Ogie Diaz has set things straight regarding insinuations about his former ward, Liza Soberano, being seemingly made into a ‘puppet’ while at ABS-CBN.
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In an interview with Julius Babao and Christine Bersola, Ogie cleared he wasn’t “offended” by Liza’s tell-all vlog but admitted to having been “saddened” by it.
He recalled how he and the 25-year-old star parted ways on good terms last year.
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In any case, Ogie said he understands that Liza was just speaking from the heart in her controversial video.
“Ako naman ang punto ko lang naman, at least nagra-rant hindi dahil walang nangyari sa career kung hindi dahil meron siyang gustong baguhin,” he related.
Ogie then pointed out that Liza was not treated like a “puppet” the past decade they worked together.
READ MORE HERE: Former ABS-CBN head writer on Liza Soberano: ‘I’m rooting for her with all my heart’
“Lagi siyang kinakausap about it,” he reiterated. “May mga times din na go na yung project biglang aatras kami kasi na realize ni Liza na hindi pala niya type gawin – so may mga ganyan kami. Normal lang naman yan sa pagma-manage. Talagang nakaka-encounter kayo ng ganyan.”
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The seasoned TV host-comedian reiterated how Liza was active in terms of decision-making for her career.
“Kaya nga hindi ko alam saan nanggagaling si Liza. Bakit niya nasabi na parang all these years, sa 13 years niya in the business, parang wala na daw siyang ibang ginawa kung hindi sundin yung mga gusto ng mga tao sa paligid niya: na what to wear, what to say – yung ganun,” he said.
Ogie pointed out how he’s also not that kind of manager – someone who fully controls his talent’s life.
“Lagi, ‘pag nagma-manage ako ng talent, lagi kong priority: ‘Gusto mo ba yung gagawin mo or ayaw mo? Kasi kung ayaw mo hindi susunod ang puso mo diyan. Hindi gaganda ang performance mo kasi napilitan ka lang,'” he explained.
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Though he admitted there were also some instances that they had to “compromise.”
“Meron namang ganun na: ‘Gawin na lang natin to kasi bilang pakikisama.’ Kasi siyempre, may mga times na tayo rin yung lumalapit sa production kasi meron na hindi… na lampas sa trabaho niya pero dahil humihingi tayo ng pabor, pinagbibigyan tayo. So ganu’n lang naman ang relationship, di ba? Na dapat nating i-keep yung PR kasi eventually magagamit mo yan e. Kung anong tinanim mo, siyang aanihin mo, di ba?,” he shared.
“And in fairness naman tumatango naman si Liza. Nag-a-agree naman siya sa mga pinapayo ko. Kaya lang siyempre hindi ko rin naman siya saklaw kung nag-oo ba siya ngayon pero iba pala yung laman ng puso niya, na kay Liza na yun. Basta ang importante sa akin gawin mo kung gusto mo. Kung hindi mo gusto, kaya naman nating tumanggi, i-decline, kaya natin ipa-iba, ipa-ayos sa gusto mo. May mga ganyan naman kami. Kahit sa pag-susuot (ng mga damit) meron ding say si Liza.”
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Ogie stressed: “Dyos ko, magkasanlaan na ng kredibilidad, meron siyang say all the time.”
Ogie tried to analyze where Liza was coming from in making that statement, particularly with her supposedly not being able to pick her own screen name.
“Siguro yung ‘Liza,’ ito as yung ‘showbiz name’ ko kaya baka ‘showbiz’ din ang maradaman niyong pakikitungko ko sa inyo,” Ogie said. “Siguro, ganu’n ang interpretasyon ko.”
In the latter part, Ogie related he spoke up not to add fuel to the fire but to clarify things.
“Yun lang, gusto ko lang linawin. Hindi ko para i-correct si Liza. Gusto ko lang linawin na ito yung alam ko sa alam ni Liza nung siya nasa amin,” he said.
“Parang ang interpretasyon ng marami, parang nalungkot ka pa sa nangyari sa career mo? So kung nalungkot ba daw si Liza sa sinapit ng kanyang career, e ano pa yung damdamin ng mga trying-hard ngayon,” he quipped.
Turning serious, Ogie assured: “Hindi ako galit kay Liza. Mahal ko si Liza at anytime na gusto niya akong tawagan, gusto niyang humingi ng payo sa akin o whatever bukas ako sa kanya kasi malaki rin ang utang na loob ko sa batang yan.”