Annabelle Rama accuses GMA-7 exec Wilma Galvante of being too personal against son Richard Gutierrez

For Annabelle Rama, the decisions and actions taken by GMA-7 as approved by executive Wilma Galvante (inset, with Richard) clearly illustrated the network's desire to harm the potential success of Richard Gutierrez's movie with KC Concepcion.

Noel Orsal

Annabelle Rama accuses GMA-7 exec Wilma Galvante of being too personal against son Richard Gutierrez

Bong Godinez

Friday, August 29, 2008
03:15 PM

Rating

It might be strictly professional in the eyes of GMA-7 Senior Vice President for Entertainment Wilma Galvante—but not if you ask Annabelle Rama.

Lashing out anew, the feisty talent manager accused the network executive of playing personal against her son, Richard Gutierrez, by deliberately pitting the grand birthday celebration of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera against the opening day of Richard's movie with KC Concepcion, For The First Time, last August 27.

In an interview with a major broadsheet, Annabelle remarked that Ms. Galvante has never been fond of Richard and she clearly demonstrated that fact by exhausting all possible efforts to thwart any promotional activities carried out by her son to promote For The First Time. The staging of Dingdong and Marian's birthday spectacle dubbed as Let's Celebrate at the Araneta Coliseum ultimately proved to be the last straw for Annabelle.

“Sabotahe!” Rama said in the interview. “Sa umpisa pa lang magkagalit na talaga kami ni Wilma. Si Annette and Felipe Gozon lang ang may gusto kay Richard.” Annabelle was referring to GMA-7 President Atty. Gozon and his daughter, Annette, who is the president of GMA Films.

Although part of GMA-7's stable of young stars, Richard was allowed to do For the First Time, which was produced by Star Cinema—the film production outfit of GMA-7's rival, ABS-CBN.

KC, who on the other hand is an ABS-CBN star, would likewise return the favor by starring in a movie next year also with Richard, this time under GMA Films.

As a mother and talent manager, Annabelle justified her attacks against the network executive by stressing that she's only out to protect Richard against the unfair treatment accorded to him by his home network since he got involved with the film project.

Annabelle claimed that GMA-7 did not help promote Richard's movie with KC for Star Cinema. She added, “Tinapatan nila ang lahat ng TV appearances ni Richard sa ABS-CBN. Kung may utak siya [Galvante], dapat naisip niyang this is Richard’s movie.”

NO PEACE IN SIGHT. Yesterday, August 28, Wilma Galvante addressed the worsening issue by coolly saying, "Personally, we do not have a quarrel with Annabelle. Wala rin akong quarrel with her and we have not violated any contract with her. We're always careful in implementing the contract."

In an initial tirade, Annabelle questioned GMA-7's decision to stage Let's Celebrate on the same date of For the First Time's big screen debut. Richard's camp felt slighted with what they assumed as a deliberate strategy by the network big wigs to divide public attention which would consequently diminish the movie's impact.

"Birthday ni Dingdong, August 2, at si Marian August 12. Ano ba ‘yan, dong! Ang layo ng 27 para mag-celebrate. Puwede naman 14, 15, 16, 17. Bakit tumapat sa play date ng mga bata [Richard and KC]? Wednesday pa, 'tapos free pa! Puwede namang weekend dahil Araneta yun. Sinadya talagang araw ng showing, hindi ko maintindihan," lamented Annabelle last August 22 when she guested in a showbiz radio talk show.

Wilma explained that they chose August 27 simply because that's the only available date presented to them by the Araneta Coliseum management.

"Hindi namin hawak ang booking ng Araneta Coliseum and I was told, fully booked na sila sa original date na gusto namin, which is August 29 and 30. Two days talaga dahil ang isang araw is for the set-up. You can check with the booking of Araneta at wala talagang libreng date kundi August 27," she reasoned. (Click here to read related article.)

In her recent published interview, Annabelle never denied that she is considering the idea of moving Richard to a new network in the immediate future, citing "lack of support" coming from GMA-7 as a solid basis for them to do such action.

Also, Annabelle slammed Galvante's claim that she never replied in any of her text messages. On one occasion, Annabelle shared that the network executive replied warning her that the content of her messages are prone to a lawsuit.

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