Recently, the Internet went abuzz for the reunion of the OG Sang'gres from the fictional teleserye Encantadia. Karylle, Iza Calzado, Sunshine Dizon, and Diana Zubiri performed together during It's Showtime—which surely delighted their fans.
Aside from their reunion being a surprise to the madlang pipol, Diana also revealed that her Philippine visit was also unexpected for Iza and Sunshine. In a vlog, the former actress showed clips of their heartwarming meet-up ahead of their It's Showtime guesting. Iza was one emotional friend as she cried happy tears upon seeing Diana, who flew from Australia.
ICYDK, Diana is now living in Adelaide, Australia with her Aussie husband, Andy Smith. They are now parents to two adorable daughters, Aliyah Rose, Amira Jade, and Diana's son with her late husband, King. The couple tied the knot in May 2015 in Quezon City. Upon moving to Australia, Diana shifted her focus from being an actress to being a mother to her kids. From time to time, Diana and Andy would create online content about married couples. Diana also has a YouTube channel with over 173,000 subscribers.
Admittedly for some celebrities, showbiz isn't forever. There are several Filipino celebrities already who have decided to live a simpler life away from the limelight, in a quiet life abroad. Ahead, we'll give you a glimpse of their current lives abroad.
Pinoy Celebrities who have paused showbiz to live abroad:
1. Bangs Garcia
Bangs Garcia is currently residing in London with her husband Lloydi Birchmore, and two kids, Amelia and Isabella. She left showbiz after tying the knot with Lloydi in 2016. After having multiple weddings, the couple chose to settle down abroad.
Bangs did not have the smoothest transition from being a celebrity to a non-showbiz person. "Itong pangalawa ko, do'n ako tinamaan ng depression. Tapos nag-pandemic pa. Na-realize ko, sabi ko, 'Hindi ako puwedeng maging housewife talaga," she said, describing herself as a workaholic. "I'm so used to having a fast-paced life here [in the Philippines]." And that was also why Bangs started vlogging.
2. Michelle Madrigal
It hasn't been the easiest for Michelle Madrigal who left showbiz in 2016. At first, she went to the United States to pursue her dreams of becoming a chef. The universe had more plans for Michelle as she found her first husband and became a mom to her daughter, Anika in 2017.
Things took a sad turn for Michelle as her marriage ended in divorce. In 2022, the former actress opened up about their failed marriage saying that she experienced emotional abuse at some point. "I didn't want my daughter to grow up in a toxic home. A lot of people say, 'You should stay for the kids.' Yes, I see that. Pero both partners should be willing to work on their relationship and as individuals kasi dalawang entity kayo," she told PEP.ph.
Now, she is living in Los Angeles, California. Aside from enjoying motherhood, Michelle has been inspiring fellow moms out there to embark on a fitness journey.
READ: Michelle Madrigal On Self-Love: 'You should never feel bad for being selfish with your time'
3. Jewel Mische
In case you forgot, Jewel Mische was GMA Network's reality talent search winner in 2007. At present, she is a mom to three princesses and is happily married to her American husband, Alex Kurzer. Their daughters were named, Aislah Rose, Emerald Jade, and Yzbel Quinn.
4. Ruby Rodriguez
Although she hasn't fully signed off from showbiz, Ruby Rodriguez is spending most of her time as a public servant in Los Angeles, California. The longtime actress-host was known for being a mainstay host in the longest-running noontime show in the country Eat Bulaga! In March 2020, just in time when the pandemic struck, Ruby flew to California and left the show which has been her home for 31 years.
However, her departure from the show was quite controversial as she claimed to have been dropped from the program, despite only applying for leave. "Ang makasasagot lang kung tinanggal ako o hindi ay sila. That’s why I always say, 'Please ask them.' I don’t know how they will answer it. If they were going to say, 'Ito ba ay leave?' Hindi ko alam kung ano ang desisyon nila, but it’s management’s decision, and we always respect that," she told PEP.ph in an interview last May 2021. Now, she is an employee of the Philippine Consulate In Los Angeles.
5. Makisig Morales
Makisig Morales rose to fame for his portrayal of the young superhero called Super Inggo. Later on, the former child star starred alongside Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil in the mystical teleserye, Bagani in 2018. At this time, Makisig was also honing his singing career.
Shortly after Bagani, Makisig married Filipino-Australian beauty queen Nicole Joson in 2019. They had an intimate beach wedding in Australia. Still in their mid-20s, the young couple is currently enjoying a peaceful life in Australia. Makisig has stopped receiving acting projects, but he is still active when it comes to his singing career. He continues to be a singer in Australia nowadays.
6. Bela Padilla
It may not be obvious but Bela Padilla has decided to move to London in 2021. One of her reasons was to be closer to her family who mostly reside in the United Kingdom. Occasionally, the award-winning actress would share glimpses of her life as a London girl. Recently, she shared about making one of her boldest moves yet in London—and that was to get the shortest haircut she ever had.
Her move to London does not mean that she's closing doors to showbiz. She's very much open to coming home to the Philippines if projects come for her. But while she's vacant from work, Bela also decided to study once again! The 31-year-old had enrolled at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London to pursue her passion for filmmaking.
READ: Relax, Guys, Bela Padilla Is Not Quitting Showbiz Following Her Move To London
7. LJ Reyes
LJ Reyes who entered showbiz in 2004, swiftly left the entertainment industry after experiencing a messy and painful split with ex-partner Paolo Contis in 2021. Together with her kids, LJ flew to New York where she met her now-husband Philip Evangelista. LJ and Philip tied the knot in NYC last October 2023.
