Former actor Kier Legaspi reached out to and thanked actress Gretchen Barretto for defending him amid the recent revelations of his daughter Dani Barretto.
It can be recalled that Dani said in her vlog that her mother Marjorie Barretto is the only one who would walk her down the aisle on her upcoming wedding day because she was the only one who raised her.
Dani also opened up about her estranged relationship with her father Kier saying that she is fine with no longer talking to him.
However, Dani’s revelations about her upbringing did not sit well with her aunt Gretchen and the latter took to Instagram to air her opinions.
Through an Instagram Live video with her sister Claudine Barretto, Gretchen said that she will not be attending Dani’s wedding regardless if she’ll get invited or not.
This is the part when Gretchen vented out her frustration with her niece saying that Dani has forgotten that her aunts were also there to guide her when she was growing up and it wasn’t just her mother.
She went on to narrate some memories on Marjorie’s pregnancy and Dani’s childhood.
“I’d like to refresh everyone’s memory, when Marjorie was pregnant, she lived in my house in Blue Ridge [Quezon City]. You know, I don’t know if you [Dani] know that, but your mom… and Tita Dolor [Guevarra] knows that because she would visit me.
“So, Marjorie lived with me when she was pregnant. Kier was, if I’m not mistaken, less than 20 years old or 20 years old. So I know that he was working, Kier was doing movies. Nung nag-uumpisa pa lang siya, he was not naman earning a lot, a lot of money… So Dani, when Dani was born, Marjorie was living in my house,” she said.
Gretchen said that she would not like to upbraid Dani or enumerate the things she has done for Marjorie and her family. However, she made it clear that they should not forget the good things she has done for them.
“You know, ang pangit, babalikan ko, babalikan ko ba, like, yung ginastos ko to, ginawa ko ‘yan’? You know, ayokong magbilang.
“Ang sinasabi ko lang, Marjorie and Dani lived with me in Blue Ridge. Nanganak si Marjorie, at that time, she was doing movies with Viva Films, but she never took up the way Claudine’s or my career, you know. I don’t wanna belittle anybody, but she never really took off as an actor. Kaka-nineteen lang niya [Marjorie] nung ipinanganak siya [Dani],” Gretchen said.
Gretchen indirectly said that she could not accept what Dani said because a lot of people were there when she was growing up.
“Nagtatrabaho ako. Ako po ang nagbayad ng hospital bills. Natural, pamangkin ko siya, anak siya ng kapatid ko na minamahal ko. She needed a yaya, Yaya Susan, ako po ang nagsuweldo,” she said.
“So, in other words, the reason kung bakit ko sinasabi, I’m trying to say na kung magmahal ako, nagbibigay kami hindi dahil gusto kong ipagyabang years later. No, ganun ako magmahal.
“Ganyan tayong mga Pilipino, nasa kultura natin ‘yan, kung sinong nakakaangat, siya ang tutulong sa pamilya at lalung-lalo na kung paborito mong kapatid. So, Dani was the apple of my eye. I didn’t have any children yet [at that time]. I provided everything, including love and attention. And so did Claudine,” she added.
Claudine also said that Dani was a sickly child who used to be taken to the hospital several times. Gretchen agreed to this and said that they were the ones who mostly took care of her.
“She has a psoriasis ba yun or asthma of the skin, she had asthma. Darling, ako ang nagdadala sa ospital, sa doctor. Ito [Claudine] ang nagbabantay sa ospital,” Gretchen said.
Gretchen also mentioned that actor Dennis Padilla even wanted to adopt Dani when he got together with Marjorie.
“Many, many years went on. Of course, Dennis Padilla and Marjorie were together already, they were living-in already when Marjorie was pregnant with Dani.
“Of course, Dennis was doing very well at that time. He was doing movies also sa Viva Films. So, ang nangyari dun, Dennis also provide food, and beyond just food, taking other bills.
“He was doing well in show business. Itinuring talaga ni Dennis Padilla si Dani na gusto nga niyang i-adopt,” Gretchen revealed.
At the end of the Instagram Live video which lasted for nearly two hours, Gretchen explained why she got disappointed with Dani’s words.
“Dani saying that ‘only my mom raised me, siya lang, she raised me all alone…’ ‘Tapos sabi niya ano… ‘Hurt ba ako? No naman.’
“Minahal ko si Dani. I thought I was her second mother. So, parang ngayon, yung sinabi na, ‘My mom was the only one who’s there for me who raised me alone, on her own…’ Ano ako, multo? Ano si Claudine, multo?
“Parang for me, ouch. Di ba, parang ouch! I was hoping I raised or I gave love to people who at least can be grateful, at least, yun lang. Not counting the material things that you gave away at that time, the time, the attention, yun lang. Yun lang, a little respect,” she said.
Kier’s reaction
After the posting of the said video, Kier posted a photo on Instagram which showed a quote English singer-songwriter na si John Lennon.
The photo reads, “Being honest may not get you a lot of friends but it’ll always get you the right ones.”
He also tagged Gretchen on the caption to thank her and her family for airing their opinions on the issue.
Gretchen also commented on Kier’s post saying “I feel you.”
Prior to thanking Gretchen, Kier has already posted an open letter on Instagram addressed to Dani.
In the said letter, he said that he did not want to be separated from his own daughter.
“Bata ka pa lang lagi na kitang hinahabol, you don’t know what I had to do just to see you. Until now, I’m still waiting for our meeting,” he said.
As of press time, Dani has not made any statements regarding the reactions of her father and aunts.
