Mexican Actress Verónica Castro Opens up About Family Issues

“In an exclusive interview, Mexican soap opera legend, Verónica Castro, opens up to PEOPLE en Español about her estranged son, singer Christian Castro, and the real reason for the animosity with daughter-in-law, Valeria Liberman. The actress also speaks openly about her disappointment when Christian caused quite a media stir after his reconciliation with his father, comic Manuel Valdés.

“I’ve lost Christian completely. That’s the most painful part of all this,” says the actress about her conflict with her son. Previously inseparable””she raised Christian as a single mother””the two are now estranged after Christian married Valeria Liberman, only days after divorcing his first wife, Gabriela Bo. Castro blames both Christian and his new wife for their drifting apart, questioning his genuineness when he says he misses his family. She also questions her son’s judgment after choosing to have a very public reconciliation with his father, whom he had virtually no relationship with growing up. “Since he was very little I said to him, “whenever you want to speak to your father, I have his address, his phone number,’” she says. “Now all of the sudden, they appear to reunite for a magazine (and supposedly for money)”¦ that’s horrible,” she adds.

n regards to her new daughter-in-law, Valeria Liberman, Castro says, “There are people with whom you have chemistry with and others with whom you just don’t, people who can’t stand you, and I felt that she couldn’t stand me.” Castro also says that the differences between her and Liberman are too big.

But the most painful part of the distancing from her son, according to Castro, is that she has yet to meet her first granddaughter, Simone. “That relationship will develop later on; that little angel has to come to me some day.”

Other Stories in this Issue:

Face to Face with Domestic Violence:

Even though most physical wounds heal with time, the emotional and economic damage that victims of domestic abuse and their families suffer can last a lifetime. However, there are resources to help victims fight back and move on. People en Español speaks with three women—all survivors—who are regaining control of their lives after suffering at the hands of their spouses. “One can overcome the effects of abuse with the proper help,” says Ruth Forero, one of the survivors. Page 89

Celia Cruz and Pedro Knight: A Legacy of Problems

While Pedro Knight, husband of late Salsa Queen, Celia Cruz, is in critical condition, those closest to him are engaged in a legal battle over her estate. Page 105

All this and much more in the March issue of PEOPLE EN ESPAí‘OL.

Please visit http://www.peopleenespanol.com for more news. “

• The mayor of a wealthy suburb (San Pedro Garza Garcia) of Monterrey said Monday that he has sent his family to the United States for their own safety as he pursues his campaign against extortion and kidnapping gangs.
• Hispanic Entrepreneur profile: Entrepreneurship began early for Gándara family – El Paso
• Trend Toward Smaller Families in Latin America – The number of people per household in Latin America will fall by 18 percent by 2020, according to a study released in this capital Tuesday by consulting firm Euromonitor International.
• Celia Cruz es homenajeada con un álbum de duetos – Gloria Estefan, Lola Flores y Vicente Fernández, entre otros, rinden tributo a la recordada artista en Celia Cruz: La Reina y sus Amigos
• Members of a Guatemalan family living in Marin County are now separated by thousands of miles after immigration officials deported the parents of three children overnight. – California
• Mexico’s family-friendly hot spots – Consider heading to locales in Nayarit and Oaxaca, where surf, sun and inexpensive attractions have been a hit for one family of four.
• APA Poll Finds Stress Having an Impact on Families, Hispanics
• Latinos need more than lip service – Families are being torn apart by America’s broken immigration system. President Obama needs to show leadership and fix it – (the view from England)
• Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has appointed three people to the state’s Latino Family Commission – has never met since it was established in 2007 (?)
• Children’s Readings and Panels at The Latino Book & Family Festival – Los Angeles, October 10-11 CSULA at Greenlee Plaza
• Matriarch’s 300 descendents gather for funeral – Gregoria Martinez – Texas
• Hundreds expected to march to T. Don Hutto on Sat., World Refugee Day, to demand an end to family detention
• GROUP LAUNCHES BOLD HISPANIC INITIATIVE – National Alliance for Hispanic Families
• Bilingual Marriage & Family Therapist Helps Latinos Improve their Lives – Wendy Bravo in Reno, Nevada
• Cross-border quinceañera: Toppenish teen becomes a young woman in two worlds – Some Washington residents live their lives in the U.S but their hearts remain in Mexico, where they gather to mark important events with family.
• Celia Cruz’s former executor ordered to give back $2.5 million – A judge ordered Luis Falcón to return the Cuban Guarachera’s money back to the singer’s family
• Albacea de Celia Cruz deberá devolver 2.5 millones de dólares – Un juez determinó que Luis Falcón se apropió indebidamente de parte de la herencia de la Guarachera de Cuba y tendrá que devolverlo a la familia de la cantante
• Calavera Highway: The Story of an All-American Mexican Family
• Blogante News Summary for Tuesday – August 5th, 2008
• Blogante Essentials for Tuesday – August 5th, 2008