Gretchen leaving the country for good?

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

Gretchen Barretto thinks it's Ruffa Gutierrez's secretary, Jaye, who told some press people about the "credit card incident" involving her recently. She even warned Ruffa to be careful with Jaye as it might be her own secrets that will be leaking out soon.

Jaye feels hurt and says that if she were the source, the stories that came out would have been more accurate. Because of this, Jaye revealed that Gretchen even told Ruffa and Pops Fernandez then that Tonyboy Cojuangco is angry with them and, when Tonyboy was coming in, Ruffa tried to hide behind Gretchen's sister, Marjorie, but she later realized that Tonyboy could still see her as she's much taller than Marjorie.

She added that it was Gretchen herself who told that "scene at Dusit Hotel" to some people during the wake of the late Rudy Fernandez. One of the persons she told it to was Fanny Serrano. A lot of people heard her talking so she should no longer be surprised now that it has been written about.

As for Gretchen, she's just sick and tired that everything about her is being blown out of proportion and she threatens to leave the country for good. Do we hear some people saying: Good riddance?

CAMILLE DOESN'T MIND BEING SECOND CHOICE
CAMILLE Prats plays a mother role in her comeback vehicle after she gave birth to her son, "Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan," one of the best love triangle films made by Director Danny Zialcita for Viva. It will replace "Kaputol ng Isang Awit" in GMA-7's Dramarama sa Hapon starting this Monday. Camille reprises the role originally played by Vilma Santos, replacing Sunshine Dizon who earlier taped for it.

"This is my first mature role at okay lang to play a mother kasi mother na naman talaga ako in real life," she says. "It's really a blessing and siguro it's really meant for me to play a role played by Ate Vi, one of my idols, kaya I don't really mind kahit na ako second choice lang. "

Camille plays Lily, the best friend of Elsa (Diana Zubiri), whose family owns the hospital where she works as a nurse and her boyfriend, Louie (Marvin Agustin), also works as a doctor. Elsa is secretly in love with Louie so she manipulates to separate the lovers. An offer to work abroad where she'll earn more is given to Lily. Louie is against it but she really wants to get rich quick so they break up and she goes abroad. When she returns, Louie and Elsa are about to marry so she goes away. Some years later, Lily already has a child of her own, Alvin (Byron Ortile), a boy with a terminal heart disease. Elsa, in turn, remains childless. Alvin's only wish is to see his dad and Elsa then volunteers Louie to present himself to Alvin as the boy's dad. Lily and Alvin then pretend to be husband and wife and this will lead to some serious complications as they really fall in love with each other, leaving Elsa out in the cold.

The new version of the popular title song then sung by Basil Valdez is now interpreted by three Pinoy Pop Superstar finds, Jonalyn Viray, Aicelle Santos and Maricris Garcia, who are collectively known as La Diva.

NO WEDDING PLANS YET FOR JOHN LLOYD, LIZ
John Lloyd Cruz turns 25 on June 24, Tuesday (sharing the same birthday with Ruffa Gutierrez). It's obvious that he's very special for ABS-CBN as Star Magic's Rikka Dylim hosted a solo birthday lunch just for him. What's his birthday wish? "Nothing," he says. "I have everything I need right now and I feel I can't ask for anything more. I should just thank God for all the blessings He continues to give me.

I already even got a gift na, the best actor award I won from Enpress' Golden Screen for the movie, 'One More Chance'. Suwerte nga kasi it's also for that movie that I was named Box Office King last year, with Bea Alonzo as Box Office Queen. "

Is it true he's reunited with Bea in "Betty La Fea"? "I'm not at liberty to say anything. Abangan na lang ninyo. As of now, what I'm busy with is shooting my movie with Sarah Geronimo, 'A Very Special Love'. "

How come the fans of his love team with Bea are threatening to boycott that movie? "So I heard. Pero huwag naman sana. Excited ako about our teamup ni Sarah, pero kabado rin kasi nga baka hindi tanggapin ng tao. Para ngang test kung susuportahan pa rin ako ng viewers kahit hindi na si Bea ang kapareha ko. Well, I'm praying na sana nga, they'll still watch the movie kasi Bea naman and I need to be paired with others for our own individual growth. "

John Lloyd is also very much in demand as an endorser. He currently plugs Urban Bags, Biogesic, Clear, Greenwich Pizza, Smart, Bench, Belo, and many more. To share his blessings, he is bringing a group of doctors to Katutubo Village in Porac, Pampanga to give free treatment to Aeta families.

Now that he's 25, is he considering settling down with girlfriend Liz Uy? "No. We have no such plans. "

Is he giving himself a deadline? "No. Kasi I might say I'll get married at 30, but we don't really know kung ano mangyayari, di ba? Basta kung kailan ang tamang panahon, I'm sure darating din siya. "

JODI KEEPS BEAUTY FOR PAMPI
JODI Santamaria is the female counterpart of John Lloyd among the stars of "Tabing Ilog". John Lloyd is the most successful among the four guys there (the others being Paolo Contis, Patrick Garcia and Baron Geisler) while Jodi is the most successful among the girls (the others being Kaye Abad, Desiree del Valle and Paula Peralejo). she is the only one who's married and with a child, but she remains very active in the movies and on TV.

She got nominated as best actress for the digifilm "Maling Akala" and she's now doing another landmark film, the new version of "Sisa" where she plays the title role. On TV, she got raves playing villain roles in "Walang Kapalit" as the insane wife of Piolo Pascual and in "Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara" as an avenging ghost.

Off cam, she plays dutiful wife to Pampi Lacson (son of Sen. Ping Lacson) and doting mom to their only son. She really wears many hats as actress, wife, mom and also as a businesswoman as she has invested in some businesses along with friends. Despite her very hectic sked, Jodi remains looking fresh and youthful.

"I'm really thankful kinuha akong endorser ng Hype as their Hype Gluta-C Intensive Whitening Soap and Lotion helps make my skin smoother, whiter, more radiant," she says. "Tapos, 'yun namang Hype Gluta-C with Vitamin C and glutathione maintains my health as it has anti-oxidants and anti-aging pa. Without it, I'd be a helpless bundle of frazzled nerves by now. Hindi lang mga artistang gaya ko ang dapat mag-alaga sa kanilang sarili. I believe all women should take good care of themselves. Ako, I take good care of my looks para hindi na tumingin sa iba ang mister kong si Pampi, kaya nga I really use Hype Gluta-C Intensive Whitening products as they provide very positive results for me. "

VILLAR A FRIEND OF THE MOVIE INDUSTRY
Senate President Manny Villar is really a friend of the local film industry. The senate has passed on third and final reading the bill that aims to lower movie tax from 30% to 10% to encourage it's growth, co-authored by Villar and senators Chiz Escudero, Bong Revilla, Noynoy Aquino and Loren Legarda.

"The rise in the price of fuel and basic commodities is another blow to the already ailing industry," he says. "It deserves to be supported during these tumultuous economic times. I'm confident that our congressmen in the lower house will also pass the bill. "

Aside from this, he filed Sen. Bill 2404, called Film Tourism Act, that seeks to promote the country as a top filming location for foreign movies, TV shows, music videos and other media projects. "The country has four of our attractions included in the Top Ten New Wonders of Nature: the Tubbataha Reef, Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Puerto Princesa Underground River Park and Mayon Volcano. They're perfect for filmmakers from abroad who want to do projects here, where we have capable technical crew and facilities ready to assist them. "

What can he say to the remark of Sen. Miriam Santiago that senators who have TV endorsements are just campaigning early for 2010?

"This is a free country and anyone can say his piece about that issue and I'll respect that," he says. "But in the end, it's the people naman who'll be the final judge if they approve of this or not when they cast their votes. Kung ayaw nila sa ganung kandidato, 'di huwag nilang iboto. "

So is he running for president in 2010? "I'll be honest. May balak ako. But in the end, it all depends on whether you will be drafted by your party. "

Is it true Sen. Jinggoy will be his running mate? "May nagbabanggit ng ganyan and I'm sure kaya niya, but it's too early to plan anything. Marami pang puwedeng mangyari from 2008 to 2010 kaya lahat, tentative pa. My only prayer is, kung puwede sana, the opposition to be truly united and field just only one candidate para solid kami. "

FILIPINO TALENTS SHINE IN TONY AWARDS TONIGHT
THE equivalent of the Oscar Awards in Broadway is the Tony and the Tony Awards will be shown tonight on the Velvet Channel, which brings top Hollywood entertainment programs, at 6:30 p. m. The Tony Awards started in 1947 to celebrate excellence in theatre, named after Antoinette Perry, an actress, director, producer, and the dynamic wartime leader of the American Theatre Wing who recently passed away. Coming a long way from when it was founded, the Tony Awards boasts of honoring exceptional and brilliant theatrical productions, actors, actresses, directors and the people behind them, from the sound, lighting and costume design. This year's awards night will have 13 big musical numbers, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, staged at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

It will also include performances from all of the season's nominated Best Musicals and Best Musical Revivals, plus a special appearance by The Company of The Lion King, as well as a tribute to the long-running musical Rent featuring members of the show's current and original casts. One of the nominees is current Broadway sensation Lin-Manuel Miranda who is up for Best Original Score and Best Actor in a Musical for the acclaimed "In the Heights. " He wrote a new song with Filipino lyrics for Filipina actress, Marie-France Arcilla's character in the restaging of the musical, "Working. " He added and contributed the tune with Tagalog lyrics as a mother's lullaby to her child which is now getting good reviews. Marie France, who will be portraying a Filipina nanny and singing the Filipino lullaby, is an actress who moved from Manila to Canada and later on to New York to pursue her dreams as an actress. Starting out as an "Ang TV" talent, fate brought her to where she is now " a successful stage performer and TV host. Don't miss the 2008 Tony Awards tonight at 6:30 p. m. on Velvet. There will be repeats on June 23, Monday at 12:30 p. m. and on June 26, Thursday, 12:30p. m. and 8:30 p. m.

Source: People's Journal