Gretchen: Leave me alone!

Without her wanting nor intending to be, self-declared "recluse" Gretchen Barretto has been thrust back to the limelight by her estranged younger sister Claudine Barretto’s announcement that she and Raymart Santiago are getting married in January next year (nine months away, so many things could happen between now and then).

During the announcement over the weekend, TV reporters inevitably asked Claudine the ticklish question: Will you invite Gretchen to the (Christian) wedding?

Claudine’s answer?

"She can come if she wants to."

It didn’t sound like an invitation, did it?

The Barrettos, with Gretchen by her lonesome on one side and Claudine and her mom Inday and sister Marjorie on the other side, got involved in an ugly word war on national television last year; it was so ugly that it tore the family apart, with wounds gaping until now, refusing to heal or be healed.

Friends have been saying that the Barrettos should bury the hatchet and let bygones be bygones so that they could be one happy family again during Claudine and Raymart’s wedding day, so that Claudine and Raymart may start a new life together as legal and official man and wife (as far as I know, they’ve been living together) without any emotional baggage. After all, they’re supposed to be Christian and aren’t Christians forgiving (you know, ...and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us...).

I know for a fact that the Barrettos continue to store up animosity inside them, they’re still hurting – and how! "Pestered" with that ticklish question – Is she or isn’t she attending the wedding? – Gretchen could only roll her eyes heavenward and beg, "Please leave me alone!"

Somebody told me that Gretchen was the last to know about Claudine and Raymart’s wedding because for months now, since that ugly family feud broke out, she hasn’t been reading showbiz papers nor watching showbiz talk shows.

She has been visible lately only as the image model of Plains & Prints and keeping herself busy looking after her and Tonyboy Cojuangco’s daughter Dominique.

Because of the superstitious belief that it’s bad luck for siblings to get married in the same year (sukob sa taon), there’s no chance for Gretchen and Tonyboy to get hitched next year (not that they are planning to). Maybe the year after?

Calling stars with Hollywood dream

Here’s good news for local actors (TV, film and theater) who want to break into Hollywood: ABC 5 and Next Generation Production are putting up a reality-TV shows called Hollywood Dream which promises to be the biggest and most expansive talent search on local television.

Hosted by Eric Quizon (who has one foot in Hollywood because he’s co-directing the made-in-Hollywood movie Wrinkles which will finally start shooting soon – barring any further hitch), Hollywood Dream just might be local actors’ ticket to Hollywood.

Here’s how: Those interested are invited to attend the casting call on April 16 and 23 at the ABC studio compound in Novaliches, Quezon City, starting at 9 a.m. Applicants are requested to prepare a one-two-minute monologue of their choice as well as a headshot and a resume. The callback is on April 24. (For more information, call Gigi Moraleda at 0919-4146674.)

Twelve actors will be chosen to take part in the 14-week show that will retrain them in all aspects of acting, from drama to comedy to action to romance, the Hollywood way. Three top entertainment professionals will serve as judges. Every week, one finalist will be eliminated (American Idol style) until only two will remain. The two finalists will be flown to Los Angeles for the final test. Auditions will also be arranged with American casting directors and producers. They will also be included in the cast of Wrinkles (about grandmothers joining a beauty contest) which is co-produced by Romeo Joven, head of Next Generation Production.

And then, only one will emerge as grand finalist who will be flown to California and New York to take part in an upcoming film from As We See It Pictures, inclusive of accommodation and actor’s salary. He/she will also get his/her Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Card worth $4,000, be allowed to attend an acting workshop and taken on back lot tours of several Hollywood studios, meet with several Hollywood film producers and casting agents.

Meanwhile, according to Eric (whose co-director is Mark Solomon), the cast of Wrinkles has been completed, with Dean Cain, the TV Superman, taking the role originally intended for Lou Diamond Philips who backed out due to other pressing commitments (and some personal problems). The Filipino actors in the cast include Eddie Garcia, Liza Lorena, Armida Siguion-Reyna, Gina Pareño, Mila Ocampo, Angel Aquino, Cesar Montano, Lilia Dizon and Robert Arevalo, with Martin Nievera as guest star in the scene where he’ll sing to the grandma beauty contestants.

Fr. Joey Faller’s healing schedule

Funfare readers have been requesting for the complete schedule of healing priest Fr. Joey Faller’s Healing Masses at the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church in Lucban, Quezon. Here it is:
• Every Monday — 9 a.m.
Kamay Ni Hesus Healing Church
Healing Mass
• Every first Tuesday — 10 a.m.
Shrine of St. Anne- Healing Mass
Malicboy, Pagbilao, Quezon
• Every third Tuesday- 9 a.m.
Buklod Ng Pag-Ibig Chapel- Healing Mass
97 Balete Drive Extension, Quezon City
• Every fourth Tuesday — 6 p.m.
Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus- Healing Mass
Cotta, Lucena City
• Every first Wednesday — 12 noon
Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord
Healing Mass
SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City
• Every second Wednesday — 5 p.m.
Our Lady of Lourdes Church-Healing Mass
Iyam, Lucena City
• Every second Thursday — 3 p.m.
Our Lady of Angels Church- Healing Mass
Atimonan, Quezon
• Every second Friday — 7 p.m.
St. Francis of Assisi Church- Healing Mass
Sariaya, Quezon
• Every third Friday — 7 p.m.
St. Joseph the Patriarch- Healing Mass
Mabolo, Cebu City
• Every fourth Friday — 3 p.m.
Shrine of Divine Mercy- Healing Mass
Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City
• Every Saturday — 9 a.m., Healing Mass; and 5 p.m., Pilgrims Anticipated Mass at Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church

Blessing of the Sick

• Every fourth Saturday – 9 a.m., Healing Mass; 2 p.m., Recollection; and 6 p.m., Candlelight Rosary Procession at the Grotto of Healing and Purification at Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church

• Every first Sunday- 9 a.m.

SM North EDSA- Sunday Mass

• Every first, third and fifth Sunday — 8 a.m., Sunday Mass, NBN Channel 4, Visayas Ave., Quezon City

• Every second and fourth Sunday — 9 a.m., SM Bacoor , Cavite City; and Sunday Mass

• Every Sunday — 4 p.m.

Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church

Pilgrims Sunday Mass/ Blessing of the Sick

• Every third and fourth Sunday — 7 p.m., Sunday Mass at St. Louise Parish Church in Lucban, Quezon.

Here’s the direction to Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church, Brgy. Tinamnan, Lucban Quezon

For private car owners:

1. From South Super Hi-way take Calamba exit, go straight ahead passing on the national road until you reach the Church of Pagsanjan, Laguna.

2. Turn right passing on the national road until you reach town of Lusiana, Laguna

3. Go straight ahead until you reach the town of Lucban, Quezon

4. The Healing Church and Grotto is 1 km. away from the town proper.

For commuters:

1. Take a bus to Lucena at Kamuning Bus Terminal or LRT Buendia Bus Terminal

2. At Lucena Grand Central Terminal take a passenger jeepney to Lucban

3. Upon reaching Lucban get off at Grotto

For inquiries, information, prayer request, invitation and schedule for healing sessions, please contact: Tel: (042) 540-3085, (02) 929-0333, Mobile (0917) 853- 6267, Fax: (02) 920-0910. Or email at fjoey36@yahoo.com

Fr. Faller’s website: frjoeyfaller.net

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E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph