The alleged snubbing incident between Ruffa Guttierez and Lani Mercado was blown out of proportion when Annabelle Rama and Lolit Solis intervened with unselfish defense for their anaks. Ruffa is the only daughter of Annabelle while Lani is one of Lolit's stable of stars.

Their only impulse was to protect. But of course, we're talking about Lolit and Annabelle here so the clash of sharpened tongues between the two can definitely leave a ringing no one would soon forget.

The word war between them still raged on even as Lani and Ruffa have reportedly sent feelers to each other saying that all was forgiven. Yet their patching up remains unresolved until their "mothers" zip their lips, kiss, and make up.

IN DEFENSE OF LANI. StarTalk's Butch Francisco interviewed his controversial co-host, Lolit, probably expecting another set of fiery words for Annabelle. But an oddly different and teary-eyed Lolit faced the viewers as she explained why she was emotional all of the sudden.

"Na-feel ko lang siguro yung bigat ng loob niya," Lolit said after watching the VTR of Lani prior to the interview, urging her manager to stop the fight. "Na imadyinin mo, karapatan naman niya kung ano gusto niyang gawin, kung sino gusto niya kausapin, kung sino gusto makipaghalikan siya... And yet, nalagay siya sa ganyang situwasyon, di ba? Pagkatapos nun, e, siya pa ang nag-sorry.

"Ang ano ko talaga, ha, siya ang legal wife. Kung ano gusto niya gawin dun sa mga naging kaibigan ng asawa niya, puwede niyang gawin. Ngayon, ‘Ayaw kitang batiin dahil na-link ka sa asawa ko,' e, puwede niyang gawin."

After that, Lolit's tone became stricter, as she said the following words with complete conviction: "Gusto ko linawin, na kaya ko ipinagtatanggol si Lani, dahil manager ako ni Lani. Parang pangalawang nanay na niya ako. At ako, kaya ako naapektuhan lang, nung marami akong nabasa na nang-iisnab si Lani, kailangan maging ma-PR siya dahil asawa siya ng senador. Kahit siguro asawa ka ng presidente, e, kung ayaw kang makipagbati, e, huwag kang makipag-palistkan, di ba?"

"At gusto ko lang linawin," Lolit immediately added before Butch, who was really silent for a while now, could intervene, "mahal ko si Ruffa."

LIKE A DAUGHTER. Taking advantage of Lolit's short pause, Butch was able to cough up a follow-up question: "May soft spot ka sa kanya [Ruffa]?"

"Hindi," Lolit replied. "Si Ruffa talaga, ang tingin ko parang anak ko, e. Nakita ko siyang lumaki, nag-asawa, nagkaroon ng anak, naghiwalay sa asawa... Parang she grew up doon sa mata ko, kaya mahal na mahal ko si Ruffa."

Hints of reconciliation between Lolit and Annabelle may be possible now, thanks to Lolit's following statements:

"Ayoko makipag-away kay Annabelle, hindi dahil sa natatakot ako sa kanya. Wala akong iiwanang laban. Kung kailangan ko makipag-away, makikipag-away ako. Kung kailangan kong tanggapin ang hamon, makikipag-ano ako. Pero ayoko makipag-away sa kanya dahil tinitingnan ko pa rin ang thirty years na naging friendship namin. Wala pa si Ruffa, magkaibigan na kami. Kaya nagtataka ako bakit nagiging personal ang mga bagay na ‘to."

Without waiting for a follow-up question from Butch, Lolit continued, "Una, wala akong binanggit na si Ruffa, e, naghahabol kay Bong. Siguro dahil Tagalog ang nabasa ni Annabelle, baka hindi niya naintindihan. Baka dapat Ingles para maintindihan niya."

Lolit was pertaining to the article Ogie Diaz wrote in his column in People's Tonight where Ogie printed his radio interview with Lolit.

"Pagkatapos, si Ruffa, naawa ako nung tumawag sa akin. Tumawag siya sa akin, umiiyak. Sabi niya, ‘Tita Lolit, baka mamaya malaman ito ni Yilmaz [Bektas, Ruffa's estranged husband], baka umuwi sa Pilipinas, patayin ako.' Hindi ko naman siguro gugustuhin mangyari yun, dahil mahal natin si Ruffa... Pero nangyari yun, nung tumawag siya, nakapag-radyo na ako [with Ogie Diaz]. Hindi ko akalain na isusulat pa rin pala ni Ogie Diaz, di ba? Walang banngit doon ng pangalan ni Ruffa," the controversial manager narrated.