After 24 years, Sabrina M reveals secret relationship with late heartthrob Rico Yan

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Sabrina M made the revelation during the press conference for the upcoming movie "Manang" held in Quezon City on Thursday, July 6. But Sabrina M clarified that Rico and Claudine Barretto were no longer in a relationship when she came into the picture.

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Sabrina M

It happened 24 years ago but for the first time, former sexy star Sabrina M revealed that she and the late Kapamilya heartthrob Rico Yan were in a secret relationship for more than two years.

Sabrina M made the revelation during the press conference for the upcoming movie "Manang" held in Quezon City on Thursday, July 6. But Sabrina M clarified that Rico and Claudine Barretto were no longer in a relationship when she came into the picture.

"Ang image ni Rico Yan is wholesome. Ako nagpapasexy ako nuon sa movies So kung nagkaissue kaming dalawa, maraming masasabi sa akin. So better kung nagkaroon man kami ng relasyon, itinago na lang namin yun," she said.

Sabrina. who now has a family of her own, described her relationship with Rico as intimate.

"Napakabait ni Rico Yan. After Claudine, naging kami ni Rico Yan. Matagal kaming nagkarelasyon. Taon. Noong nag-uumpisa na yung tsismis sa akin, dinudurog na agad ako. Rico Yan yan eh? Bakit siya pumatol sa isang sexy star? Bakit siya pumatol sa isang hubadera? Pero believe ako kay Rico dahil hindi siya mapanghusga. Pinagtatanggol pa niya sa ibang tao. Sinasabi niya kilala ko si Sabrina M, kaya huwag ninyo siyang i-judge," she said.

Sabrina M said that she met Rico when she guested in the ABS-CBN noontime show "MTB."

These days, Sabrina admitted that she still visits the gravesite of Rico. "Hindi madalas pero dumadalaw ako. Pag nasa area ako, dumadalaw ako."

Rico Yan (News5)

She also said that she went to the wake of Rico. "Nanduon ako ng burol at libing. Noong ipapasok na yung casket niya sa tomb, inabutan pa ako ni Bobby Yan ng bulaklak para ibigay kay Rico. Alam ni Bobby na naging kami. Napakabait naman nila."

On their secret dates, Sabrina said: "We're discreet. Secret. Nagpupunta siya sa bahay at minsan naman nagpupunta ako sa condo niya. Minsan sa resort. Kilala na rin ako noon at Rico Yan na siya. More than two years kami."

When Rico passed away, they were still in a relationship, she added. She also said that she was proud to be the girlfriend of Rico. "Crush ko na siya noon pa."

Sabrina M insisted that Rico already split with Claudine when they became an item.

"Matagal ko rin pinag-iisipan kung pupunta ba ako sa burol niya or hindi. Baka ma-issue kasi. Pero may nagsabi sa akin pumunta raw ako para respeto lang sa kanya. Dahil naging kami naman daw.

"May mga incidents nuon na nakahiga lang ako at umiiyak tapos unti-unti nagbibihis ako. Then nasa kotse ako. Sabi ko mommy huwag na tayong pumunta. Biglang nangamoy ng bulaklak sa kotse. Sabi ng mommy ko, ayan, ayaw mo kasing pumunta. Sabi ko sige na nga pupunta ako. Biglang nawala yung amoy," she added. "Nagpaparamdam siya. Dumadalaw siya sa panaginip. Parang andyan lang siya sa tabi ko."

"Alam po ni Claudine na naging kami. Pero never pa namin pinagusapan po. Wala namang problem kasi noong naging kami, wala na sila ni Claudine. Hindi ko naman inagaw si Rico sa kanya noong sila pala," she said. "Nagkaroon sila ng movie na 'Got To Believe' pero wala na sila nun. Kami na nun at alam ko meron na ring iba si Claudine noon," she said.

Sabrina M added: "Napakabait talaga niya. Mapo-fall ka talaga sa kanya. Mararamdaman mo sa kanya na tutoo siya. Kung gaano siya ka sincere sa'yo."

Asked if she had a child with Rico, Sabrina M answered: "Wala eh. Sayang."

Sabrina M also recalled her term of endearment with Rico was "hon," short for honey.

Rico died in Palawan on March 29, 2002. He was 27. Sabrina M said that she did not go to Palawan when she heard about the demise of her former boyfriend. Instead, she waited for his body to be brought to Manila.

"Manang" is produced by Teresita Pambuan under TTP Productions. It is directed by Romm Burlat.

Aside from Sabrina M, "Manang" also stars Julio Diaz, Janice Jurado, Tess Tolentino, Carl Vincent Cruz, and more.