Ang ina ay ang sinasabing ilaw ng tahanan.
Ang tanging nais nila ay mapabuti ang buhay ng mga anak dahil darating ang araw na magsisimula ang mga ito ng sarili nilang buhay.
Kaya naman sa showbiz, nauso ang terminong “stage mom” o iyong mga ina na halos magsilbing managers na ng career ng kanilang mga anak.
Nitong mga nakalipas na buwan, tatlong ina ang walang takot at pagdadalawang-isip na tumayo sa harap ng publiko, upang protektahan ang kanilang mga anak.
Sila’y sina Divine “Mommy D” Geronimo, Mommy Cecile Ongpauco, at Estrella “Inday” Barretto.
Hanggang saan nga ba ang kayang hamakin ng isang ina upang maprotektahan ang kanyang anak?
At kailan naman mali na ang pagkilos na ganito ng isang ina?
Ito ang mga tanong na nais bigyan sagot ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
Una nating tingnan ang pinagdaanan ni Mommy Estrella “Inday” Barretto, asawa ni Miguel Barretto at ina ng pitong magkakapatid: ang mga artistang sina Gretchen, Marjorie, at Claudine, at mga pribadong mamamayang sina Mito, Michie, Joaquin, at Gia.
CLAUDINE-GRETCHEN BARRETTO. “Ayoko na!” ito ang sinabi ni Gretchen Barretto sa isang press launch noong Abril 22, 2010, na ginanap sa Eastwood, Libis, Quezon City.
Nagsimula ang Q&A ng press na maganda ang mood ni Gretchen at sinasagot pa ang mga naunang katanungan tungkol sa pagkakatapat ng kanilang mga show ni Claudine, na noon ay isa nang Kapuso talent.
Pakiusap pa nga ni Greta (palayaw ni Gretchen) sa press: “Magkapatid kami. Hindi kami dapat pag-awayin."
Pero nang matanong ang kanyang nararamdaman dahil hindi nagustuhan ni Mrs. Inday Barretto ang pagkakatapat nilang ito, na naging sanhi ng hindi nila pag-uusap ni Claudine, dito na tumayo at umalis sa venue si Greta.
(CLICK HERE for related article.)
Sa isang taped interview sa The Buzz, kung saan host ang manager ni Gretchen na si Boy Abunda, nilinaw ng aktres ang kanyang pagwu-walkout sa naturang launch.
Ayon sa ABS-CBN News noong Abril 12, 2010, nilinaw ni Greta ang pagkakasabay ng airing ng episode niya ng linggong iyon para sa Maalaala Mo Kaya at ang drama anthology ni Claudine sa Kapuso network.
Aniya, “Originally, before Holy Week ilalalabas ang episode ko. Ang nangyari lang, hindi talaga kami natapos. Sabi nila ang showing right after Holy Week.
“Hindi ko naman alam na may show siya.
“Hindi ko naman alam na ikakasama niya ng loob.”
Noong naganap din daw ang Q&A, may reporter na nagsabi sa kanya: “Sabi daw ni Claudine galit na galit ‘yong buong pamilya sa ’yo. Galit ‘yong mommy at daddy mo sa ’yo, dahil hinahayaan mong pagsabungin kaming dalawa.’
“Tinawagan ko ‘yong kuya [Joaquin] ko. Tinanong ko kung totoo…. [Sabi niya], ‘Dad is very proud of you. Everybody is so proud. At hindi mo naman kasalanan. Wala kaming sinasabing galit kami sa 'yo.’ After that, I felt better.”
Pero dahil sa insidente ay nakumpirma ni Gretchen na mayroong tampo sa kanya ang kapatid na si Claudine.
Inimbitahan daw kasi ni Gretchen si Claudine sa private celebration ng kanyang 40th birthday na ginanap noong March 5, 2010.
Noong una ay hindi raw sinasagot ni Claudine ang kanyang mga text messages at tawag, hanggang sa wakas ay sinagot ito ng kanyang kapatid at sinabing, “I’ll call you back. I’m in a show.”
Nang mag-return call daw sa kanya si Claudine, ito na ang naging usapan nila: “Sabi ko [Gretchen], ‘Babe, what happened to us?’
“And sabi niya [Claudine], ‘Yeah, we really have to talk kasi marami akong gustong ilabas.’ Basta hindi maganda ‘yong nangyari.
“Nagalit siya.”
Pag-amin noon ni Greta, “Nami-miss ko siya.
“Gusto kong sabihin sa kanya na nag-e-enjoy ako sa ginagawa ko at wala akong intensiyon na saktan siya. Alam kong mahal ako ni Claudine…. siguro we just need space, we need time.
“Inaayos namin. Nakausap ko na ang kapatid ko na kailangang mag-usap lahat, huwag palakihin.”
Makalipas ang isang taon, masayang ibinalita ni Claudine sa entertainment press na nagkabati na sila ni Gretchen.
Sa panayam kay Claudine ng defunct show na In The Limelight, na ipinalabas noong Hulyo 20, 2011 sa QTV 11, para sa ika-32 na kaarawan ng aktres, sinabi nitong naging emosyonal ang pagbabati nila ng kapatid.
Kuwento ni Claudine, “Siyempre iyakan... iyakan yun, tears of joy. Yung bugso ng emotions, hindi mawawala yun.
"Yung sorries. Yung maraming months na nawala sa amin, hindi na mababalik yun.
"So, when it all happened, sinabi ko talaga sa sarili ko hindi na mauulit yun.
"Hinding-hindi na mawawala ang kapatid ko sa buhay ko. Hindi na ako papayag.”
Dagdag pa ng aktres, sa kabila ng nangyaring iyon sa kanila ni Gretchen, “Na-realize namin na we cannot live without each other pala."
(CLICK HERE for related article.)
THE BARRETTO SIBLINGS. Pero ngayon, isang panibagong pagsubok na naman ang dumating sa pamilya Barretto.
Abril 15, 2013, inilabas ng PEP ang sagutan noong Abril 13, sa Instagram, nina Gretchen (gretchenbarretto) at Marjorie (marjbarretto) at ang isang follower na may username na “btchjuliaisbitch.”
Ang isang post ni Gretchen, na hindi niya pinangalanan pero kanyang ini-tag kay “btchjuliaibitch”: “Yuck. You know what yuck is? Your husband walked out coz you violent ways. What exactly did you do to his Porsche? His laptop? Etc. oh pls reflect and go to your happy place..Medical City.”
Sinabi rin ni Greta sa isang follower niya na ang “basher” nila ni Marjorie ay gustong humadlang sa career ni Julia Barretto, anak ni Marjorie sa dating asawa na si Dennis Padilla. Si Julia ngayon ay kabilang sa Star Magic Batch 2013.
Post ni Gretchen: “That basher warned us that if Julia enters star magic she will do everything to ruin Julia because she claims she is the teleserye princess & will remain that way till the end of eternity.”
Sinabi pa ni Gretchen kay Marjorie sa naturang social networking site, “I feel sorry for her for she is all alone because of her evil ways.”
Nag-reply naman sa kanilang mga post si “btchjuliaisbitch” ng “Ang aarte.”
Sagot ni Gretchen sa kanya: “awww you find it arte coz you are not a part of our affairs simply because of your evil ways. (you can never be happy for anyone of us) how can you desperately try to ruin your own blood… Sorry but there is no stopping Julia from shining like a diamond.”
(CLICK HERE for related article.)
Nanatiling tahimik si Claudine matapos lumabas ang Instagram conversation na ito nina Gretchen at Marjorie.
Pero makalipas ang eksaktong isang linggo, Abril 21, ay dalawang larawan ang ini-post ni Claudine sa kanyang Instagram account (claubarretto).
Ang una’y ang larawan ng Porsche na sasakyan ng asawa niyang si Raymart Santiago, na mayroong caption na “Raymart’s Porsche’s 1.”
Sa sumunod na larawang naka-post ay makikita naman sina Claudine at anak na si Sabina na nililinisan ang Porsche ni Raymart, na may caption na “The Controversial Porsche.”
Hanggang sa, noong Abril 24, naglabas ng sulat sa media ang ina ng magkakapatid, si Mrs. Inday Barretto.
Natanggap ni Ricky Lo ang sulat noong Abril 22, at inilabas sa kanyang column na Funfare noong Abril 24. May title ito na: “Mom Inday to Gretchen: You are a liar.”
Sa pamamagitan daw ng statement na ito’y nais i-“correct” ni Inday ang mga pahayag ni Gretchen tungkol sa anak na si Claudine.
Una na dito ang tungkol sa umano'y plano ni Claudine na i-“block” ang career ng pamangkin nitong si Julia Barretto sa ABS-CBN.
Ayon kay Mommy Inday, “You claim Claudine said, ‘She will block Julia’s entry to Star Magic.’ Who did Claudine say it to…you? Or did you just make this up to put Claudine in trouble with Star Magic and make Julia’s big following angry with Claudine? You did that before…”
Dagdag pa ni Mommy Inday, sinasabi rin daw ni Gretchen na “Claudine said that she is the only Teleserye Princess of ABS-CBN and will remain one ‘till eternity. Hah? Did she tell you that or did you make it up again to block her entry to an ABS-CBN project?
“First of all, Claudine was not a Teleserye Princess. She was ABS-CBN Teleserye Queen during her time, just like you were ST Queen during yours.”
Kinumpirma rin ng nanay ni Claudine na wala na sa Raymart sa tahanan nila ni Claudine.
“Raymart left home? Yes, it is true,” pag-amin ni Mommy Inday sa kanyang statement.
“For cooling off period? – Sana.
“But if God wills it to be permanent, huwag naman sana. But still, our life is not in our hands! So, Gretchen, do you also want to include God in your “bashing” and drip your perfumed saliva for the misfortune of your sister?”
Itinanggi rin niyang mayroong “mental illness” si Claudine, at bagkus ay “mental torture” daw ang pinagdadaanan ng anak na “courtesy of an evil manipulation!”
Sabi pa ni Mommy Inday kay Gretchen, “Do not call Claudine evil!
“Do not start giving away that title that belongs to you and you alone, now that it’s burning your palm and scarring your beautiful face.”
Inaako na rin daw niya ang “fight” na ito sa pagitan ni Gretchen at anak na si Claudine.
Ani Mommy Inday, “I am going to take all the bullets you shoot…
“Stop, please stop. Stop it na, ha! Stop it naaaaa!!!”
Sa bandang huli pa ng statement niya’y nagbigay siya ng mensahe kay Gretchen.
“Gretchen, I am not a wimp, never been one, but lahat may “hangganan.” I have protected you all these years without exposing to the world the real you. But you have pushed many of us to the wall. There’s no other way but for us to defend our names! I have always loved you as one of my own, and always will, but love of my family belongs to the heart and not in the garbage can!
“I am letting go of a child now who never wanted me in order to save one who has always been there for all, and with all of her love…Claudine!”
(CLICK HERE for related article.)
Hindi pa nagbibigay ng pahayag si Gretchen tungkol sa mga sinabi ng ina, at gayundin ay sinabi ni Claudine na haharapin niya ang kapatid sa “tamang panahon.”
Pero isang statement ang inilabas naman ng pangatlong anak ni Mommy Inday na si Joaquin “Jay-Jay” Barretto.
Sinabi ni Jay-Jay, 51 taong gulang, na “shocking” at “hurtful” ang mga naging pahayag ng kanyang ina sa ginawang liham nito.
Una niyang pinatungkulan ang pagtawag ng kanyang ina na “evil” kay Gretchen, at tila nakalimutan ang nagawa nito para sa kanilang pamilya.
Aniya, “What bothers me most is that while she attacks my sister, Gretchen, and pictures her as evil personified, she seems to have forgotten the truth.
"Mom, as you have gone out of [your] way to answer the issues that Claudine ought to answer for herself, maybe it is high time to reflect on things and address these concerns as well.
"You have lifted Claudine on a pedestal as the teleserye queen and labelled Gretchen nothing but an ST queen.
"But who took over the role of her parents, worked at the age of 12 and gave up her education to put her siblings to school?
"Who put food on the table, paid for the rent, electricity and hospital bills when dad suffered from his heart condition at least two times?
"Did you ever once stop her from doing all that because you loved her and wanted to protect her just like what you are now doing for Claudine?"
Sumunod niyang pinabulaanan ang sinabi ng ina tungkol sa umano'y “mental illness” ni Claudine.
Ani Jayjay, “We all know the truth about Claudine's condition.
"Gretchen never threatened about having her 'padampot.' Whatever for?
"May I remind you that it was you and dad who had her put in a hospital because you wanted to save her from destroying herself.
"Yes, Claudine is going through rough times. Again.
"And if you truly love her, then you should take concrete steps to save her rather than hitting Gretchen simply because she is standing up to Claudine."
Kaya naman pakiusap nito sa kanyang ina, “[Please] put a stop to this before our family totally falls apart while there is still something to save.”
(CLICK HERE for related article)
Sa sumunod namang exclusive interview ng PEP kay Joaquin, mas detalyadong kuwento ang ibinigay niya kung paano pinag-usapan ng kanilang pamilya ang tungkol sa health condition ni Claudine.
“My mom and dad asked for a meeting. They had gone to a rehab center in White Plains, and they had been advised to attend to Claudine's illness right away.
“The very next day, they were supposed to bring my sister to the hospital. For her treatment, she was supposed to have a twelve to eighteen months' stay, the doctors said.
“But when my parents spoke to Claudine, she told them 'I'm okay, I'm okay. Lahat okay.' Paawa si Claudine.
“I don't know how, but she managed to convince them that there was nothing wrong with her, and that Gretchen was the only one saying she [Claudine] was sick.
“Now my mom's obsession is to protect Claudine. Hinaharang niya any moves to make Claudine do anything. She [my mom] just goes on believing that there's nothing wrong.”
At bagamat wala raw kinonsulta sa kanilang magkakapatid bago naglabas ang ina ng liham nito, "Please, make it clear that I'm not fighting my mom.
“I just want to make her stop. But she's not listening—otherwise, she would never have made that letter public.”
Dagdag pa niya, kung ang mga magulang niya’y panig kay Claudine, sila namang magkakapatid ay nasa likod ni Gretchen, maliban lang kay Gia na nasa Amerika at wala pang malinaw na paninindigan tungkol sa isyu.
Malungkot ding ibinahagi ni Joaquin ang nakikita niyang dahilan kung bakit tila malayo ang loob ni Gretchen sa kanilang ina.
Matagal na raw nagsimulang magkalayo ang loob ng mag-ina, na nag-ugat sa “missing earnings” ni Gretchen mula sa pag-a-artista noong ito’y menor de edad pa lamang.
At kasunod pa nito ang paghiling ng mga magulang nila na sagutin ang pagbili ng sasakyan na gagamitin ng kanilang ama na mayroong sakit sa puso ng mga panahong iyon, at pagbabayad ng P 50,000 para sa kanilang tahanan.
“That was a lot of money then.
“Maybe that's why Gretchen always felt bad about my mom. She never heard my parents thank her, she didn't feel it. In fairness to Gretchen, hindi siya nagsumbat.”
Malungkot pang sinabi ni Jayjay: "Please, this is my family we're talking about. This is not easy for me. You've never heard me talk, and I still don't really want to—but that letter! It's just not right and it's not even true!
"I love my mom. I'm close to her. I'm a Mama's boy. I'm the last person to go against Mom. When she hears about my letter, she will get the shock of her life. But I couldn't take it anymore. I'm going to bust.”
(CLICK HERE for related article)
Marami pa ang maaaring mangyari, mga pahayag at kuwentong hindi pa naririnig o maaaring hindi na maririnig.
Ngunit sa huli, ang punto at komento ng nakararami, sana ay maayos ng pamilya Barretto ang problemang ito sa loob ng kanilang tahanan.