Ogie Diaz, Jerrold Tarog on Liza’s exit from ‘Darna’: Her health is more important

Image: Instagram/@lizasoberano

Actor-talent manager Ogie Diaz and director Jerrold Tarog aired their sentiments after Liza Soberano withdrew from Philippine superhero film project “Darna.”

The announcement of Soberano’s exit was made by ABS-CBN and Star Cinema in a press statement yesterday, April 4, citing medical reasons. Soberano, the statement said, suffered a finger bone fracture at the set of “Bagani” last year and that she is still undergoing treatment and recovering from the trauma.

Diaz, Soberano’s co-manager, has since taken to social media to air his sentiments regarding Soberano’s withdrawal from “Darna.” He admitted he felt sad and recalled the time Soberano broke to him the news.

“Nahihiya daw siya sa akin at sa Star Magic at sa upper management na baka hindi na niya kayanin pang gawin ang ‘Darna,’ dahil matatagalan pa nga ang complete healing ng kanyang daliri,” Diaz said via Facebook today, April 5. 

(She felt ashamed she might not be able to do “Darna” anymore since it would take time for her finger to completely heal.)

https://www.facebook.com/ogie.diaz.5/posts/2362387133813313

Soberano was also concerned that because of her withdrawal from “Darna,” ABS-CBN might not give her projects anymore.

“‘Paano na yung family ko? (What about my family)?’” Diaz recalled Soberano as telling him. “Sabi ko talaga kay Liza, ‘Naisip mo pa talaga ‘yan, nak? At least, nak, iniisip mo pa rin ang iisipin ng ibang tao at ‘yung magiging consequence ng ginawa mo… Hindi ka selfish. Maganda ‘yang ganyang attitude mo.”

(I told Liza, “You really thought of that? At least you still considered what other people will think and the possible consequence of your actions. You’re not selfish, you have a good attitude.”)

Diaz said he told Soberano it was okay with him if she did not feel like doing “Darna” anymore.

“Kung feeling mo, may kulang, kung half-hearted ka because of what happend, baka mas maganda ngang huwag mo nang ituloy,” he told her.

(If you feel there is something lacking, if you are half-hearted because of what happened, then perhaps it is better that you don’t pursue the project anymore.)

Meanwhile, director Jerrold Tarog told a netizen yesterday, April 4, that he also felt sad about Soberano’s departure, but that her health is more important. He also told the netizen to just anticipate who the new “Darna” will be.

“They informed me about Liza’s decision weeks ago,” Tarog said via Twitter. “I was quite sad about it, but her health is more important. Abangan niyo na lang kung sino ang bagong #Darna (Just wait for the new ‘Darna’).”

https://twitter.com/JerroldTarog/status/1113827603540873217

Tarog was announced as the new director of “Darna” last October after Erik Matti stepped down  due to “creative differences” and so he could pursue projects under his production company, Reality Entertainment. The “Darna” reboot was first announced in 2014 by Star Cinema.  /ra

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