Toujour Pur

Whether she’s doing or saying something headline-worthy, or not doing or saying anything at all, Gretchen Barretto makes news - and how!

The latest is the so-called "credit card" incident at a restaurant in Dusit Hotel Nikko in Makati City where, according to reports, Gretchen treated her sister Marjorie, friends Ruffa Gutierrez and Pops Fernandez, and an unidentified friend to dinner one Sunday. When the P4,300 bill came, Gretchen gave the waiter her credit card which was "rejected" when it was swiped in the machine.

Angered, Gretchen reportedly said, "That cannot be; we own the bank." It was a Sunday and there was no way of verifying with the bank (unnamed). Ruffa saved the day by footing the bill.

Did Gretchen tell Tonyboy Cojuangco to rush to the hotel where, still according to the report, they had an argument?

At the presscon last Wednesday introducing Ruffa as the "comebacking" endorser of The Belo Medical Clinic, she explained that, lest she be suspected to have spread the story, she actually kept mum about it, adding that it was no big deal if she paid for the dinner because, after all, the amount was too small compared to what Gretchen has spent for past dinners with friends.

The incident spawned speculations that the relationship between Gretchen and her beloved Tonyboy has been worsening instead of improving.

"It never happened to Ruffa before," said a showbiz-observer, "not even when she and (estranged husband) Yilmaz Bektas were starting to have marital trou-bles - you know, for Ruffa’s credit card to be ‘invalidated’ without her knowledge."

Contacted by Funfare Update for comment, Gretchen simply texted back the following message:

Thank you for your love and friendship. It’s the same old-blown-up story. I’m getting tired living in Manila. My every move is always watched. I will be moving out of this country soon.

No, Gretchen didn’t say where she’s moving to, when and with whom.

Will Daisy run after Danita?

Have you been wondering why it has been all quiet on Daisy Romualdez’s front these past two months?

The reason is that Daisy was in the States, enjoying time away from the messy showbiz scene.

"I stayed with my sisters and relatives," Daisy told Funfare Update yesterday, a few days after she flew back home recharged.

One of her most memorable experiences was meeting California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and having a picture taken with him.

"It happened on a Sunday," related Daisy. "We were attending Mass at Santa Monica and my sister pointed out Schwarzenegger to me. After the Mass, I told my sister that I would approach Schwarzenegger, and I did. I told him, ‘Mr. Governor, I’m from the Philippines and I’m your avid fan; I didn’t tell him that I’m an actress. He smiled and said, ‘Thank you!’ Then, I said, ‘May I have a picture with you?’ He said, ‘Sure!’ And that was it."

Back home, Daisy learned that her prodigal daughter, Danita Paner, is "living-in" with her boyfriend.

"I’m checking if it’s true," said Daisy. "And then I will take the necessary legal action."

Briefly noted

* Back in school at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran where she’s a Masscom scholar, Rebecca Lusterio has many interesting stories to tell what she did last summer back home in Bohol. "I have the best vacation break I ever had," Rebecca told her good friend and fellow Boholano Leo Udtohan. While in Bohol, Rebecca modeled for fashion designer Maximiel Tallo (nephew of former actress Rebecca del Rio) at a Santacruzan. "I felt like a queen," gushed Rebecca whose dream is to star in a teleserye.

* From San Francisco-based Funfare Update contributor Bradford Adkins, this brief report: Charice wowed a big crowd in downtown San Francisco during the Fiesta Filipina celebration two Sundays ago. She sang I Will Always Love You, among other songs, with the same fervor as she did when she guested on Ellen and Oprah, never mind if there was some mix-up in the minus-one, leaving the song unfinished. Instead, Charice sang Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin, followed by Ako Ay Pilipino. Both songs elicited defeaning applause.