Talent manager Alfie Lorenzo still believes that Judy Ann Santos was used to make the noise needed for Claudine Barretto's comeback in show business.
In an interview with The Buzz last May 18, Alfie said that, ‘Parang they try to find a way para magkaroon ng ingay ang comeback ni Claudine at naiinis ako. Lumang style na 'yon, ba't hindi na lang baguhin kung paano, di ba?"
Star Magic, on the other hand, issued a statement last Monday, May 19, saying, "ABS-CBN believes that Ms. Claudine Barretto made a name in showbiz and has a loyal following because of her popularity and hard work, and has no need of any help from Judy Ann Santos or bitter old man posing as showbiz journalist. ABS-CBN has high regard for Claudine as with other artists." (Click here to read related article)
The word war between Alfie and Star Magic did not end there as the former granted another live interview with Showbiz Central shown yesterday, May 25.
Alfie pointed out that he said those statements because, "Yung sa akin, bilang writer na pina-find out yung mga kapalpakan nila [Star Magic], sino ang dapat nilang tulungan, ganoon. Bilang malasakit sa kumpanya na nagpapasweldo kay Judy Ann. Kasi natatakot baka mamaya ma-bankrupt yung kumpanya, wala naman kaming lalamunin ni Judy Ann."
He also admitted that he felt disappointed for his talent for receiving only a small amount of attention from ABS-CBN's talent arm, Star Magic.
"Basta pagdating kay Claudine, masyado silang sensitibo. Para bang ang talent ko na si Judy Ann, kesihodang kung sino man ang pumintas diyan parang bale wala sa kanila."
Did he feel that Judy Ann was used to benefit the comeback of Claudine?
"Alam mo noong binuo 'yang commercial na 'yan, sabi nila [Pantene], ‘Okay lang po ba kung magkakasama sila ni Claudine, sila Gretchen , Ruffa?' Sabi ko, ‘Why not?' [Sagot niya], ‘Akala ko po kasi may away sila.' ‘Ay! Nabalitaan mo rin?'
Sabi ko, ‘Wala, walang away 'yang dalawang iyan, magkaibigan 'yang dalawang iyan.' Sabi ko, ‘They may not be the best of friends pero magkaibigan.'"
SPLICED INTERVIEW. Alfie also complained about the video interview he had with The Buzz, which according to him was spliced too many times.
"Before The Buzz, wala, ang sinasagot ko lang yung mga text ng mga fans. Siyempre pipintasan nila si Judy Ann, bakit mo pipintasan yung idol nila. I don't even know them, they're just numbers. Kapag nag-text na gano'n, malay ko kung si [Johnny] Manahan mismo yung nagte-text o si Claudine to provoke me para mapag-usapan at mabanggit ang pangalan ni Claudine, Claudine, Claudine, di ba?"
He added, "They air that 30-second interview out of a 30-minute full interview. At saka doon, nag-splice nang nag-splice, tadtad, at lahat, ganun. Noong sinabi kong, ‘Lumang isyu na 'yan dapat baguhin naman,' I mean, the style." (Click here to read related article)
"I'M NOT BITTER." In connection with Star Magic's statement that Alfie was just a "bitter old man posing as showbiz journalist," the talent manager directed his statement to Mr. Manahan:
"Naku pare-pareho lang naman tayo, Johnny, e, di ba? Kung ikaw ay bitter, ako naman hindi bitter about you. In fact, gusto kita dahil sweet ka, e, sweet and sour, bitter melon."
