HINDI naging madali para kay Julia Barretto ang iwan ang Star Magic dahil 14 years siyang nanatili roon.
Ipinaliwanag naman niya kung bakit ang Viva Artist Agency na ang bago nang magma-manage sa kanyang showbiz career.
“Mula nine years old sila na ang naging pamilya ko,” sabi niya.
“But you know what I love about by being with Star Magic and being handled by Mr. M (Johnny Manahan) and Ms. Mariole (Alberto), because there was never once that ever stop you by making a decision that you think maybe good for yourself.
“They are very supportive, very maalaga. They will instill values na madadala mo hanggang sa pagtanda mo.”
At ang dahilan kaya siya umalis ay dahil sa announcement ni Ms. Mariole na hanggang Disyembre 2020 na lang siya dahil nag-retiro na.
“Actually, si Tita Mariole kasi nag-announce siya ng retirement niya sa December (2020), a few months back na rin, kami-kami palang ang nakakalam sa Star Magic, so, iyon talaga ang mga oras na you know, I really took sometime to really think and pray.
“Nag-pray talaga ako ng matindi para tulungan akong malaman kung ano pa ‘yung posibleng tahakin ko sa karera ko.
“But like I’ve said, they were (Ms Mariole at Mr. M) always guiding me, hindi naman months, siguro a few weeks lang na usapan pagpa- plano at saka few weeks din na makapag-isip ako,” kuwento pa niya.
Samantala, dapat sana ay kasama si Julia sa seryeng Cara Y Cruz pero tinanggal siya dahil nag-iba na siya ng manager bagay na inamin naman din ng dalaga.
“You know what, I think I would to take this chance and opportunity to clear that out kasi may mga nabasa rin akong articles na wala namang katotohanan na sa mga nakasulat doon.
“When I made the decision to made the move to Viva, of course sa mga una kong kinausap talaga was sina Mr. M and Ms Mariole, bakit sila dahil sila po ang head ng Star Magic. Bilang head po, sa kanila ako nagpaalam.
“Regarding ‘Cara Y Cruz’ naman po, hindi po totoo na hindi na lang ako nagpakita bigla. I was present in all our script readings, I was present for our general assem- bly, I was present for look test, I was present for one-on-one meetings with the director, nakapag-usap na kami ng mga gagawin sa character and I’m being honest, nakapag- empake na rin po talaga ako, ready for the lock in taping.
“But last minute rin pong napag- desisyunan ng some of our heads from ABS, last minute nilang dinecide na they would want na Star Magic talent to be taking may role sa ‘Cara Y Cruz’ which was no problem for me me, no hard feelings naman, it was something that I understood and support them with kung that what they want muna for ‘Cara Cruz ‘is an all all Star Magic cast which I have no problem with.
“‘Yun lang naman po ang nangyari, pero wala namang nangyari na hindi na lang ako nagpakita o nag back out, that’s not true naman po. I had every intention to push thru with ‘Cara Y Cruz’ as my support to our network,” kuwento ng aktres.
Dahil tinanggal na siya ay si Barbie Imperial na ang bida at kapartner naman si Tony Labrusca.
At dahil nga sa pag-alis ni Julia sa Kapamilya network at Star Magic ay may tsikang wala siyang utang na loob sa istasyon kung saan siya nakilala at sumikat.
Medyo napataas ang boses ng aktres, ‘’close ba sila sa akin? How should they know what I feel? Hindi matatanggal sa akin ang grateful- ness and my gratitude sa Star Magic.
“Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa kanila hindi dahil sa nag-change ako ng management ibig sabihin hindi na ako grateful. That’s a misconception. People should also change, ‘di ba?
“They will be my family up until hanggang sa huli-huli. At forever akong grateful kina Mr. M and Ms. Mariole because hanggang ngayong araw, hanggang kaninang umaga, nakausap ko sila, si Ms. Mariole and they’re very supportive and they always backed me up kahit anong desisyon ‘yan.
‘’They will always be where they think ikabubuti mo, ikabubuti ng karera mo. And naiintindihan nila eh, naiintindihan nila ang naging desisyon ko kasi magiging iba na rin ang magiging pakiramdam sa akin lalo na at wala na sila sa Star Magic.
“So siyempre for me, Star Magic is what it is today because of the two of them. We’re supportive and very understanding of me trying to make a decision for myself especially na they are both moving forward na also.”
Nabanggit din ng aktres na suportado ng Star Magic ang bagong career path nito sa bago nitong man- agement company.
“They give me beautiful stories to tell, they made me work with a lot of people that they also look up to. I’m just grateful. And ang dami kong friends na naging family ko na rin sa ABS, staff, productions, my Star Magic family, my road managers, my handlers, talagang lahat naging pamilya ko na.
“And lahat naman hanggang ngayon nakakausap ko pa, nakakakumustahan. Solid ang relationship ng ABS, so I’m just so proud with my journey with them,” pagtatapos pa ni Julia. (REGGEE BONOAN)