On her 20th anniversary in showbusiness, Bea Alonzo browsed through her phone looking for a photo for a tribute post to her star-maker, Johnny Manahan, who is celebrating his birthday. Striking out on her own for the first time, Alonzo looks back on her ABS-CBN mentors with gratitude.
Alonzo has left Star Magic, the artista machine that Manahan led for decades. The two left ABS-CBN as the network powered through the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdown of its broadcast business.
The pandemic taught her not to be afraid to make mistakes and that in the end, "everything is going to be okay," Alonzo told Summit Sandwich Sessions.
"I was striving for perfection all time, ngayon mas hindi na ako takot magkamali," she said.
Alonzo was asked about Manahan's very candid appearance in Sandwich Sessions last January, where he discussed his departure from ABS-CBN.
"He's such a good man and I really look up to him," Alonzo said.
MORE ON JOHNNY MANAHAN:
Why Star Maker Johnny Manahan Left ABS-CBN
Johnny Manahan Talks About Brightlight-TV5 Stint, Why it Ended
Star Maker Johnny Manahan Ponders Fame in Era of Influencers, Vloggers
"Hindi ako mapupunta dito kung hindi dahil sa kanya. I have so much love for him," Alonzo said.
"Siguro, ang masasabi ko lang, I'm a testimony of his brilliance, how he is as a manager and as a creative person," she said.
"Lumaki ako ng tama sa kanya. He's taught me so much about life and career. Isa siya sa mga taong hindi ko malilimutan for the rest of my life," she said.
MORE ON SANDWICH SESSIONS:
Marian Rivera Dives Into Theater, Here's Why She's Doing It
Alden Richards Raised P200,000 for Ulysses Victims While Helping Fight COVID
How Heart Evangelista Developed 'Immunity' From Bashing
Alonzo's current manager is Shirley Kuan, SK in the industry. Kuan represented the actress in her commercial deals during the pandemic.
"Natural lang chemistry namin. She gets me. We have the same set of values. It's so natural for me to get her," she said.
