What do people know about Nadia Montenegro?
People who lived through the ‘80s would remember her as the young Dyesebel (1990) and the lady who portrayed the life story of Julie Vega+. Nadia was also a Regal baby, noted as one of showbiz's prettiest faces.
In an exclusive interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last October 4, she smiled coyly when we mentioned that description. "I don't know how to take compliment kasi, e," she began. "Hindi ko naman dinibdib iyon. Wala...I never used it. I mean, it's nothing."
Those who belong to the ‘90s era would remember her as the young lady who captured the heart of former Caloocan Mayor Macario "Boy" Asistio. When she gave birth to her eldest Ynna 19 years ago, she chose to stay out of the limelight.
She related, "When I started my family, I had to [quit showbiz]. And then it took me a while before Boy had to allow me to do, little by little...Siguro mga eight or ten years din na hindi ako lumalabas noon."
But even if she disappeared from the local entertainment scene, Nadia continued her close ties with friends in showbiz. She aptly described herself as "Mother Goose," whose network in showbiz ranges from the industry's who's who to fellow Regal babies, to the That's Entertainment personalities, to Ang TV kids, and StarStruck alumni.
She told PEP, "I can start from Nora Aunor, who's my kumare, my best friend's mother, and the ninang of Boy's daughter; and Ate Vi [Santos], who's the ninang of my daughter, down to Sharon [Cuneta], who's the ninang of my daughter. Sino ba naman ako? Pero you know that these people, yung isang text mo, 'andiyan."
But what tops her list of friends are the people behind the camera.
She said, "From up there to down, even to the legman from the ‘80s to the photographers, I may not know them by name but by face, you know, when they approach me...Kasi bata pa ako, nagshu-shooting ako, hindi mo ako makikita sa lamesa ng mga artista. Andun ako sa crew, dun ako nakiki-pusoy. Ganun na ako...Bata pa ako, ganun na. Alam ko kung paano makisama."
And then, in the first years of the new millennium, she became visible again in celebrity sport events, like Goma Cup, Nivea Celebrity Challenge, and badminton tournaments. These activities paved the way for more friendships in showbiz. She decided to put up her own events team, and also gave politics a shot.
Nadia played the role of confidante to most of her friends, and ironically, this put her name back on the map of intrigues and controversies.
"In the beginning, wala naman talaga, e," she mused. "It only started when yun nga, yung ke Gretch [Gretchen Barretto]. I got involved with that. Although yung sa personal namin ni Gretch, it's because I was just overprotective of what they were getting into, which everybody knows. And I was kontra from the beginning."
ISSUE WITH GRETCHEN BARRETTO. Nadia's 27 year-old friendship with Gretchen was put to test last February, the month when the hush-hush about La Greta's "affair" with government official Dody Puno grew louder. The item reached PEP and the tabloids.
It will be recalled that the youngest of the Barretto sisters told PEP in an interview with contributor Melba Llanera last February 10: "Soon, ire-reveal ko kung sino ang naglalabas niyan. Tanong ko nga, bakit hindi namamatay ang isyung ito? Dahil pala mayroong isang insider sa showbiz na naglalabas at consistent siya sa mga balita niya. Marami na akong napagtanungan at na-confirm na rin nina Gretchen at Tonyboy.
"Hintayin na lang ninyo na si Gretchen ang magsalita. Hintayin na lang ninyo na lumabas yung pangalan ng artista na ‘yan. Akala pa naman namin kaibigan namin, pero hindi pala. Ever since naman, questionable na ang credibility ng taong ito."
