The longest running drama anthology on Philippine television Maalaala Mo Kaya or MMK has been moved to a Saturday night timeslot and what better way to inaugurate the move but by featuring the most controversial actress in the Philippines in her first acting job in years. That’s no other than Gretchen Barretto in Maalaala Mo Kaya’s “Salamin”. Starring opposite Ms. Gretchen Barretto are Philip Salvador, who is also back in his first acting job as well in years and Tonton Gutierrez.

Salamin synopsis

Philip Salvador plays a Town Mayor who likes Margarita ( Gretchen Baretto ). Margarita and family were financially hardup because of his irresponsible husband Jun (Tonton Gutierrez). Margarita and Jun has 2 children. Their first daughter decided to live with his boyfriend at a young age driven by their family’s situation. Margarita is unhappy that his husband is not really trying his best to become a good provider to his family, plus the fact that he still relies on his mother for support.

The Mayor took care and comfort of Margarita. He made her feel special. Their affair has been revealed to Jun, her husband, but he did not do something about it, understanding that Margarita only did it because he was sure it was because of his inadequacies as a husband.

Their affair lasted for 10 years and Margarita has learned to love the Mayor. Unfortunately, the mayor had cancer and Margarita took care of him up until his last. Thereafter, what happened to their lives has had some imprint on her husband, Jun. It somehow taught him a lesson. He became a changed man and husband and he was able to forgive Margarita so they can be husband and wife again. End of Story.

Ruffa Gutierrez celebrated her 34th birthday recently, and she celebrated it in 2 fabulous bashes. The first was on June 21, in Blue Leaf, Taguig, where Ruffa hosted a chic and fabulous party for 200 guests. It was a gift from Dr. Vicki Belo of BeloMed as Ruffa is its newest endorser. The who’s who and the controversial of Philippine Showbiz attended the event, including stars from the warring networks of GMA nad ABS-CBN. Angel Locsin and Richard Gutierrez had an animated banter. Richard Gutierrez arrived with leading lady KC Concepcion. Sunshine Cruz was in attendance, minus husband Cesar Montano, in a revealing outfit. Rufa Mae Quinto almost bumped into the couple Jessa Zaragosa and Dingdong Avanzado. Anne Curtis and Sam Milby were almost glued to each other. Several celebs were also spotted such as Ruffa’s bestfriend Donita Rose, brother and Pinoy Idol host Raymond Gutierrez, Marvin Agustin, Geneva Cruz, Rachelle Alejandro, John Estrada and partner former Ms. Earth Priscilla Mereilles, Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres-Gomez, Agot Isidro with hubby Manu Sandejas, etc..It was a glittery glittery night indeed…

And then yesterday was Ruffa’s actual birthday, and she celebrated it with a so-called Spa day in Philosophy Spa with friends Pops Fernandez, Phoemela Barranda, Donita Rose, Ana Roces, Ms. Girlie Rodis, among others, don’t ask me where was Gretchen Barretto, lol….food was catered by Margarita Fores (Cibo,Pepato) and cupcakes from Sonja’s Kitchen.

And speaking of Gretchen Barretto, she allegedly blamed Ruffa’s secretary who is the one who revealed all that happened in the Dusit Hotel credit card issue.

Photo Credits: MJRodis

Once again, the Paris Hilton of the Philippines, Gretchen Barretto is at the center of 2 hot controversies in the Philippine Showbiz scene and it happened all in the same day, June 8, 2008.. Hottest of which is the reported cancellation of Gretchen Barretto’s credit cards by partner Tonyboy Cojuangco who in Grectchen’s words, “own the bank ( credit card issuing bank).” The alleged incident happened in a restaurant inside Dusit Hotel in Makati City while Gretchen Barretto was having dinner with sister Marjorie Barretto and showbiz friends Ruffa Gutierrez, Pops Fernandez and a certain Offie. When it came to the time for paying their dinner bill of approximately 4,300 pesos, Gretchen as usual generously picked up the tab, but the credit card she gave was denied twice, prompting her to remark to the poor waiter, “That cannot be, we own the bank. Tawagan mo ang bangko.” The waiter told her it was a Sunday and there are no office employees to attend in such cases. Gretchen then told the waiter to again swipe the card, and was denied yet again.

This prompted her companions to offer to pay, initially, Gretchen refused but was left with no choice and Ruffa Gutierrez ultimately paid the 4,300 pesos tab. Oh and don’t expect Pops Fernandez to pick up the tab, lol..just ask Philippine Showbiz insiders, hahaha..All these while within the earshot of some nosy customers thus this story. Someone in the group said, “Baka pinutol ni Tonyboy (Cojuangco) yung card mo?”. To which Ruffa Gutierrez reportedly even remarked, “Sa akin nangyari din yan, e, nung kay Yilmaz (Bektas, Ruffa’s estranged husband). Pag-uwi ko ng Pilipinas, di na gumagana yung credit cards ko.”

Reportedly, Gretchen Barretto was visibly irked and embarrassed because she invited the ladies to dinner. She was then seen furiously texting away at her cellphone. Partner Tonyboy Cojuangco arrived shortly thereafter and Gretchen could not hardly contain herself that even while at the Hotel’s lobby, Gretchen went off at Tonyboy. She was seen shouting and at one point dragged Tonyboy to the Ladies Room and the shouting match can even be heard outside the CR. Shortly thereafter, Gretchen was seen going out the ladies room crying.

Gretchen then went back to the dinner table alone and recounted to the group what happened. Gretchen said that Tonyboy got mad because Ruffa compared him to Yilmaz, and how Yilmaz cut off her credit card account access. Tonyboy, Gretchen said, was  irked at the allusion, and said, ” I am not Yilmaz! .” To which Ruffa, Pops and Offie did not take well because to them, they should not have been dragged into the partner’s spat. Gretchen reportedly even asked the waiter to get the money Ruffa has paid for because she will pay it herself by now, after meeting Tonyboy. The waiter declined, saying they cannot reverse the transaction , it having been recorded already in the Cash Register machine. (Kasama  sa eksena talaga ang waiter, in fairness, lol..)..end of the Dusit Hotel incident..(expect not to hear the end of it though, there’s The Buzz on Sunday)…

That’s not all..Gretchen and sister Marjorie Barretto then went after that Dusit dinner, to the wake of Rudy Fernandez, where again, controversy hounded Gretchen. Allegedly, Gretchen winked several times to Sen. Bong Revilla, whom she had a romantic liaison in the 90’s. Bong Revilla reportedly became discomfited and Bong’s wife, actress Lani Mercado was seen going to Bong Revilla’s side, probably alarmed at what Gretchen was doing. Marjorie Barretto allegedly asked Gretchen to stop what she was doing, which Gretchen was heard replying that she was just trying out if her charms will still work especially since she just had botox treatment.

Oh well, all in a day’s work for the controversial Gretchen Barretto.

Gretchen Barretto has reacted to what Maurice Arcache has written in his column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer gloating that Gretchen Barretto was not invited to the wedding of the daughter of her partner Tonyboy Cojuangco.

Gretchen Barretto answered through her K-Text with the following:

“I was told about the PDI Sunday spread regarding the wedding of the daughter of Tony Cojuangco. Maurice Arcache wrote it. It had photos and had to make me the bida of the write up. Sayang that buti naman daw that I had the delikadesa not to attend. I wasn’t invited to the wedding. I would never force myself into it. I have a lot going for me that I don’t need to dwell into some issue we all know about for the past 14 years…

“FYI Maurice Arcache =) May 3 Sat I was in Bacolod, May 4 Sunday I was in Ilo-Ilo. I had my mini-concerts =) I am a busy person. Trying to make a go for myself. Living well and earning my own keep. Maurice Arcache feels the need to use me to make that article stand out…”

“Nakakapagod na rin talaga what I have to go through with the Cojuangcos (sic). I’ve been going through this beating for the past 14 years. Most of the time I just would love to let go. It can’t be a normal life. Maybe it would stop when I let go.”

In relation to the previous post, Scans of Claudine Barretto, Gretchen Barretto, Judy Ann Santos and Ruffa Gutierrez in Preview, Claudine Barretto, Gretchen Barretto, Judy Ann Santos and Ruffa Gutierrez also shot a commercial for Pantene shampoo dubbed as “Most Beautiful”

See Claudine Barretto, Gretchen Barretto, Judy Ann Santos and Ruffa Gutierrez in the new commercial below: