What matters most to GRETCHEN BARRETTO

Gretchen Barretto was shocked to hear the rumor that her lover, Tony Boy Cojuangco, was supposed to have died or committed suicide. The first time she was told about by her good friend Ruffa Gutierrez, she felt as if her heart skipped a beat. She immediately called up Tony Boy and she was already quite in panic because the guy wasn't answering his cellphone.

"I've been involved in some many controversies and intrigues and that was the first I encountered such kind of rumor. Parang I didn't want to talk about it, especially last week. First, it was Ruffa and her publicist Jun Lalin who told me that Tony Boy passed away. There was also this item that he supposedly committed suicide," said Gretchen at the launch of Circulan 4-in-1, the health supplement that has taken her as well Christopher de Leon, Joyce Jimenez and Luis Manzano as celebrity endorsers held yesterday at the Crowne Plaza at Robinson's Galleria complex.

"Well, I don't believe Tony Boy would commit suicide because he's not a dramatic person. He's not Romeo and I am not Juliet," she said with a laugh. "I know he's in love with me but he's not the type who'd take his life. When Ruffa told me about the news, my heart seemed to have stopped beating. I nearly threw away the phone but I called him up. It's a good thing he answered the phone and told me he's in a meeting.

"I exclaimed, my God you're not dead, when I heard him speak. And he said, 'Of course, I am not dead. I am in a meeting right now.' I told him, I am so young and so beautiful para mawalan ng lover. I feel okay now. At least, I can now laugh about it," said the beautiful Gretchen. And right after she talked to Tony Boy, she immediately called up Ruffa to tell her her lover is very much alive and kicking. "And I am not available," she added and followed it with a hearty laughter. Ruffa broke into tears after hearing the good news, and so did Gretchen. Now, a week later, she just laughs as she recalled the incident.

"I feel I love him (Tony) more after the tsismis. When he came home that night, I hugged him tight. He told me, don't be crazy. I am not going to do that to you. I am not gonna die. Then I told him, as if naman we have control over sa buhay natin."

Greta, acknowledged as one of the prettiest faces in showbiz, has a good and healthy heart. This is a result of hawthorne berries working in every capsule of Circulan. Everyone knows all of the controversies that have surrounded her but she has won over them with grace and wit. She is, at present, enjoys the bliss of love and motherhood, which to her, is all that matters.

Mark and Jennylyn feuding?

Former sweethearts Mark Herras and Jennylyn Mercado have a misunderstanding. Although the two have parted ways, the Ultimate Survivors of Starstruck Batch 1 remain to be one the most popular and controversial loveteams in showbiz.

Although have parted ways, they've remained friends, as friends, they too have their share of misunderstandings. At the taping of "Princess Charming" last Tuesday, Mark told the press that he and Jennylyn have a misunderstanding. But he declined to elaborate on the issue, adding the matter is too personal. The misunderstanding between Mark and Jennylyn supposedly involves Patrick Garcia, said to be the new boyfriend of Jennylyn. According to Mark, he received a text message from Patrick saying he (Mark) is not to meddle in the affair of Jennylyn and Patrick.

"Hindi ko sila ginugulo. Misunderstanding namin ni Jen yun bilang magkaibigan. Wala akong pakialam sa relasyon nila, hindi ako nagseselos. Ang ayoko lang, yung tini-text ako ni Patrick na wala naman siyang alam," said Mark who was obviously irritated

Where would that text message came from? Well, Jennylyn probably told Patrick about her misunderstanding with her ex-bf, and Patrick probably felt he ought to come to Jennylyn's rescue (as they are reportedly an item now). But Patrick and Mark are not close so this explains why Mark is pissed off.

Mark also said that if ever he bumps into Patrick, he'd confront the guy and ask him what he's problem. But he said he wouldn't be the one to make the first move to talk to Patrick, adding that he doesn't really know how he's going to react once he sees Patrick, who is said to be the new boyfriend of Jennylyn.

"The people who are close to me know me. I haven't had a quarrel with anyone from showbiz. In the same manner, no one has the right to push me around or bully me," said Mark. Is there trouble brewing between Mark and Patrick? It's a good thing they are not together in any show of GMA 7. Mark is a mainstay of the new afternoon drama "Princess Charming" while Jennylyn and Patrick are together in the primetime action-adventure series "Super Twins."

Big concert for Philippine Idol finalists

Mau Marcelo, Jan Nieto and Gian Magdangal are performing at the pre-Valentine Day's concert of the Philippine Idol finalists to be held on February 9 at the Araneta Coliseum. The concert is titled "Valentine's 12." This will be the last time the three finalists would be together in one show since the grand finals of the contest won by Mau. "This is the last time all 12 of us would be together. I don't know if this event is ever going to happen again," said the grand prize of Philippine Idol.

Mau's fellow top three finalists, Jan Nieto and Gian Magdangal, will also be performing live with her. Other finalists who will be joining the three Philippine Idols in the show are Miguel Mendoza, Pow Chavez, Ken Dingle, Apples Chiu, Arms Cruz, Jeli Mateo, Reymond Sajor, Drae Ybañez, and Stef Lazaro.

Meanwhile, Mau has also released her very first album recently. It's a CD-Lite album entitled Mau Marcelo: On My Own, which contains three singles.

The album, released under Sony-BMG Music Entertainment, features the Soul Idol's winning piece "On My Own," a Whitney Houston original. It also includes her rendition of Mariah Carey's "Love Takes Time" (her song choice during the finals), Ariel Rivera's hit song "Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin," and the minus ones of these singles. Aside from the CD-Lite album, there are also plans to release Mau's debut album soon. Although she did not reveal the title of the album yet, Mau said the album may contain both original and revival songs.