Gretchen ready to work again

MANILA, Philippines - Gretchen Barretto made a show-stopping entrance at the opening of the Baume & Mercier’s exhibit at the Fashion Walk in Greenbelt 5, Makati City. The guest of honor at the exhibit launch had necks craning among shoppers as she glowed in a bright yellow Joji Lloren number.

“I really am crazy about watches, and I’m really happy that Baume & Mercier got me to join them for their launch,” the actress and socialite said in an interview.

Baume & Mercier is one of the most prestigious houses of Swiss watch-making. Christian Bartosch, managing director of Baume & Mercier North East Asia, also graced the opening of the special showcase featuring the brand’s latest collections. The exhibit will run until Oct. 19.

Gretchen also said that she will finally begin taping for her new teleserye on ABS-CBN, tentatively titled Alta, this month. Her last acting project was the previous year’s fashion-themed soap opera Magkaribal.

In Alta, she will be joined by Angelica Panganiban, KC Concepcion, Sam Milby and Zanjoe Marudo.

“Alta (sociedad or ‘high society’) ako. I’m an heiress but there will be a lot of twists in the story. So, challenging din yun kasi di naman ako anak mayaman sa totoong buhay,” Gretchen described her character.  

Gretchen Barretto graces the launch of the Baume & Mercier exhibit, which features the latest collections of the luxury Swiss watch-making house, at the Fashion Walk in Greenbelt 5

Asked whether the role is easier or harder to tackle compared to her previous acting assignment, she said, “Walang madaling role na ibibigay sa akin because I want to give my best as an actor, and as an actor, roles shouldn’t be easy to do, so as to entertain the people.”

She added, “I would call it a challenging role. And sa dami ng mga karanasan namin sa buhay, marami kaming magagamit na emotion dito.” 

Her goal is to make a new impression on viewers. “I want them to see another Gretchen. All facets (of me) ang makita nila. And of course, Angelica and KC are good actresses. I am also very excited because it’s the first time I’ll be working with Sam and Zanjoe. Nag-workshop kami for a year. I believe we are ready to work.”

What other things can she say about KC, whose father Gabby Concepcion she got paired with in the 1993 film Kailangan Kita? “What I feel is that KC is hungry to become a very good actress.”

Did she sense her younger co-stars feeling intimidated by her? “Parati nilang sinasabi na na-intimidate sila, pero bakit ba?”

Gretchen was also made to comment on being used in a dialogue of the top-grossing film No Other Woman. In what perhaps is considered as one of the film’s most memorable scenes, Carmi Martin’s character orders her daughter, played by Cristine Reyes, to stop acting meek but fight like hell for her husband: “I-pack up mo si Lucy Torres, ilabas mo na si Gretchen Barretto, ako na ang bahala sa red stilettos mo.”

“After watching that movie, I said panahon na talaga lumaban, in many ways, ang babae,” Gretchen said. “Sabi nila naka-arrive ka na daw if they use your name in a movie. So, thank you very much.”

Told that Cristine was quoted as telling the media that she doesn’t see herself qualified to become Gretchen’s friend because she’s “jologs” or doesn’t belong to her social circle, Gretchen mused, “Hay naku, natutuwa ako sa mga jologs. Gusto ko ring matuto ng ganun para maiba, at least I can learn from her and she can learn from me.” 

Would she be willing to do movies again — an indie for one? “That’s really far out for now because of the schedules. I cannot join Cinemalaya Film Fest for the simple reason that (partner) Tonyboy Cojuangco heads Cinemalaya and it’s unfair if I join. But I would love to do an indie film,” she said.

How about a new album? “No album yet. My first one was titled Unexpected, the second one was Complicated baka ang third ay Disappointed or Fooled,” she joked. “It’s really far out. I’m so into acting right now.”