MANILA, Philippines?Well-known show biz personalities close to warring talent managers Lolit Solis and Annabelle Rama are certain that the two will eventually kiss and make up.

"I'm sure they will iron out their problem," TV host and talent manager Boy Abunda told Inquirer Entertainment in a phone interview on Monday. "Magkakasalubong din 'yan ... magngingitian. Hindi malalim ang away nila."

Verbal brickbats began flying two weeks ago, when Rama's daughter Ruffa Gutierrez reported on the Sunday talk show, "The Buzz," that she had been snubbed by Solis' talent, Lani Mercado.

"Naka-hang tuloy ang aking perfect pouting lips sa air," Gutierrez told "The Buzz" co-hosts Abunda and Cristy Fermin. This supposedly happened at the wake of entertainment columnist Ethel Ramos' mother.

Gutierrez speculated that Mercado was still upset about an old rumor romantically linking her to Mercado's husband, Sen. Bong Revilla. "Panahon pa ni Mahoma 'yun," Gutierrez protested.

Solis defended her ward in a radio show, saying it was Lani's right as the "legal wife" to choose who to greet among the women linked to her husband. In two separate interviews, Mercado and Gutierrez sent conciliatory messages to each other.

"Lolit has a point. Karapatan ni Lani 'yun," said entertainment columnist Alfie Lorenzo. "When she was younger, Annabelle was worse than Lani. Sinusugod n'ya ang mga nali-link kay Eddie (Gutierrez, Rama's husband)."

Lorenzo said Rama tried calling him Monday morning. "Okay na sina Ruffa at Lani," he said. "I don't need to take Annabelle's calls."

"Annabelle and Lolit are just doing their jobs as managers-defending their talents," said GMA 7 vice president for program management Joey Abacan. "They need to listen to what the other is saying. They're really both malambot ang puso."

Regal matriarch Lily Monteverde, producer of Rama and Gutierrez's upcoming film. "Monster Mom," was sure the fight was the result of a misunderstanding and should not be taken seriously.

"It's really petty," Monteverde said. "They're both old enough to know they should keep their mouths shut." She said she was trying to mediate. "Annabelle promised to discuss this with me soon."

Asked if he thought Rama was merely drumming up interest for her movie, Abunda said: "That's unfair. I know that Annabelle urged Ruffa to just keep quiet, and let Ruffa talk only when the incident found its way into the tabloids."

(E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph)