Among the numerous celebrity interactions we saw from the GMA Gala 2024, Bea Alonzo's encounter with ABS-CBN execs appealed to us on a different level.
For the record, there was nothing funny or quirky about their interaction, but it was enough to create a buzz with the public. The now-Kapuso actress was spotted hugging each of the Kapamilya executives—Chief Operating Officer for Broadcast Cory Vidanes, and Chief Executive Officer and Director Carlo Katigbak, and Chairperson Mark Lopez. It was during the GMA Gala dinner held on July 20, 2024 at the Marriott Hotel.
Their hug was welcoming and gentle, without any sign of awkwardness or tension at all. This isn't the first time that the ABS-CBN executives attended the prestigious event of the other network. As we all know, local media giants have been actively promoting the end of the so-called "network wars."
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Bea Alonzo's move from ABS-CBN to GMA Network
After last night's interaction between Bea and the Kapamilya bosses, it's safe to say that all is well among them three years after Bea's surprising transfer to GMA Network.
In July 2021, Bea made the bold decision to leave ABS-CBN after 20 years of being a Kapamilya. It took over headlines as she was one of the homegrown talents of the media giant. Also, at the time, ABS-CBN was still trying to make up for the losses caused by the sudden non-renewal of their media franchise.
In her cover interview for Cosmopolitan Philippines in December 2023, she got candid about her career-changing move. "Although, of course, I've had a great career with ABS for 19 years or 20 years, I also feel that sometimes, there are decisions that you have to make to be able to grow and that you can learn how to make decisions on your own also."
She continued, "I feel like I was able to do that when I moved. I'm not saying that ABS isn't able to or isn't allowing me to do such decisions. It's just that feeling ko lang the world is so big that you have to also see what's out there."
While Bea welcomed the changes in her career with open arms, some people expressed their dissatisfaction with what Bea did. In a report published by PEP.ph on July 4, 2021, one of the employees of ABS-CBN aired out their sentiments on Bea's network transfer. Henry Quitain—the head of ABS-CBN's Star Creatives production unit at the time—didn't hold back in a post on Facebook. He referenced how the network has been trying to keep the company afloat for the employees.
"Sana bayaran mo na lang yung nagastos. Anyway siguro naman kikitain mo lahat yan. Kasi naghihikahos na nga kami, hindi naman biro yung itatapon na lang na pera ng kompanya kasi iniwan mo na lang basta," he expressed.
Although the post didn't explicitly mention Bea's name, the Internet—along with Bea's avid fans—flocked to his post. Bea was lined up to work on a teleserye with ABS-CBN called Kahit Minsan Lang in 2021. Needless to say, it didn't push through because of her move to GMA.
There was much debate as to how the production was moving and coping with Bea leaving. Then came another director working on the said project, Frasco Mortiz, who defended Bea's decision to leave. He said that there were multiple reasons as to why Bea left.
"I was one of the directors attached to that project. Gusto ko na mag-tweet pero nagpipigil na lang ako, sayang ang energy. It's unfair to say na may project naman tapos siya yung umayaw kasi maraming nangyari and ang daming factors na nag-resulta to her decision to leave the project," he said in a reply to a netizen.
According to PEP.ph, this supposed-to-be last project with ABS-CBN started filming in September 2019. The cast lineup was reported to be Bea, Richard Gutierrez, Rafael Rosell, Jameson Blake, and Christian Bables.
Bea Alonzo's early career
Bea began her showbiz at the age of 13 after she was discovered through a beauty pageant. She tried her luck and auditioned for ABS-CBN and she became part of the roster of young artists belonging to Star Circle Batch 10 in 2001.
It was in 2008 when she had a breakthrough role as Betty La Fea in I Love Betty La Fea together with her former longtime love team partner, John Lloyd Cruz. Their fame and chemistry as a love team continued and led to several blockbuster films—one of which is our fave, One More Chance.
At present, Bea is leading a new teleserye on GMA called Widow's War.
