MANILA, Philippines?Dawn Zulueta says it?s not like her to do something?anything?just to be talked about. And that?s as pointed a comment as they come.

?I?m a very busy mom and housewife. I don?t want to star in a movie or release a CD just so people would know I?m doing something. I?d rather be doing really worthwhile things,? the beautiful actress said during a recent meeting with the press.

The statement didn?t come without provocation. Dawn was reacting to a comment that she had become too picky (about projects) for her own good.

That bit about releasing her own album seemed to be a reference to her former friend, actress Gretchen Barretto, who recently came up with a CD of love tunes. The two had a bitter word war last year while doing a shampoo commercial.

Actually, Dawn says, she can now now joke about that episode. ?We?ve not talked in a while, but if we bump into each other, and she says ?hi? ... hindi naman ako isnabera,? she said.

By ?worthwhile,? Dawn said she meant things like the duties assigned to her as wife of Davao del Norte Rep. Anton Lagdameo. ?I help my husband with his undertakings for the youth. Next week, I?m bringing Fanny Serrano to Davao, to conduct a hair and make-up seminar there,? she said during the launch of her new TV commercial for Myra 400 E, a health supplement.

As a congressional spouse, Dawn said she also helps such projects as Operation Smile, and patients in the Davao Regional Hospital Burn Unit.

With Myra E?s ?Beauty Inside? campaign, Dawn is also set to raise funds for I Can Serve, a foundation that seeks to inform women about breast cancer.

?Anyone you talk to knows, or is related to, someone who has died of, or is still suffering from, cancer. There?s no known cure yet. We?re all still fighting it, trying to make do with whatever scientific technology is offered to us,? said Dawn.

Can you share some anecdotes while filming the commercial?

It was a four-day shoot in Boso-Boso and Tanay in Rizal. There were two or three locations. They were all day scenes; we had to be up before the sun. It was tiring but very fulfilling. One day out of the four, I got to be with blind kids. That was so much fun and very inspiring because even with their disability, the kids were very karinyoso.

What did you learn from that?

Naluluha ako while watching them. We were supposed to just treat them like normal kids. But we see colors, we experience light and dark, and they don?t. It gives you pause.

Why did you choose to join a campaign on breast cancer awareness?

Cancer is hard to ignore. It?s important to reach as many people as possible. I have a sister-in-law who has lupus. She?s almost always on the brink of death. It?s scary; we have no control over it.

Do you have plans of joining politics?

No; wala akong hilig.

What if it becomes necessary? Your husband can serve for only three terms.

I?m praying there?s someone in the family that they can consider before they think of me. I?ll campaign for someone, but I won?t run. Show biz is hard enough. In politics, there will always be crooked people who will try to influence you. I will just get frustrated. I support my husband because I want to fulfill the promises we made to our constituents.

If you had your way, would you rather that Anton remained a businessman?

In the beginning, I told him I?d marry him only if he didn?t join politics. He already broke that promise. But we prayed, and saw that there was really a chance for him to help others by becoming a public official. Nakita ko rin kung saan ako pwedeng makatulong. I said okay. Now, I feel fulfilled. I?m in show biz, but I?m able to help others more because of this position I?m in.

As an actress, do you still have dream roles?

I just want to become a philanthropist now. I just turned 39, and I feel blessed. It?s time that I shared [my blessings]. I also want to help revive the industry, produce good films.

How is your son Jacobo?

He?s two years and five months old. He?s a very cheerful boy. We just came from Singapore, where we spend Holy Week. Anton and I totally enjoyed just taking him around. That was enough for us.

I painted Jacobo?s room pale yellow and pale blue, and he has animal prints on his curtains. ?Yun pala he likes cars.

Are you OK with Jacobo joining show biz in the future?

Maybe after he finishes schooling. There?s so much more he can do outside of show biz. I myself didn?t have much of an education. I only finished high school, but I had dreams of becoming an astronaut, a fashion designer, or a scientist. I never got to do any of those. I?m not saying I regret that because I had a very good show biz career. Let him do other things first. In the end, if he still wants to pursue the arts... it?s always there.

Jacobo is like his father, very ma-PR. He loves being around people, making friends.

Doing that milk commercial with Jacobo must have been easy for you?

He?s easy to prep up, but it was tiring. I?m the mom and I also have to watch out for my angles. It was double the work.

What time of day do you feel you?re most beautiful?

Usually at mid-day. If I had a good night?s sleep, I could be at my best in the morning. Otherwise, my blood sort of circulates better by mid afternoon.

When do you feel least attractive?

I guess... when it?s that time of the month. I can?t seem to make anything to work, no matter how hard I try. It?s a hormonal thing. You just allow your body to go through it and not fight it. I try not to schedule work during those days. I just stay home, rest and do things that relax me.

What do you do when you?re not at your best but you have to go somewhere?

Color works for me. I wear a color that helps boost my confidence.

Also joining ?Beauty Inside? are Isabel Roces, Reema Chanco, Patty Laurel and Gaby dela Merced. To help, visit Watson?s or Meg. Email mcruz@inquirer.com.ph.