COMEDIAN Dennis Padilla admitted he is concerned that the rift between the celebrity Barretto sisters might affect their respective children, who also happen to be public figures.
Padilla is the former husband of Majorie Barretto, who is estranged from her two sisters, Gretchen and Claudine.
Marjorie has three children with Padilla – actress Julia, singer Claudia, and Leon — and two more daughters, Dani and Erich.
Marjorie Barretto poses with her children. Instagram: @marjbarretto
“Actually naaawa din ako. Gusto ko sana na kahit na may tampuhan ang mga nakatatanda, sana huwag madamay ang mga magpipinsan ba,” Padilla was quoted as saying by PUSH.
Gretchen and Claudine, who recently reconciled and appear closer than ever after years of public feuding, have been sharing updates of their families spending time together.
Gretchen has one daughter, Dominique, with businessman Tonyboy Cojuangco, while Claudine has two children, Sabina and Santino, with ex-husband and former onscreen partner Raymart Santiago. Claudine is also reported to have two other adopted children.
Padilla drew from his own experience in lamenting the strained ties between the Barretto sisters.
“Kasi ako ever since we (Marjorie) got separated, ‘yung mga anak ko sa una and mga anak ko kay Marjorie, imbis na ma-solidify, medyo napalayo. Nakakalungkot,” he said.
All of Padilla’s children with Marjorie are living with the latter, but the comedian said he makes it a point to consistently reach out to them.
Referring to Julia, he said: “Well, ako, once in a while I text her, kasi sa edad niya kapag hindi siya masyado nag-open up, hindi ko masyado kinakalkal. Ang ginagawa ko lang once in a while, once in a week, tini-text ko lang.”
Among his advice to his children, Padilla shared, has to do with keeping the bond of family strong.
“I always tell them na one day, ‘We will die and kayo lang ang magkakapatid.’ And I always mention na kapag mayroon kayong kapatid na gipit, huwag niyong hintayin na humingi ng tulong, kayo ang pumunta at lumapit,” he said. (ABS-CBN News)
