Gretchen Malalad's father (Pedro Manahan Malalad), is a native of Duyay in Boac with relatives in Dili, Gasan while her mother is from Cagayan. A 2005 Southeast Asian Games karate gold medalist, the RP Team Kumite that she led bagged the gold after defeating Iran and Romania during the Adriatic Karate Competition held there. Malalad also managed to grab the gold in the +60kg kumite event.Gretchen earlier joined the Binibining Pilipinas pageant in 2002, emerging as Ms. Talent. But "a gold medal is better than winning a beauty title", she would then quip. She later became a Pinoy Big Brother housemate and is now a popular ABS-CBN news reporter for "Bandila".
Feeling very much at home in Marinduque, she did this special feature on the island-province for "Balitang America" shown recently over ABS-CBN Network Channel (ANC). While in Marinduque, Congressman Lord Allan Velaco hosted Gretchen and the news team at his beach house in Torrijos (he also sponsored their air travel), with an overnight stay at Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa. A treat for Marinduque tourism promotion.
