(From left) Laurenti Dyogi, Liza Soberano. Images: Hannah Mallorca, Instagram/@carelessph
Laurenti Dyogi, ABS-CBN’s head of TV production, has said that the network has always been open with Liza Soberano, in response to her recent reflections on her past experiences in showbiz and her optimism about her new career path.
Soberano earlier appeared to have ruffled some feathers at the Kapamilya network where she used to be the primetime queen when she claimed that she felt “boxed in” as an actress, giving into the “pressure of doing what everybody else wants,” of working “side-by-side with one main co-star, same production company, rotating around the same three directors,” and that she was not asked for her input as an actress.
Speaking for the first time since Soberano’s “life update,” Dyogi said in ambush interview with reporters that he’s taking Soberano’s statements at face value — that she just wants to explore other opportunities on her own, as he noted that everyone should move on. He, however, said that the network has been straightforward with the actress in terms of her career.
“ABS-CBN is always open with Liza. We’ve offered her a lot of projects in the past, and we’ve been really patient with the choices she would make. Ultimately, she decided to do international projects, and we wish her well,” he said when asked to comment.
The TV executive further said that ABS-CBN is supportive of Soberano’s career goals and growth as an artist, as he urged everybody to move on from the issue.
“Iniisip ko na lang kung anong talagang gusto niyang sabihin. Minsan kasi, it is just a matter of how you say it. Maybe [Liza Soberano] meant something else. Kaya lang, her being outspoken sometimes ay hindi nakakarating nang tama to other people. Take it as it is.” he added. “She is just saying that she wants to find her own self. And she wants to explore on her own, and we should allow that because it’s her life, it’s her choices. Dapat talaga mag-move on na rin tayo.”
(I’m really thinking about what Liza Soberano just wanted to say. Sometimes, it is just a matter of how you say it. Maybe Liza meant something else. But sometimes, her being outspoken wouldn’t fare well with other people. Take it as it is. She is just saying that she wants to find her own self. And she wants to explore on her own, and we should allow that because it’s her life, it’s her choices. We must all move on.)
While Dyogi said that Soberano has always been a “responsible” person, he noted that the actress might have been going through a “quarter life questioning” which made her rethink about her career.
“Si Liza, mabait na bata talaga ‘yan. In my short dealings with her, she’s a responsible [person]. Marami talagang pinagdaanan ang batang ‘yan. Marami rin siyang responsibilidad sa buhay, I think she’s open about her life. But like most of us, hindi naman unique ang experience ni Liza. Kahit naman ako, may responsibilities din naman,” he said.
“Liza is lucky enough to have opportunities presented to her na hindi nape-present sa iba. And remember, Liza is only in the first quarter of her life. Siguro, nagka-quarter life questioning siya, nangyayari naman satin ‘yun. We allow her to explore and aspire for something better. If that means moving on to somewhere else, whether she moves to a different territory, let’s just wish her well,” he further explained.
(Liza has always been a kind kid. In my short dealings with her, she’s a responsible person. She has been through a lot in her life, and she has a lot of responsibilities. I think she’s open about her life. But like most of us, Liza’s experiences are not unique. Even me, I have responsibilities too. Liza is lucky enough to have opportunities presented to her that were not presented to anyone else. And remember, Liza is only in the first quarter of her life. Maybe she had some sort of a quarter life questioning, and it happens to us. We allow her to explore and aspire for something better. If that means moving on to somewhere else, whether she moves to a different territory, let’s just wish her well.)
Dyogi added that the “Liza Frankenstein” star’s former manager Ogie Diaz and Star Magic would be “very happy” should she achieve success in her Hollywood career.
“Because [Soberano’s] accomplishments are also an accomplishment for us, especially for the people who helped her in the beginning — sina Ogie, the Star Magic family — they would be very happy if Liza attained what everybody has been aspiring, global stardom,” he said.
The executive also noted that Soberano is one of the many artists who were affected by the pandemic and the network’s shutdown in 2020, which made the “Forevermore” star to think about her future.
“Si Liza kasi, even before naman, we’ve been pitching to her concepts. Noong nag-pandemic na, she was already contemplating [her career]. I think the pandemic did a lot to our artists, not only kay Liza. Ang daming nag-isip kung anong gustong gawin nila because the isolation, pandemya, and shutdown, it really forces us to think about the future and our own decisions,” he said.
(Even before, we’ve been pitching concepts to Liza. When the pandemic came, she was already contemplating her career. I think the pandemic did a lot to our artists, not only Liza. Many wondered what they would do because of the isolation, pandemic, and the network’s shutdown, it really forces us to think about the future and our own decisions.) EDV