Mom Inday Barretto ‘numb with grief’
Curtain-raisers:
• Show over soon? Unless somebody came to its rescue, a TV show might soon fold up and leave many stars in tears. According to a Funfare DPA, the contract of the block-timer show is expiring and, so far, no producer is showing any interest in saving it. The DPA recalled that one of those behind the show was once escorted by security out of the studio (due to “mismanagement?”)...and out of another show of the same genre. Lightning does strike twice, doesn’t it?
• Not a relative? To set the record straight, people are asking if Your Funfarer is in any way related to 2019 Bb. Pilipinas Grand International Samantha Ashley Lo who is currently in Caracas, Venezuela, to compete in the Miss Grand International. As far as I know, my relatives are all beauties but they are not queens. Oops, they are “queens” in their own right not in pageants but at their homes. Bb. Lo made it in the nick of time to Caracas where the grand coronation night will be held tonight, Oct. 25 (early Saturday morning in Venezuela.)
• Not a gallant boyfriend? It happened a few months before an actress bagged a beauty title here and out there. Accompanied by her actor-boyfriend, the actress graced a wine-related dinner event. Throughout the night, the actor was frowning, obviously in foul mood. Halfway through the dinner, he quietly left, saying he wasn’t feeling well, leaving the girlfriend behind. It wasn’t known if somebody kindly brought her home or she took a Grab. Que horror! Several months after she won a bigger crown, she broke up with the actor. The actor is now linked to another beauty queen.
* * *
With wars raging and protest rallies erupting in different parts of the world, the prospect of “peace on earth, goodwill to men” looks dimmer and dimmer during the coming Christmas season.
But people (especially those close to the family) monitoring the long-drawn Barretto family feud, reignited by the violent clashes among the sisters (Gretchen, Marjorie, Claudine and their niece Nicole) during the wake for their father, Miguel “Mike” Barretto, are wishing that Estrella “Inday” Barretto, the family matriarch, would wake up on Christmas morning to find a big, big beribboned box with a blown-up photo inside showing all (as in ALL) members of the family reunited (like the one pictured here), with smile lighting up their faces. They can wish upon a Christmas star, can’t they?
Described in a STAR story as a “mater dolorosa,” Inday, 82, finds herself in the eye of the storm.
Asked by Funfare for comment, all Inday could say was, ”I am too numb with grief as I never expected Mr. Barretto to go away fast,” hoping that the storm will pass just as fast, adding, “the behavior and actions of some members of my family definitely do not define our persons as parents as per the example and the principle we both lived our lives…many can attest to that.”
A week after the remains of the Barrettos’ dear departed were cremated, the word war specifically between Gretchen and Marjorie rages on, setting social media on fire, and dragging more and more people into the mess including businessman Atong Ang and former Caloocan City Mayor Recom Echiverri, both of whose “involvement” was confirmed by Marjorie in a “tell-all” interview with Karen Davila on TV Patrol Tuesday night.
Actually, Marjorie didn’t add any more “explosive” details but only virtually documented what have been open “secrets” long been social-media fodder, such as (so far all “allegedly”):
• Ang is the lover of initially Marjorie’s niece Nicole and then Gretchen (whose known long-time partner is businessman Tonyboy Cojuangco);
• The father of the youngest of her (Marjorie’s) five children is Echiverri (“I’m not perfect,” she told Karen. “I’m very strong in many ways pero sa pag-ibig talagang mahina ako. I’m sorry…I’m not very proud of it. That is the reason why I was not announcing it to the public. Mali po talaga. I fell in love with a married man.”); and
• ”My children are not for sale,” Marjorie stressed, reacting to rumors of “peddling” her daughters to a businessman. “I don’t even have very much wealthy friends to sell my children to. My children work very, very hard. Matitino po ang mga anak ko.”
Currently in San Francisco to visit her daughter Dominique (by Tonyboy), Gretchen has already “hit” back via her Instagram posts and hinted that Tonyboy would issue a “statement.”
In that same TV interview, Marjorie said, “So sorry” to Pres. DU30 for having been dragged into the mess, and not giving in to his request for her and Gretchen to patch things up. “I am very grateful to the President for taking the time out to grieve with the family. And I believe it was his best intention na pagbatiin lahat. I have to make it clear na napaka-humble and gentle ng President….I had to turn down his request because I could see the insincerity on Gretchen’s face.”
Funfare requested somebody close to Tonyboy to ask a statement from him, but as this column was being written, there was no word (not even “a word”) from Tonyboy.
“I have actually asked Tonyboy about it back then,” said that “somebody,” “but he simply shrugged and made no comment.”
While Echiverri has remained mum, Ang issued a statement denying everything, saying that Gretchen and Tonyboy are his “business partners.” In an interview with DZBB last Monday, Ang was quoted as saying (quoted as spoken), “Ang importante, huwag guluhin ang pamilya ‘n’yo,” apparently addressing the Barretto sisters, “kung ano ‘yung nakatago ng pamilya n’yo, itago n’yo na lang,” and asking those involved to just keep quiet. “Kung ako sa kanila manahimik na lang sila.”
Indeed, Marjorie said, “I am for reconciliation.” There’s a big “but” and that shouldn’t be discussed in this space anymore to avoid adding fuel to a conflagration.
As we wish the Barrettos an advance Merry “reconciliatory” Christmas and a happy new family ushered in by the New Year, Funfare will let Inday have the last say, “In grief, I wish I can think instead of feel; one day at a time as I don’t even know the time now. I guess all the wishes that included someone you lived with and loved for 61 years will never come true. Only God knows.”
(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)
- Latest
- Trending
