Lotlot de Leon (left) and Janine Gutierrez. Images: Screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network, Instagram/@janinegutierrez
Despite having her fair share of hardships in show biz, Lotlot de Leon couldn’t hold herself back from being protective toward her daughter Janine Gutierrez when the latter was dealing with bashers and naysayers in her career.
During a “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” interview on Monday, May 1, de Leon revealed that she once sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), saying that she couldn’t help but feel hurt seeing her daughter suffering from negative comments.
“The first few years I was managing Janine [Gutierrez], ang hirap kasi I was her mom and manager at the same time. Masakit pala kapag pinupulaan ang anak. Napakasakit,” she admitted, when she was asked if she ever gave words of wisdom to her children when it comes to being in the public eye.
(The first few years I was managing Janine, it was hard because I was her mom and manager at the same time. It’s painful to see people attacking your daughter. It really hurts.)
The seasoned actress shared that she was so overcome with distress by Gutierrez’s bashers that she had to take screenshots of the negative comments and report them to the NBI.
“Alam mo ba? Pumunta pa ako sa NBI para mag-report [ng bashers]. Dumating sa ganoon. Scrineen-shot ko lahat, pinrint ko lahat ng mga masasakit na salita sa anak ko on Twitter and nagpunta ako ng NBI. I wanted to ask help, gusto kong malaman kung sino ‘yung mga taong nagsasalita ng mga masasakit sa anak ko,” she added.
(Did you know that I went to the NBI to report her bashers? I’ve reached that point. I screenshot and printed all the negative comments towards my daughter on Twitter, and went to the NBI. I wanted to ask for help. I wanted to know who these bashers were.)
The “Destined to Be Yours” star, who remained unsure if her daughter knew about her actions, eventually realized that Gutierrez was capable enough to deal with bashers and negative comments.
“Ganoon ka-intense. And then, na-realize ko that my children are strong. I should also have more faith in my daughter, na kung anuman ‘yun, kung anuman ‘yung pagdaanan niya dito sa industriya, kakayanin niya, at kaya niya,” she said.
(It was that intense. And then, I realized that my children are strong. I should also have more faith in my daughter, that no matter what she goes through in the showbiz industry, she can handle it. And she handles it well.)
Before starting her showbiz career, De Leon also said that she had to ask the “Dirty Linen” star if being an actress was what she wanted in life, to which the latter said that she was firm with her decision.
“When Janine asked me if she could be in the [show biz], I said, ‘Sigurado ka ba?’ And then she said, ‘Yes mom.’ So, hinayaan ko siya,” she revealed. “Sa pinagdaanan ko rin kasi, mahirap. Kasi all eyes are on you.”
(When Janine asked me if she could enter show biz, I said, “Are you sure?” And then she said, “Yes mom.” So, I allowed her. I’ve been through hard times before because all eyes are on you.)
Janine is the daughter of veteran actors Lotlot de Leon and Monching Gutierrez, who both currently star in the GMA series “The Write One.” Her paternal grandparents include Pilita Corales and Eddie Gutierrez, while Christopher de Leon and Nora Aunor are her adoptive maternal grandparents.
The actress has been an exclusive talent of ABS-CBN since 2021, where she currently stars as Alexa Salvacion in the hit revenge drama “Dirty Linen.” /ra