Ai-Ai delas Alas defends transfer to GMA, says ABS-CBN did not renew contract

Ai-Ai delas Alas in a Facebook video uploaded on March 19 | Image: Facebook/Ai-Ai Delas Alas

Ai-Ai delas Alas found herself defending her decision to transfer to GMA from ABS-CBN nine years ago because her contract then was not renewed by the Kapamilya network.

In a Facebook video uploaded on March 19, the comedian addressed the bashing she received when she made a recent guest appearance on “It’s Showtime,” as some netizens slammed her with comments of “no loyalty” because she was a former artist of the network before she transferred to the Kapuso headquarters and said she has “no right” to visit the Ignacia-based noontime show.

Delas Alas shared that her friends informed her about the bashing because they were hurt on her behalf, and it was them who asked her to speak up on why she left ABS-CBN and signed with GMA instead almost a decade ago.

“Hindi ko naman din alam na nung nag-guest pala ako sa Showtime, na-bash ako. Parang sa akin, tuwang-tuwa pa nga ako kasi nakapag-guest ako sa Showtime, ‘yun pala na-bash ako,” she said. 

(I didn’t even know that when I was a guest on Showtime, I was bashed. It seems to me, I’m even very happy because I was able to guest on Showtime, but then I got bashed.)

The Queen of Comedy recalled that she was originally a Kapuso before she became a Kapamilya in 2000, and she only came back to the Kamuning-based network after 14 years. 

“Pero ‘yun pong mga fans ko naman dati na alam nila na nag-start po talaga ako sa GMA, sa Kapuso, mga 1990s yun. Then, year 2000 na lumipat po ako sa ABS. And then, after nine years nga po, after 14 years, lumipat ulit po ako sa GMA,” she stated. 

(But those were my fans before, who knew that I really started in GMA, in Kapuso, in the 1990s. Then, in 2000, I moved to ABS. And then, after nine years, after 14 years, I moved to GMA again.)

Delas Alas affirmed that her departure from ABS-CBN was not because she had no loyalty to the network, but because her contract had expired. 

“So, ngayon ko lang po sasabihin o yung pong hindi mga nakakaalam, na kaya ako bina-bash kasi wala daw po akong loyalty. Hindi po totoo ‘yan. Kasi po, kaya wala na po ako sa ABS dati, kasi po hindi ako ni-renew,” she revealed. 

(So, I’m just going to tell those who don’t know, because I’m being bashed as they say I have no loyalty. That’s not true. Because, that’s not why I wasn’t in ABS anymore was because my contract wasn’t renewed.)

“Last na po ‘yun ang kontrata ko. Hindi na po nila ako binigyan ng renewal. So, hindi po talaga ako umalis,” added the comedian. (That was my last contract with them and they didn’t give me a renewal, so technically, I didn’t leave.)

The “Ang Tanging Ina” star remarked that when her contract was not renewed she “panicked and got overwhelmed” as she’s the breadwinner of her family. She shared that she had to sell their house in Ayala to make ends meet at the time. 

Amid her revelation, Delas Alas welcomed “It’s Showtime” who has recently taken over GMA’s noontime slot and will air on the network starting April 6.