(NI RONNIE CARRASCO III)

‘I don’t even remember the last time I encountered her’

RADIO anchors Ogie Diaz and MJ Felipe’s recent guest on their DZMM showbiz program was Gretchen Barretto.

Among others, pinaksa nila si Kris Aquino (well, mukhang as far as Gretchen is concerned ay nagpapalit-palit lang sina Kris at Marjorie Barretto as her current favorite subjects of her brickbats) who’s the object of her ire.

Kung paano, saan at kailan ‘yon nagsimula ay ayaw namang banggitin ni Gretchen. But in time ay isisiwalat daw niya.

Pero isa lang ang tiniyak ng live-in partner ni Tony Boy Cojuangco: She now has the guts to openly express her ill feelings toward Kris dahil — in her words — “She’s powerless.”

Immediately, we sent Kris a text message to get her side even if we knew she wouldn’t dignify Gretchen’s yet another ploy para lang mapag-usapan. Mabilis ding nag-reply si Kris: Absolutely no comment. Let her be.

May follow-up messages pa si Kris which we’re fusing into one: “I do not even remember the last time I encountered her. Kuya Ronnie, sa totem pole ng mga problems ko, she is so far below.”

Sinang-ayunan namin iyon. Ayon nga sa isang American essayist, “Dignified silence is the best reply to slander.”

By “totem pole of her problems,” apparently, ang tinutukoy ni Kris ay – in this particular order: 1) her health condition and 2) her legal battle against Nicko Falcis. We can’t think of other problems Kris is presently saddled with.

Ano nga naman ang puwang ng KSP na si Gretchen sa mga dapat pagtuunan ng pansin ni Kris? Beautiful yet poor Greta, her stunts are an exercise in futility. Wala nang mas nakakapikong sitwasyon maliban sa nagpapansin ka na’t lahat yet your attention-getting caper goes unnoticed.

Isa rin sa mga nakakawindang na pag-amin ni Greta kina Ogie at MJ ay ang pagkampi niya kay Nicko who she admittedly does not know. So, lumilitaw lang na kinakasangkapan ni Gretchen ang ibang tao in her personal vendetta.

Hindi kami magtataka kung magre-research pa more si Gretchen ng iba pang mga kaaway ni Kris and stand behind them if not put herself on the line. Dumating kaya si Gretchen sa punto that searching for Kris’ enemies ay hanapin niya sa Google?

In fairness though, Gretchen had nice words for Kris’ mom, the late Tita Cory, na inangking tunay na apo ang kanyang nag-iisang anak na si Dominique while her biyenang hilaw (Tony Boy Cojuangco’s mom) did not and would not acknowledge the child.

‘Yun naman pala, eh. Why doesn’t Gretchen’s love for Tita Cory rub off on Kris?