MANILA, Philippines - ?Si Greta, ?di lang puro intriga, may CD rin.?

This was the gist of Gretchen Barretto?s message to entertainment writers who attended the album launch hosted by Star Records on Wednesday.

?Gretchen Barretto: Unexpected? features covers of 12 classic love songs. It is produced by the actress? longtime partner, businessman Tonyboy Cojuangco.

Star Records is handling marketing and distribution, said marketing manager Nixon Sy.

Gretchen, in a low-cut Chanel shift, arrived an hour late at the gathering set at 4 p.m. To make up for her tardiness, she said, she sang three songs from the CD??I Will,? ?Please Don?t Ask Me,? and ?More?? complete with spiels and hand gestures.

She would sing more songs a capella later, during the Q&A session.

But the usually chatty Gretchen seemed overly cautious, refusing to discuss her relationship with Tonyboy and a rumored feud with former actress Nadia Montenegro.

?I have to protect the people I love?my daughter and the people who care about me who are not from show biz,? she said cryptically. ?Someday, I may be able to answer all your questions. Sana rin I can write a book about my life because it?s very colorful.?

Did you take voice lessons before recording?
I trained to sing Broadway songs. Ngayon na lang ako kumakanta ng mga love songs.

Who are your teachers?
My first teacher was someone from Repertory Philip pines. I forget the name; that was 12 years ago. I trained for a year. [Then] for over a year, I trained for pop songs with Jerry Olaguer.

The original plan was, I?d record the CD to give away as souvenirs. Naisipan naming ilapit sa Star Records.

Would you rather act or sing?
Mahirap mamili. I?m blessed; I can do both.

Are you a ?take one? artist?
I don?t think there?s such a thing. I?m not too particular if may konting sabit sa tono. What?s important is ?pag pinakinggan mo ang kabuuan ng kanta, nandoon ang emosyon. When I say I?m a singer, that?s really half-joke, half-truth. I don?t think everybody would expect all the songs to be perfect.

How much did you spend on the album?
Hindi ako magaling sa pera. Si Bettina (Aspillaga, road manager) ang may alam sa accounting. Parang naduduling ako pag pera kaya hindi ko pinag-uusapan talaga ?yun. Hindi ako sanay.

You said that part of your inspiration are people who do not believe in you. Why?
Kasi sa buhay, pag walang humuhusga, you won?t know that you need to improve.

Would you say this is a dream come true? How important is this to your career?
To have my own CD is certainly a dream come true. Ang tagal kong nawala, so right now I have something new to present to everybody. Hindi lang puro intriga, may CD rin.

How old were you when you realized you wanted to sing?
When I was 10, ang mga kinakanta ko ? ?A dream is a wish your heart makes??

How did your family react when first told that you wanted to
release your own CD?
Alam nila na mahilig talaga akong kumanta. Si Marjorie (Barretto, her sister) ang No. 1 fan ko. Ang dami n?yang biniling copies. Pinamigay n?ya.

Did you sing to Dominique when she was younger?
Yes, songs like, ?A Dream is a Wish,? ?When You Wish Upon a Star? and ?Rainbow Connection.?

Was Dominique supposed to do a song for the album, too?

She?s turning 13. Ang music n?ya hindi na yung pa-cute. But really, Dominique has a beautiful voice. Kaya lang, mahiyain.

Why don?t you enroll her in a singing class, too?
Ayaw kong pilitin kasi masyado pang maaga. You learn from listening; later, you develop the talent.

Do you intend to make money out of this album?
What I really hope to do is just impart how I feel, my love for music, my love for life and for this industry. I want to give joy and love. Money is just money, nagagasta, nauubos. If I can make money, good, but we will choose a charity to give the proceeds to. Si Tony naman ang gumasta d?yan, hindi ako.

What was the most unexpected change that happened to you last year, and how did you handle it?
The most unexpected thing was the ?Unexpected? album. It was born because of the feelings I?ve been feeling since 2007. There was a time when Tony?s health got critical. That was in July. The song ?Ikaw Lamang? became Tony?s favorite when he heard Paw Diaz of ?Philippine Idol? sing it. Napaiyak s?ya. Nung bagong opera s?ya, that song came to my mind. Dun ko na-realize that the people you love pwedeng mawala sa isang iglap. While I was recording the song, I had to [stop for a while] because the words pierced [my heart].

Are you making a music video to promote the album?
On Friday, I will shoot my very first music video, ?Please Don?t Ask Me.? I will leave for Boston on March 1. May treatment si Tony for his throat. When I come back, we will shoot the next video. The director is Raffy Francisco.

May pangarap pa ba ang isang Gretchen Barretto? Are you happy?
Oo naman! Ayaw ko yang question na ?yan. I know where that?s leading. Career-wise, wala na. Basta nandito lang ako sa show biz, okay na. Ang problema, dumarating talaga sa buhay. Pero lahat ?yan naso-solve. I?m blessed in many aspects.

What song in the album would you dedicate to a person who?s betrayed you?
?I Will.? It goes: ?Who knows how long I?ve loved you, you know I love you still, will I wait a lonely lifetime, if you want me to, I will.?