Gretchen Barretto walking out of her solo presscon last Wednesday, April 7

Ever-controversial actress Gretchen Barretto finally explained why she walked out of her own solo presscon last Wednesday, April 7.

Gretchen said she didn’t see it coming.

“It was a very happy mood. Siyempre, gusto ko lahat ng tao na kasama ko masaya,” she initially explained on “Showbiz News Ngayon” last April 9.

The festive atmosphere changed when a barrage of questions alluding to her rivalry with younger sister Claudine were thrown at her. Gretchen admitted she was unprepared to parry off those questions.

“Bigla akong binugbog ng mga tanong na hindi ako aware talaga sa mga nangyari. Wala rin namang nag-warn sa akin na iyon ang itatanong. Kaya ako nagulat kasi parang many reporters were asking me questions, and I really didn’t know how to deal with [them]. Familiar ang sinasabi nila pero nagulat ako na umabot sa press,” she said.

Her sensibilities were hurt by questions she never imagined she would be asked. This, she said, broke the camel’s back.

“May mga naitanong sa akin na sensitive na topic na nakakasakit. Siyempre, ayokong palakihin 'yong mga accusations, so minabuti ko na lang na tumayo. Basta 'yong mga sinasabi nila sa akin hindi ko naman narinig. Paano ko sasagutin ang isang tanong na wala akong kinalaman sa mga sinasabi.”

Though she was hurt by those prying questions, no one has apologized to the actress.

“Sorry? Wala, wala namang nag-sorry. I guess, ini-expect din nila na, kasi sanay sila, ‘Uy si Gretchen sumasagot ‘yan.’ Eh, nagulat talaga ko dahil hindi ko nga in-expect na lumabas talaga 'yong mga lumabas. Minsan kasi, parang ang hinihingi ko sa tao, sometimes you have to be sensitive.”

Gretchen said she harbors no ill feelings towards anybody, saying it’s a blessing to feel that way.

“At this point in my life, hindi ko puwedeng sabihin na may galit ako kahit kanino. Marami nang nangyari sa buhay ko at nandito ako ngayon. Binibiyayaan ako ng Diyos. I’m in a very good state right now. Wala akong galit kahit kanino.” 

Meanwhile, Gretchen enjoyed her first day of her short course on fashion in preparation for her role in “Magkaribal.” Bea Alonzo, who plays Gretchen’s younger sister, is also taking the same course.

“Lahat kami nagpa-practice kami ng sketching kasi siyempre may mga eksena na mag-i-sketch kami. Kailangan realistic, kailangan kami ang gumagawa,” said Gretchen.

The controversial actress even showed televiewers her work, a sketch which she said took her some time to finish. “Matagal bago ko ito ginawa. Pencil muna ang ginamit. Maraming erasures. Ang hirap-hirap pala. Parang ang dali-dali ‘pag tiningnan mo. Kanina pa ako nagsasabi, ‘Uwi na ako.’ Artista lang ako, hindi talaga ako fashion designer.”

Given that, does she see herself designing clothes in the future?

“Hindi ko pa nakikita 'yan right now. Hindi talaga ako marunong mag-drawing. 'Yan ang dilemma ko. Maybe later on in life, I don’t know.”