Annie assures Ronnel that the family loves him

Saturday last week, Startalk broke the story about Ronnel Wolfe having been at the Pasig City jail for three years now due to a drug case. In the interview, Ronnel said, among other things, that, 1) his mother, Annie Brazil, and siblings Richard Merk and Rachel Ann Wolfe have not visited him, 2) his family considers him “a failure” even if he feels that he’s successful, and 3) he’s happy where he is (away from his family; he has his own wife and children).

Fresh from a successful Valentine concert with son Richard, Annie (still in tip-top shape as an incomparable jazz singer even as she turns 82 in October) set things straight in an interview with Startalk (to be aired this afternoon on GMA, starting at 4 o’clock), denying that Ronnel has been “abandoned.”

Lest Funfare preempts Startalk, let me just print Annie’s official statement:

Our family loves and supports Ronnel, always have and always will. For many years, we have done everything to help him. For whatever reason, most of our efforts did not end up with Ronnel making the right decisions.

Recently, we have decided as a family that the only way for him to get better is through tough love and for him to realize on his own that he is an adult and he must be responsible for his own actions.

It is difficult for us to see him on TV reaching out and us not able to reach out to him. But we must be strong in our belief that Ronnel will get to a better place only if he realizes that he’s an adult. We believe that he can redeem himself but the initiative should come from him.

We also feel that we should have given him tough love from the start. We could see that he continues to be in good spirits; we are very happy for him and we hope that in good time he will be out. If he does well, he will again be with us and with his family. It is he, not us, who should make the right decision.

As a mother, I really feel for him and seeing him in (jail) is hard for me to bear. I visited him once even if it was difficult for me to get there. I have broken my hip and I have to move around on a wheelchair, so it’s hard for me to pass narrow streets and climb stairs. I have already talked to him and given him all the (pieces of) advice the best way I could.

Most of the time I live with Rachel and her family in New York. I am happy with my life there. I continue to sing in events in Manhattan and I come to the Philippines for shows with Richard and friends. But due to my hip replacement, I have to slow down. Singing is a form of therapy for me. I am grateful that I have my children and grandchildren around me.

I am in Manila until next month. I cannot bear the cold weather in the US East Coast and my doctor advised me to stay in a warmer place.

I pray every day for my children, especially for Ronnel who has yet to make the right decision and to truly change for the better…once and for all. I thank God for giving me the talent to perform and for giving me the strength to face challenges at my age.

Alonzo in dad Niño’s footsteps

Alonzo Muhlach with Alaina Jezl Ocampo in 1 Day Isang Araw

Will Alonzo Muhlach equal or even surpass his dad Niño Muhlach’s record as a “Child Wonder?”

That remains to be seen.

Managed by Aster Amoyo, Alonzo is now under contract with Viva Films which plans to cast him in the remake of Niño’s hits (Butsoy, Kwatog, Enteng Anting, Peter Pandesal and others).

Introduced in My Little Bossing (with Vic Sotto and Ryzza Mae Dizon), one of the moneymakers in last December Metro Filmfest, Alonzo (who turned five last Feb. 19) is in the cast of the ABS-CBN kiddie show Goin’ Bulilit and in the forthcoming TV series Inday Bote, also on ABS-CBN.

He’s likewise cast with Alaina Jezl Ocampo, another upcoming child star, in 1 Day Isang Araw, directed by Dinky Doo with Alice Dixson, Allen Dizon, Ritz Azul, Bembol Roco, Monsour del Rosario, Eric Fructuoso and Niño Muhlach as co-stars.

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