KAMAKAILAN AY nag-celebrate ng kanyang 45th birthday si Gretchen Barretto. At itinuturing niyang magandang regalo sa kanyang katatapos na kaarawan ang pananalo niya bilang Movie Actress Of The Year sa 31st PMPC Star Awards For Movies na ginanap noong Linggo, March, 8, sa The Theater ng Solaire Hotel.
Kinabukasan, March 9, Lunes, ay lumipad na patungong London ang aktres para bisitahin ang kanyang anak na si Dominique.
“Kasi meron kaming rule sa bahay na kapag may nagbi-birthday… it’s a month long celebration,” sabi ng aktres.
“So… ewan ko kung anong klase ‘yon. Pero nakakapagod din pala na na maraming birthday celebration na one month long nga. Two weeks ako doon. Every month naman, nando’n ako, e.”
May regalo ba siya sa kanyang sarili on her recent birthday?
“Alam mo, before my birthday, tinawagan ako ni Tony. Papunta akong Manaoag (sa Pangasinan). He’s asking what do I want for my birthday. Talagang… alam mo, hanggang ngayon hindi ko alam kung ano ang gusto ko. Sabi ko… lahat na yata naibigay na niya sa akin. Uhm… sa isip ko, gusto ko na lang manalo sa Star Awards. Na… I wanna get over the tension and the excitement of being one of the nominees for best supporting actress. And nanalo naman ako!”
Gretchen looks very positive and very happy nga nowadays.
“I have all the reasons to be happy. I’m 45 years old. I have my career. I have Tony and Dominique. I have the anchor of my life, ‘yong pamilya ko, I have my friends. Alam mo, I think I have learned to enjoy what I have and not look for what I don’t yet have. I think, uhm… to wake up every morning knowing that you’re healthy and the people around you are healthy and alive. There is really so much to be grateful for.”
So iyon din ang sikreto ng ageless beauty niya? Na she looks really much much younger than her age?
“Well I also exercise and work very hard!” natawa ulit na sambit ni Gretchen.
Sa pag-alis niya patungong London, mami-miss niya ang debut ng pamangkin niya at anak ng kapatid niyang si Marjorie Barretto kay Dennis Padilla na si Julia Barretto.
“Yes! But I don’t wanna talk abou it. And I demand respect. Tonight is my night. The birthday of Julia will be her night. So let’s give it to her. I hope that’s clear. You cannot force me to say anything you want to hear from me. When I say no… it’s no.”
Ano ang mga future projects na aabangan from her?
“Well you know, I’m very happy with ABS-CBN. I’m very happy with Star Cinema. The offers always comes from them. I wait kung ano ang ibibigay sa akin. I trust that whatever is given to me will be a good one. Because lahat ng ibinigay sa akin, talaga namang nabiyayaan tayo sa ratings at saka sa awards. So I have no right to ask for anything. So I will wait. Naghintay ako ng many years… 15 years bago ako nabigyan ng teleserye at ng magandang episode ng MMK. So I don’t mind waiting one month… two months. I don’t even mind waiting for a longer period of time. And it’s up to ABS-CBN kung ano ang magandang proyekto.”
Dati sa mga interviews ng media kay Gretchen, lagi niyang sinasabi na if there’s one thing na alam niya sa kanyang sarili, she always forgive people who have hurt her. Hindi pa rin nawawala at laging nasa puso niya ang forgiveness.
“Yes. We pray. We always pray. And I hope you don’t go anywhere further than that!” nangiting sabi pa ng aktres.
“You know what I also learned is to respect people, people’s emotion. And, uhm… that’s very important. To know what respect means and to practice it. Now, let’s just enjoy the night. Let’s not get into religion, politics, or family feud,” panghuling nasabi ni Gretchen.
Rubbing Elbows
by Ruben Marasigan
