga pinangunahan ako ng hiya eh. Nagtatago na ko ayoko na talaga. Gusto ko patayin ‘yung issue,” she said.

“Hindi ko alam paano ko babawiin. Yun na ‘yung pinaniwalaan ko eh. Hindi ko alam paano ko ipapaliwanag ‘yung sarili ko eh, Ito yung unang pinaniwalaan ko. Wala pa yang DNA test na yan, pinili ko na manahimik kahit wala ako,” she said. 

It was only until Martin submitted Luna’s child to a DNA test that it was proven that he is not the father of Nicole. 

“Hindi ko alam kung anong mukang ihaharap ko, hindi ko alam paano ko sasabihin na mali ako. Hindi ko alam paano ko gagawin ‘yun na hindi maapektuhan ‘yung anak ko at pamilya ko,” she said. 

“Mahirap bawiin yung salita lalo na parang pinanindigan mo nung una kasi hindi ko alam, hindi ko alam,” she said. 

Luna last did a project in 2016. Since then, she has never made any comeback and among the reasons for her defiance to return was her drug addiction.