The word war between Nadia Montenegro and Cristy Fermin intensified last Sunday, October 5, when Cristy Fermin declared on The Buzz:
"Nadia, sino sa atin ngayon ang walang budhi? Ako na nagmahal at nagkaroon ng ekstensyon at oportunidad na magmahal ng dalawang bata na hindi ko dugo, o ikaw na hinugot sa sinapupunan mo ang isang sanggol pero hindi mo binigyan ng pangalan? Manalamin tayo nang sabay ngayon."
Then a few minutes later, Nadia retorted by phone patch in Showbiz Central:
"Napakasinungaling talaga ng Cristy Fermin na ‘yan!"
It's not a hubbub that the public should be all amused about. Their loved ones, particularly their moms and children, have been dragged into the issue. Not-so-pleasant words were said on national television, with millions of people watching.
But PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) feels the need to dissect it because the people deserve to know where these antagonists are coming from.
Why is Nadia Montenegro fuming mad?
Why is Cristy Fermin berating her former "anak-anakan?"
In Nadia's exclusive interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last October 4, she said it was all ignited by the "rift with Gretchen Barretto."
According to Nadia, it was La Greta who initially became the subject of Cristy Fermin's columns and radio show. The topic: her rumored trysts with Dody Puno.
Then, "two days after" the Rembrandt confrontation (click to read article) , Nadia recalled, "Biglang yun nga, ako na iyong tinitira niya [Cristy]. Si ano daw ako, 'bawang', nakikisawsaw sa ganito sa ganyan. And then, nalaman ko na nga she was on Gretchen's side."
The write-ups about her went on until March, and the former Regal baby made a mental note of the items that Cristy mentioned in her radio show and put out in her tabloid columns.
There was one which involved Wendell Ramos. According to Nadia, the claim was that she and the Kapuso actor reportedly had an affair.
During her interview with PEP, Nadia shared bits and parts of how she broke the news to Wendell via a phone call, "Pare, pasensiya na, ha. Mag-syota daw tayo. [Wendell replied] ‘Hindi, pare, nakakahiya ke mayor.' [Nadia said] ‘Hindi pare, okay lang. Nakakahiya ke mare, pakisabi na lang...'"
Another guy who got dragged into the issue was Baron Geisler, who allegedly sired Nadia's youngest kid.
She was laughing as she recalled the rumor. She told PEP, "Parang ang galing-galing ko! Ano ba talagang tingin [niya]? Ang galing ko. Iba talaga!"
But the topic that miffed Nadia and her family had something to do with their "financial problems." It was revealed in Cristy's radio show last February 22:
"Naalala mo [Jobert] yung magkatabi kayo ni ex-Mayor [Boy] Asistio, nandito naman si Mr. Dody, 'tapos si Raffy [son of Dody] at saka si Gretchen? Yung dumukwang si Gretchen na ganun, kinuha yung kaliwang kamay ni Tito Boy? Cinematic yun para sa akin. Napakamarespeto ni Gretchen.
"Kinuha po niya, mga kaibigan, ilalarawan na lang po namin... Kinuha po ni Gretchen yung kaliwang kamay ni Tito Boy na kaliwa din po niyang kamay. 'Tapos hinawakan po niya nang mahigpit.
"Sabi niya [Gretchen], ‘Mayor, kaya ko rin pong tapatan ng masasakit na salita at accusations ang ginawa sa akin ni Nadia kaninang umaga sa mga text messages niya kay Ogie na tinawag niya akong ‘may pusong itim.' Mayor, iniisip ko lang po kayo, nirerespeto ko lang po kayo at ang mga anak ninyo na inaanak ko pa.'
"‘Mayor, ang sabi po niya kay Rufa Mae Quinto, kay P-chi, ang dahilan daw po ng galit niya sa akin ay kung bakit ko kayo mapalayas sa bahay ninyo. Kung natatandaan n'yo po, hindi pa kami magkakilala ni Tonyboy noong isanla ninyo ang bahay na iyan. Pero nang dumating ang pagkakataon na kailangan kayong paalisin, ginawa ko po ang lahat para ma-extend pa, magkaroon ng grace period yung pag-stay ninyo sa bahay.'
"Sabi niya [Gretchen], ‘Apat na taon ho kayong tumira doon. Ngayon nung dumating na po yung pang-apat na taon at kailangan nang kunin ng bangko yung bahay, I can only do so much.' Sabi niya [Gretchen], ‘Kayo po ang nagpabaya, hindi po ako. Ang kailangan 90 million [pesos]. Where do I get the 90 million? Wala naman akong pera.'"
Nadia blurted out her sentiments on the issue for the first time during PEP's two-hour interview with her.
She said, "'Paano ako magkaka-utang na loob, kinuha niyo yung bahay? Yun lang yung puwede nilang isumbat sa ‘kin, e!' Yun ang bumabalik-balik sa ano ko, e, nung nasa radyo sila ni Cristy na, ‘Binayaran ko nga yung amortisasyon.' Kelan? Nasa'n ako nung binyaran mo yun? If my house is still with me, fine. But it's not. May kaso pa, I just can't ano it, e. Nawawala yung pera namin. Nasa'n yung pera namin na binayad namin? Na pati bahay namin kinuha niyo dahil wala kaming laban dahil wala kaming pera nun."
But eight months ago—February 24, to be exact—Nadia's statement was totally different and meek: "Kaya sa mga nasaktan ko, pasensiya na po. Mainam na rin siguro ang manahimik para hindi na lumaki o lumala pa ang mga usapin."
And she told PEP that her meekness was prodded by a request, "After nung Rembrandt, you know, I had to come up with a statement coz Gretchen asked me."
FEARLESS NADIA. Fast forward to September 27, a fearless Nadia went on national TV, and it was the first time she spoke against Cristy, who was then in Canada.
The trigger: Cristy became an "ally" to Rose Flaminiano, who had called Nadia a "sulsoltant" and "badviser" to Gabby Concepcion.
Nadia asked with a tinge of frustration, "Why is she so bothered with what's happening to my life? Kung may away man kami ni ganito, anong pakialam niya ro'n? Bakit niya pinakikialaman ang buhay ko? Bakit niya pinapanood lahat ng ginagawa ko? Yun ang question ko sa kanya. Obsessed ba siya sa akin? Ano ba? Meron ba siyang hinihingi sa ‘kin na hindi ko naibigay? Ano ba? Pero hinding-hindi ako magbibigay ng piso para purihin niya ako."
She was both upset and unafraid when she made her appearance on The Buzz. She described her former nanay-nanayan as "walang budhi." And she did not regret what she did and said.
"When I stepped in The Buzz," she related. "Everybody was like, ‘Finally, finally, may lumaban. Finally.' Alam mo yun...I don't even know why she's still talking. Bakit tino-tolerate siyang magsalita sa radyo, sumulat, but she's convicted for libel! And if I have to, I will. And everybody will follow."
She continued, "What is she doing in this business? Ilang tao na ang sinira niya. Yung ke Aubrey Miles, naalala niyo yun four years ago? Anong pakialam mo kung me anak iyan? Nakakalimutan ba niyang apat ang anak niya, iba-iba ang tatay?
"Lahat ng pinupuri niya ngayon. Willie Revillame, three years niyang tinira. Ngayon, hindi na niya matira. Piolo Pascual, ilang taon niyang tinira ‘yan? Lahat ng mga anak-anakan niya ngayon, tinira niya lahat ‘yan. These people have careers they care [about]. I don't. Ako, wala. Wala."
And at the time she was inteviewed by PEP, she knew that her battle had just begun. In fact, she was already anticipating the rejoinder of Cristy.
She told PEP: "I keep on thinking, what can they say against me? I mean, lambast me again that I'm this kind of a person? Sige, go for it. Okay ako. Wala akong maisip na puwede nilang i-ano pa sa akin, e, dahil wala naman nang maisisira pa sila sa akin."
And being fearless proves to be an even better attitude. When she held her peace months ago, she was never given peace in return.
"Mas napapagod ako sa trying to keep peace with, you know," said the former actress. "Bakit sino ba siya? Nanay ko ba [siya]? Kung nanay ko iyan, kahit duraan pa ko, di ba, nanay ko? Pero parang bigla kong naisip, ‘Dapat binigay ko na lang sa iba yung respeto ko.' For a while ‘yan, ‘Nay, bakit mo ako tinitira? Usap tayo.' Ang tagal no'n. Dahil mahal ko siya. ‘Tapos sasabihin niya, para lang daw niya akong anak na ano...parang pinipitik para daw...
"Anak mo, yayariin mo sa radyo, sisiraan mo ang puri? Ano ba ‘yon? Anong pitik yun?"
Nadia's story is just one side of the coin. Some may agree with her, some may argue, some will probably just shrug indifferently. It's uncertain how long this brouhaha will last, and up to what extent.
But one thing we know now is that she is resolute in fulfilling her newfound "misyon," which is to "stop Cristy."
With the "verbal beatings" she got, whether valid or not, Nadia fearlessly declared all-out war: "She should be stopped. I mean, if I have to go to freaking brigade, signature brigade, whatever...she has to be stopped. What is she doing good? What? Walang me boses, e. Takot lahat sa kanya. Lahat ng artista dito, tinitira mo. Akala ko Kapamilya, di ba."
Is she just an "anak-anakan" scorned? Or does she have reason to accuse her former nanay-nanayan of "walang budhi?"
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