Maja on moving to ‘ASAP’s’ rival show: A family understands its members’ needs

Maja Salvador in pilot episode of “SNL”

A big part of why I said ‘yes’ was because I wanted to help people displaced by the pandemic and the network shutdown get back up again,” said Maja Salvador as to why she left ABS-CBN, her home network of 17 years, to join TV5’s “Sunday Noontime Live” (SNL).

“I’m thankful to Mr. M for trusting me,” said Maja, referring to Johnny Manahan, who is the founder of Star Magic, the talent management arm of ABS-CBN. Manahan is also the director of SNL.

“I would definitely feel regretful if I were only thinking of myself,” she told reporters at a virtual media gathering organized by TV5. “I will forever be grateful to ‘ASAP.’ I will not be the Maja Salvador you know now if not for the show. For 17 years, I did nothing every Sunday but dance. When our Tatay (Manahan) asked for me to join him, I couldn’t say ‘no,’ especially when he told me via Zoom, ‘Maja, kailangan kita.’”

She pointed out that her “family” on the rival show “ASAP,” as well as her bosses in ABS-CBN, “understood why I made this decision. We already sat down and discussed this. In the end, I’m glad they still made me feel like a Kapamilya. A family understands the needs of its members.”

For SNL, Maja said she would more or less be working with “the same team.” She meant that “80 to 90 percent” of the members of SNL’s production team are those that were displaced when ABS-CBN shut down after its failed franchise renewal bid.

As to the fact that SNL and “ASAP” share the same noontime time slot, Maja said she was aware comparing the two would be inevitable. “People will definitely comment on which one is better,” she said. “But these two shows share the same goal—to entertain the audience and make them feel happy during these difficult times.”

She added: “It’s also good that the audience now has more choices when it comes to what they can watch each week (at lunchtime).

“Do I feel pressured? Yes; but it’s because the prod team expects me to do more singing in this show. I guess that’s also a good thing. I don’t want to be stuck with doing the same thing for years. I know I have to offer something new so the audience will stay interested in watching me.”

SNL, which premiered on TV5 on Oct. 18, also features as hosts Piolo Pascual, Catriona Gray, Donny Pangilinan and Jake Ejercito.

It is produced by Brightlight Productions in cooperation with Cignal Entertainment.