Actress Gretchen Barretto has been the talk of the town recently due to her controversial interviews and issues. She has successfully grabbed the attention of the showbiz world with her way of saying things, and it has more than once created buzz louder than a thousand bees.
In an interview with The Buzz yesterday, June 20, Gretchen was given ten questions to answer. Host Kris Aquino wasted no time in asking away after the pleasantries.
"Sa Magkaribal, isa kang fashion designer. Maliban sa mga nakasama mo na sa serye, kung mayroon kang isang female celebrity na gusto bihisan, sino at bakit?" asked Kris.
La Greta smiled and answered, "Siguro ikaw. Interesting, and people always watch you."
Kris joked, "Do I get to keep it?"
"Maybe you can keep it," laughed Gretchen.
The next question was about Greta's co-star Bea Alonzo. Bea in a separate interview admitted that she envied Gretchen for her presence and wealth. "Kung ikaw ang tatanungin," asked Kris. "Ano naman ang isang bagay na na kay Bea na kinaiinggitan mo?"
"Ang husay ni Bea sa pag-arte," Gretchen immediately answered. "Iyon talaga ang kainggit-inggit. Talagang effective as an actress."
The third question revolved around the two things Greta had right now: Wealth and beauty. For her, what is the most important?
"For me, ganda," she answered matter-of-factly. "'Pag may ganda ka, magkakaroon ka ng yaman! Kasi ang kayamanan, hindi kaya bilhin ang kagandahan! You can try, but you can't purchase kagandahan."
Gretchen's answer illicited cheers, and she added, "O, behaved iyon, ah!"
Metaphorically speaking, what kind of love is Gretchen wearing now?
"'Pag ako nagmahal, ibibigay ang lahat-lahat," Gretchen answered with conviction. "Hindi rin ako susuko, at lalaban para sa minamahal."
Is she better at being a mom or a wife?
"I always want all," Gretchen smiled. "I think sa pagiging ina. I'm really hands-on ako. For me, I'll give up anything for my daughter even without thinking. No hesitation."
"My daughter will always be number one," she ended.
When asked about setting priorities, numbers 2 (partner) and 3 (career), all she answered was, "Puwede."
Does her daughter Dominique think the same? Gretchen admitted, "For Dominique, her dad is always number one. She always says it talaga without hiya. Sasabihin niya na, 'Dad, you're my favorite. You are the best.' All the time...and naiintindihan ko iyon."
She continued, "Iba ang tatay talaga sa girl. She is a girl, I guess, and iba talaga bonding talaga nila. Ako siyempre ang nagdidisiplina. So, mahirap."
Moving on, what was the biggest thing she ever did out of anger?
After a big sigh, Greta replied, "Para sa akin, when I reach the point of anger, I withdraw. Pag nag-withdraw ako, I shut off. Ibig sabihin nito, wala na akong emotions or feelings for the person. For as long as naririnig mo akong nagtatatalak o nagagalit, ibig sabihin may chance ka pa. Pag tumahimik na ako, kahit tumambling ka diyan, wala na."
Has she done that with any person?
Gretchen cautiously said, "Sabi ng taga-ABS, mag-behave ka. Kung sasagutin ko iyan, e, medyo..."
Kris defended, "Well as long it is within the boundaries of the law!"
"Oh, my God, maybe it's not!" laughed Gretchen. "Maybe I should not tell you here on the air!"
Can Gretchen say that she still has imperfections, given her status?
"Wala. I'm perfect," La Greta said cooly. Then with a guffaw, she quipped, "Sa iba na lang, huwag na sa katawan!
"Sa pagka-chatterbox ko. Daldal ako nang daldal, minsan na nakaka-offend na ako ng tao. Doon ko pa lang na-realize na, 'Ay, may na-offend pala ako!' Iyon. Number one iyon.
"Iyong pagiging playful ko? Nakaka-offend din iyon minsan, kasi kahit nagtatrabaho na, ang daldal ko at hindi ako nagpo-focus, e. Iyon ang imperfections."
Then it was time for the 3rd to the last question. Kris asked, "Is there anything or anybody you are afraid of?"
"Takot talaga ako sa sinungaling," said Gretchen. "Kasi feeling ko, wala akong kalaban-laban pag nagsisinungaling. Ako kasi, ang sandata ko parati ay ang katotohanan. So, pag ang kalaban ko ay nagsisinungaling, e, patay na ako. Di ba, parang ako nagpro-prove na ako ang tama?"
Saying she did not want to have La Greta explain further, Kris shifted her interview to a more challenging question: "Kung ganda ang pag-uusapan, sino sa mga artistang babae ang itinuturing mong pinakamatindi mong karibal?"
"You know, Kris, I really don't see anybody kasi as a competition," explained La Greta, "especially dito sa business, kasi hindi naman ako full time. Ngayon lang ulit ako nagpu-full time, so, wala akong naiisip na ganyan. I feel like there is room for anybody."
That said, Gretchen admitted that she found a lot of women in the business who were beautiful. When asked to name some, she answered, "Angel Aquino, she is really beautiful. Bea Alonzo, Lucy Torres, Shaina Magdayao, at si Erich [Gonzales]. Si Angel kasi gandang-ganda ako, ano."
Kris's final and most personal question for La Greta: "Mayroon ka bang pinagsisisihan bilang kapatid? Ano iyon at bakit?"
"You know, Marjorie always said sa mga interviews na, 'Gretchen, you are generous to a fault. In terms of time, emotions, and material,'" mused Gretchen. "Ako naman wala akong pinagsisisihan because kung ano man binibigay ko or naibigay ko, e, it is out of my pagmamahal bilang kapatid. Wala akong pinagsisisihan."