ANNULMENT:  MARJORIE'S  ONLY  WAY  OUT  OF  TROUBLED  MARRIAGE

MANILA, JUNE 18, 2007 (STAR) FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo - The decade-long marriage of Marjorie Barretto and Dennis Padilla started cracking last year and there was no way out but for them to file for a petition for declaration of nullity of a marriage which may not be valid at all because Dennis’ first marriage to a non-showbiz girl has reportedly never been annulled.

This was confirmed by lawyer Ellen Veza in an exclusive interview with Funfare. Veza was hired by Marjorie as counsel in the annulment petition (Q-O7-60531) Marjorie filed last week at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

Said Veza, “Yes, it’s true that Marjorie has caused the filing of a petition for declaration of nullity of marriage against Dennis (whose real surname is Baldivia). We filed it last Monday, June 11, and it is now pending in court.”

And, yes, Veza confirmed, Marjorie and Dennis started having problems as early as last year but they opted to keep things under wraps. But last month, the couple admitted in a Funfare “scoop” that they have decided to go into a “trial separation” until Dennis, according to Marjorie, “changes his ways.” In the joint interview, the couple denied that a third party on either side was involved or that they were having financial problems.

Added Veza, “The truth is that the couple had approached me about their problem way back last year. I told them early on that the problem was serious and it was not something that they can just ignore.”

Veza neither confirmed nor denied the rumor that it was Dennis’ first un-annulled marriage that caused the rift between him and Marjorie.

“I cannot talk about the contents of the petition or the grounds cited therein,” Veza begged off. “As you know, Family Court cases are confidential in nature.”

The Funfare “scoop” came out two days after Marjorie was proclaimed councilor in Caloocan City where Dennis served also as councilor for three terms. During the campaign, Marjorie became the target of a smear campaign that linked her to reelected Caloocan City Mayor Recom Echiverri. The couple vehemently denied the rumor which, they suspected, was cooked up by people who wanted to destroy Echiverri’s reputation by using Marjorie.

Dennis has two children with his first wife and three with Marjorie: Julia, 10; Claudia, seven; and Leon, two. Marjorie has a child by former boyfriend Kier Legaspi, Daniella, 13. Marjorie and the children are featured in the Nido TV commercial.

Without disclosing what it was, Veza said that the couple’s relationship was deeply affected by “an unexpected setback.”

“It was never the same again for them, especially for Marjorie.”

Eventually, the “unexpected setback” took a toll on the marriage itself and the couple didn’t have any choice but to go on a “trial separation.”

It seems that the separation is not just a “trial” but for good.

“Unfortunately for the couple,” added Veza, “there seems to be no other available solution to their present situation but this petition. It is like a bitter pill that they both have to take if only to rectify an error that needs to be cured.”

By now, you should have an idea what that “error” is.

“For the record,” said Veza, “Marjorie had planned to initiate this action long before the elections. However, she was overtaken by events and before she knew it, she was already in the middle of the campaign and obviously it was not a good time to file it then. I advised her to wait until after the elections.”

Marjorie maintained a cool-and-composed front throughout the campaign, giving not a hint that her marriage was headed for the rocks.

“She did not anticipate, though, that their marital problem would become the root of ugly rumors, especially since it was the height of the election period,” said Veza. “Marjorie endured all the rumors because I specifically told her that she cannot talk about the cause of their separation since it was very sensitive. After she was proclaimed, we decided that it was time to file the petition.”

That was also the time Marjorie and Dennis decided to call Funfare to break the story.

“In fairness to Dennis,” concluded Veza, “I wouldn’t say that this is entirely his fault. He took steps to verify certain matters prior to his marriage to Marjorie and he has documentary evidence to prove this. The situation is very unfortunate considering how beautiful their marriage was and both parties gave it their best shot.”

Sad, sad, sad! Another showbiz marriage down the drain.

Because of a gag order from the court, Marjorie and Dennis are mum about the matter.

But they need not say anything more, do they?

Mother Teresa’s Powerful Novena

My good friend, celebrity lawyer Katrina Legarda, sent me Mother Teresa’s Powerful Novena which I want to share with Funfare readers. Here it is:

You were chosen to receive this novena. The moment you receive it, say one Hail Mary and one Our Father:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus, Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread ,and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

GOD WANTED ME TO TELL YOU — it shall be well with you this year. No matter how much your enemies try this year, they will not succeed. You have been destined to make it and you shall surely achieve all your goals this year.

For the remaining months of the year, ALL your agonies will be diverted and victory and prosperity will be incoming in abundance. Today God has confirmed the end of your sufferings, sorrows and pain because HE that sits on the throne has remembered you. He has taken away the hardships and given you JOY. He will never let you down. I knocked at heaven’ s door this morning, God asked me... My child! What can I do for you? And I said, “Father, please protect and bless the person reading this message... “

The Hail Mary and Our Father is the Novena. This is a Novena from Mother Teresa that she started in 1952. It has never been broken. Within 48 hours send 20 copies to family and friends. This is a powerful Novena.

Couldn’t hurt. Please do not break it..

What’s up?

• Pete Lacaba is inviting everyone to watch Musikalusugan, a benefit concert to raise funds for the community-based Alternative Medicine Training Program of the Philippine Center for Traditional and Alternative Medicine (PCTAM), at Conspiracy Café, 9 p.m. to 12 midnight tomorrow (June 19). Featured are Cynthia Alexander, Joey Ayala, Bayang Barrios, Heber Bartolome, Cooky Chua, Aba Dalena, Ricky Davao, Mon David, Susan Fernandez, Dyords Javier, Arthur Manuntag, Willie Nep, Joel Saracho, Girl Valencia and Mike Villegas, with Ferdie Borja on keyboards. Pete Lacaba, an acupuncture patient, is the immediate past president of PCTAM, the non-government organization (NGO) that set up and runs The Healing Zone (on Kalayaan Ave., Quezon City). As far as Pete, Jo-Ann Maglipon and I are concerned, The Healing Zone (tel. nos. 426-9041 and 433-4261) is the best such (acupuncture) clinic that truly offers an oasis of relief from aches and pains. I’ve tried another acupuncture clinic also in Quezon City until a very unpleasant experience happened, making me vow never, never to go to that place again, ever!