“They say you get to, at least, achieve a dream at a time as you grow older,” actress Gretchen Barretto, who was in Bacolod Saturday to promote her first solo album entitled “Unexpected,” said.

Barretto, 38, said she is now focused on her album, which is a dream-come-true for her, and has set aside her acting career for awhile, during a press conference at SM City-Bacolod Saturday for her “Unexpected” album tour.

She said she has always loved to sing and it’s a passion of hers that people were never aware of, except her family and very close friends. She started with Walt Disney songs as a child and after she gave birth, she trained and went on to sing Broadway songs, she added.

Barretto said that had been her forte until she realized one day that not everybody appreciates Broadway. So she learned to sing standard songs and only then did she realize that it felt good to sing in public, she said.

Her album is entitled “Unexpected” because, aside from nobody knowing she was coming up with one, the songs are all unexpected because they are not from her era, Barretto said. The album includes songs from the 1950’s or 1960’s like More, All The Things You Are, A House is Not a Home, among others, she said.

“When you hear them it is like you’re in a trance. Like you’re in that love mood,” Barretto said.

It’s a phase in your life when you realize that you have to do something for yourself, she said. “I think that happens at this stage in your life when you want to move on, or grow as a person, and be an independent individual,” she added.

Barretto said she produced her CD and has it co-produced by Star Records.

Among her favorite artists are Lea Salonga, Martin Nievera, Barbara Striesand, Karen Carpenter, and Carly Simon.

Barretto, who has performed recently with Martin Nievera in Cebu, said she also dreams of being accompanied by a full orchestra someday.*CGS

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5th district residents get help

Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th District) has extended medical and burial assistance to his constituents in the towns of Binalbagan, Isabela, Moises Padilla and Hinigaran, recently, a press release from his office said.

He allotted an amount from his Priority Development Assistance Fund so that his constituents can avail of the medical and burial assistance.

Department of Social Welfare and Development officers Medy Bañas and Ma. Lourdes Geganzo from DSWD Region 6, and Lunes Abancio of the Hinigaran Social Welfare and Development Office spearheaded the distribution of checks to beneficiaries.

Hundreds of Arroyo’s constituents have availed of financial assistance since last year, the press release added.*

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