Ciara: Sharon, Helen should speak to each other

MANILA, Philippines - Although Ciara Sotto wishes to be the "peacemaker" in the clash between her mother Helen Gamboa and cousin Sharon Cuneta, she believes that she can only do so much, and that the veteran actresses would eventually have to resolve their misunderstanding head on.

"Sana nga maging peacemaker ako pero siyempre in God's time maaayos din iyon," Helen's youngest daughter was quoted as saying in a report by abs-cbnNEWS.com posted on May 2.

According to her, the best way to quell whatever enmity they have is to talk face-to-face.

"Actually parang silang dalawa, kailangan lang nilang mag-usap. Siguro kailangan lang talaga na puntahan niya si mommy. Siyempre mas matanda si mama," suggested the 31-year-old actress-singer.

Ciara admitted that she's upset over the fact that the actresses' conflict was dragged out longer than necessary.

"Siyempre nasasaktan ako para sa kanilang dalawa, lalong lalo na para sa mommy, pero wala tayong magagawa eh. Nangyari na pero I'm trying my best na magkaayos sila," she stated.

In the meantime, Ciara revealed that things are still a little touchy for her mom. "She is doing very well. Busy siya sa taping for 'Walang Hanggan.' Pero siyempre kapag na-bring up [kung ano man] pagdating kay Ate [Sharon], siyempre masakit kasi parang anak niya iyon eh," she said.

The whole ruckus was sparked by the Megastar's interview for a broadsheet last month where she unflinchingly noted how politics divide families. This hits quite close to home considering Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III is Helen's husband, while she is married to Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan. And when one says something bad about the other, their families are naturally affected.

Helen apparently felt slighted by Sharon's comments in the interview.

"Nagulat lang ako. Why did she say that?" Helen was quoted as saying in subsequent reports.