Press con morphs into gripe session; Mother Lily annoyed

Mother Lily Monteverde. photo by arnold almacen

Or was that meant to be a gripe session?

The press con held Tuesday night for the latest Regal drama film, “My Neighbor’s Wife,” was the farthest thing from “relaxed.”  Producer Lily Monteverde threatened to walk out, and entertainment writer Mario Bautista scolded Carla Abellana, one of the lead stars.

Bautista castigated Abellana for reacting negatively to his column in the People’s Journal tabloid on August 21. Abellana had sent him an e-mail earlier, saying she was “shocked” that Bautista had “quoted” her about something that she didn’t remember discussing with him. She said the article was based on secondhand information and was, therefore, “unreliable.”

During the gathering, held at the Monteverdes’ Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City, Bautista said he had based the write-up on press releases sent to him by Regal Entertainment for the coming movie. Abellana  was ungrateful, he shot back, and he had felt insulted when the actress threatened him and demanded a retraction.

Probably jolted, Abellana attempted to pacify Bautista. “Let’s fix this,” she said. “If I hurt your feelings in any way, I apologize.” And then effectively took it back by adding, “It’s not that I’m not thankful for all your support, sir, but I’m sure anybody would react to anything negative.”

Breach of contract

Only minutes before this clash, Monteverde had taken the microphone and announced she was leaving her own press con. “I really like Carla; she’s a really nice woman,” said “Mother” Lily. “I don’t understand her manager’s behavior.”

Monteverde said Arnold Vegafria signed up Carla for “Asiong Salonga,” a production of Laguna Governor ER Ejercito, even when the actress is an exclusive talent of Regal Entertainment.

“Roselle (Monteverde-Teo, her daughter) talked to GMA 7 to get you [on board for ‘Neighbor’s’],” Monteverde told Carla. “We help build up stars and this is what we get. We’ve been calling Arnold—no answer.”

Abellana told writers after the press con: “This is really between the two of them. Mother (Monteverde) loves me and I love her very much. Hopefully, only good things will come out once they get to talk. Arnold is very professional. I hope this is settled before it gets blown out of proportion.”

But she’s keeping Vegafria as manager, she said. “Why wouldn’t I? I trust him. If there was a misunderstanding, I’d be the first to make sure it’s fixed.”

Abellana’s costar, Jake Cuenca, thought she handled the little skirmish very well. “I’m not sure how I would’ve reacted,” he said.

“My Neighbor’s Wife” is written and directed by Jun Lana, and also stars Lovi Poe and Dennis Trillo. It premieres in theaters nationwide on September 14. Marinel R. Cruz