Ethel Booba's biggest challenge

It's "reality TV drama" for Ethel Booba in "S-Files" last Sunday. The biggest challenge circling around her life right now is the split between basketball player boyfriend Alex Crisano and her immediate family. The rumor mill has been brewing for quite sometime. Ethel, host of Philippines' reality TV "Extra Challenge," has been going through a personal crisis that has gotten her loved ones entangled in an unfortunate struggle for her time and attention.

Alex has been "accused" of pulling Ethel's heart away from her family. And, out of this, are rumors saying that the star has backed out of many family obligations in favor of the said cager. Alex and Ethel have denied all the allegations. "Sobra na," remarked Ethel when she was asked to comment about the rumor. "Baka nga it's time that the chismis was addressed di ba?" the sexy comedienne added.

"S-Files" asked Alex, Ethel and her entire family upfront to discuss the issue face-to-face. Just like how an entertainment scribe put it: "Walang plastikan, walang chismisan. Harap-harapan na."

Inside the Studio B of the GMA Network Center, arguments flew as confessions from both sides started coming up. Ethel said that her younger sister Bobita is influencing her family to turn up against her boyfriend. Ethel also wondered why her sister is siding with the house help who is currently accusing Alex of harassment.

Ethel and Alex vehemently denied the claim that such abuse happened. The Fil-Am cager also told the media that he is shocked about the molestation case against him, saying his kids were the ones who were physically abused by their helper.

When Ethel's family took the centerstage, the comedienne's mom started filling the base. "Marami akong ayaw kay Alex at nilalayo niya si Ethel sa amin," the mom said. "Maayos man o hindi, bale wala rin kasi hindi naman kami pinaniniwalaan ni Ethel," Ethel's mom sadly remarked. She was speaking of Alex's attitude towards her in most of their encounters. One of these incidents, she said, was when Alex annoyingly pulled Ethel in the arm while she was still talking to her daughter in the elevator.

When it was Alex and Ethel's time to explain their side, the story took a different spin. Alex said issues were all getting blown out of proportion. Ethel shed tears as she shared her mom's text message to her that morning which said something like "bakit hindi na kayo magpakamatay ni Alex?" Ethel insists she never failed in fulfilling family obligations and that she deserves to find her own happiness too in Alex's arms. "Binigay ko na nga lahat pero bakit kulang pa?" Ethel cried.

The "reality TV drama" turned up heat on the show. Before the segment ended, "S-Files" host Richard Gomez had both Ethel and her mom sit side by side to settle their issues. The two had more tears than words to spill. In the end, they said they will talk and solve their family business in private.

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