“Ako, hindi ako nai-insecure sa kahit kaninong artista,” says Annabelle Rama about the rumored “tampo” with GMA network.
For the first time, Annabelle Rama answered the nagging question of showbiz reporters, “Totoo bang lilipat si Richard Gutierrez sa ABS-CBN?”
After the press conference of her newest product endorsement, Circulan, at Annabel’s restaurant on Timog Avenue, Quezon City, Annabelle sat down with showbiz reporters and explained everything about the rumored transfer of her son/talent Richard.
“Actually, ngayon lang ako magsasalita, ha, kasi never akong nag-comment,” Annabelle started her lengthy explanation. “Hindi ba, tinatanong ako, di ba? Never akong nag-comment sa video at saka sa print.
“Ngayon, magko-comment ako kasi para manahimik na sila. Kaya lumabas na lilipat kami dahil hindi nga ako nag-comment. Meron lang kasing chismoso sa GMA [network] na narinig na hindi ako nag-renew [ng contract].”
THE HINDRANCE. At first, Annabelle vaguely answered the media why they were having second thought of renewing Richard’s contract with GMA network.
“Is it because of the talent fee?” asked one of the reporters.
Annabelle immediately answered, “Ako kasi, hindi naman sa pera, e. Kasi kung talent fee, walang problema. Sa talent fee, hindi ako kinakausap. Yes, wala akong problema sa talent fee, okay na kami [GMA network].”
Then, she finally revealed the factor why they have not yet decided to renew their contract.
Annabelle opened up to the media, “Hindi kami nag-renew kasi nagkaroon ng problema sa GMA-7—hindi sa mga Gozon, doon sa mga staff—na hindi pa nasu-solve. Kailangan kasi ma-solve muna lahat ng problema na yun bago ka pumirma. At ang gusto ko rin, nakalatag lahat ng projects niya for two years. Kasi ang two years, mahirap ‘yang two years, baka every month maghingi ka pa. Mukha kang kawawa, ‘Ano bang klaseng project ‘to, di ba?”
TOO-GOOD-TO-REFUSE OFFER. In a report saying Richard might move to ABS-CBN, it was also mentioned that Richard’s camp has received a “too-good-to-refuse” offer from the Kapamilya network.
This was clarified right away by Jun Lalin, publicist of the Gutierrez family. Speaking on behalf of Annabelle, he told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), “Nakakahiya on the part of the Gutierrezes, na baka sabihin we are really entertaining such offer, at nakakahiya rin sa ABS dahil wala naman talagang ganoon. Hindi kami nagre-react noon sa mga blind item dahil hindi nga totoo. Pero nagulat kami na naisulat na rin pala na may ganito ngang offer daw.”
On the other hand, when Annabelle was asked if the offer was true, she answered, “Actually, yung offer, hindi naman mawawala yun, e.”
Then, she said that the “lipatan” issue never came from them nor they were using ABS-CBN to make Richard’s talent fee in GMA-7 higher.
She said, “Kasi, unang-una, papaano namang malalaman ng ABS-CBN na wala na kaming [kontrata] sa GMA-7? Wala naman kaming sinasabi sa kanila at never naman akong lumapit. Ako, never akong lumapit at saka never akong gumagawa ng ano sa ABS-CBN para tumaas ang talent fee.
“Noong lumabas sa isang newspaper yung [isyu na] baka lumipat, yung talent fee ni Richard, nandiyan na, napag-usapan na namin. Kaya hindi yun ang reason na lilipat kami [dahil] baka tataasan ang presyo.
“Hindi [katulad] ng gawin ng iba na bargaining. Hindi kailangan ang bargaining kasi kinausap na ako tungkol sa kontrata. Ang una ko talagang in-open, ang talent fee at saka downpayment. Approved lahat yun, walang problema.”
RESOLUTION. Despite the pressure of the media, Annabelle still refused to divulge the problem they have with some of the Kapuso staff. Instead, she just said that they have talked about the issue with GMA-7 president Felipe Gozon and program manager Redgie Magno-Acuña when they had a dinner recently.
“Ayos na. Nag-meeting kami noong isang gabi kaya okay na kami,” said Annabelle. “Actually, hindi meeting yun, e. Parang inimbitahan lang nila kaming mag-dinner, kaming mag-asawa [she and husband Eddie Gutierrez], Atty. and Mrs. [Felipe] Gozon, Redgie, at Richard.
“Hindi yun meeting sa problem. Gusto lang nila mag-dinner kasi lagi naman kaming nagdi-dinner nun, e, lalo na si Annette [Gozon-Abrogar, GMA Films president] at saka yung nanay niya. Lagi kaming magkasama sa dinner, kung saang party. Pero inimbita lang kaming mag-dinner that night, kami nina Eddie.”
At the end, she told the media that she is set to have a meeting with GMA-7’s senior vice president for entertainment Wilma Galvante tonight, April 11, to talk about the said problem and hopefully settle everything.
