Klaudia turns over a new leaf

Sexy star Klaudia Koronel is turning a new leaf today – quite literally and figuratively. And I am not referring to the fig leaves she used to wear as Seiko’s most daring sexy star.

Klaudia, in fact, took to turning the leaves of countless books – burning the proverbial midnight oil to accomplish what few celebrities in these parts have done: Graduate from college.

Klaudia, or Milfe Dacula in real life, is one of the proud graduates marching today, with a Computer Science degree from the New Era University.

That’s quite a rare feat, indeed.

Klaudia, however, would be the first to admit that it took lots of sacrifices and adjustments before she earned her diploma. "It was a big leap from being in showbiz to being a simple student," she relates in the vernacular. "Especially because my school is very conservative. But in the end, the fact that my school is traditional and strict helped me a lot."

On campus, she was not a celebrity, but an ordinary coed. Like the rest of the pack, she also had to go through the wringer, including the dreaded thesis submission. "I had a hard time," she owns up. "But I showed them, to the best of my ability, what I can do."

Thankfully, she didn’t have to undergo the usual name-calling and teasing accorded to celebrities who try to go to school. "I didn’t experience that," she quips. "It’s because my school gives importance to discipline. Maybe, in their minds, the students had misgivings about my background, but they kept these things to themselves. They never voiced it out. They never whistled at me or made lewd remarks. If you do anything like that, you can get reprimanded or kicked out of school."

Klaudia believes that the challenges of schooling has put her through the fire–strengthening her, in the process. "I try my best to cope with the pressure," she recounts. "But the best thing to do is to pray. Whenever things get tough and I feel stressed, I turn to God. Unlike in the past, whenever I had problems, I would run to my barkada and we’d go out on gimiks. Drink all night and party."

College life has bestowed on her priceless lessons that go beyond her usual school assignments.

Her perspective in life has changed dramatically. "I’ve become wiser and stronger. Now, other people cannot just push me around. And I’m no longer afraid to ask questions. Unlike before, my shyness would get the better of me and I would rather stay quiet than ask about things that I should know."

She says that she has also become more systematic because of schooling. "I’m more organized," she remarks.

And hardworking. "Now, I would always feel ill at ease whenever I’d be idle even for just a day," she explains. "I really make it a point to keep myself busy. I always ask myself: What’s my schedule for today? What am I supposed to do today? Unlike before I would feel content to just lie in bed the whole day and do nothing. That’s not good because before you know it, a whole year would’ve passed already and you’ve accomplished nothing."

She look back on a specific incident. "I was called to the dean’s office once. The old me would’ve been too scared and delayed going there. The new me, however, even went a day before the appointment to find out what’s the problem. So that I could prepare myself for the actual meeting the day after."

She would like to pass on the same virtues to her younger siblings. "I’ve realized that I shouldn’t spoil my siblings," she affirms. "I want them to learn the value of hard work and of discipline. That’s the best way I can help them."

That is the kind of tough love she is now giving to her brother who is currently languishing in Camp Bagong Diwa. "I talked to him and assured him that I would help him get out of that place because it’s no longer safe there," she says. "But I also told him that since he committed a mistake, he should be punished for it. Because he is my brother and I love him, I will do everything to make things better for him. I wasn’t able to take care of it at once because I was just busy with my schooling. But now that I’ve finally graduated, I can start talking to lawyers and try to get him out of that place."

But for Klaudia, graduation day is not the ending of her struggles; it’s only the beginning. "I still have a lot to learn," she intones. "I still have a lot to do. I still have a lot to accomplish. I still have a lot of dreams." Foremost of which is staging a splashy showbiz comeback. "That is, if showbiz still has room for someone like me," she says. "But I don’t think I’ll be doing bold roles anymore. I’d like to go back to what I used to do before. You know, being a sexy comedienne in a sitcom like Kiss Muna."

If her showbiz plans falter, she’s more than ready to pursue her other goal. "Because of my degree, I now have a second option," she notes. "I’ll continue running my Internet Café." She is also considering to expand or diversify her business. "I am also thinking of opening a spa or beauty parlor."

As for her personal life, she remains a portrait of quiet contentment. (She is currently involved with a Malaysian guy.) "In the future, I would also like to have kids and start my own family," she volunteers.

Meet the new-and-improved Klaudia, proud member of Batch ’05.