BEA Alonzo was formally presented by GMA-7 as a Kapuso in a zoom presscom held at the Shangri-La Hotel last Thursday. How does she feel now that she’s a Kapuso and how long did the negotiations take before she said yes?

“When I heard the news from my manager, Shirley Kuan, that it’s a done deal, I was so happy. It feels so good. I feel empowered. It feels right as I’m starting a new chapter in my life.

“The past year has been very challenging for all of us. The pandemic gave me time to reflect on the things I want to do and the dreams I want to chase. When the offer came, it’s a big blessing, then the negotiations began. Hindi naman naging mabigat kasi there’s respect and it just flowed naturally. And now, and here I am, I’m a Kapuso.”

So what does she expect to happen now that she’s with GMA? “I’m ready to discover more about myself. I’ll still do acting, but I like to explore the idea of having a talk show or doing sitcoms. I just talked to John Lloyd (Cruz) at ige-guest daw niya ako sa sitcom niya. I’m so open to do more different things, to new possibilities and new challenges.”

Did she formally say goodbye to her ABS-CBN bosses?

“I said goodbye when the deal was already 99 percent final. I called my former boss, Sir Carlo Katigbak, and I asked for his blessing. It was very emotional kasi 20 years of my life, I spent with them. He wished me well and he wished me good luck.”

In terms of growth, what will her move to GMA do for her? “I have so much more to offer. Marami pa akong di naipapakita, so I am very excited. I think dumating ito para mas lumawak pa ang mundo ko, mas marami pa ang ibang taong puwede kong makatrabaho.”

Will she do movies? “Yes, bago pa ito, I’m already doing one with GMA Films and Viva with Alden Richards and I’m also open to do movies with other productions. With Alden, I also like to work with him on TV kasi masaya siyang kasama. Si Dingdong Dantes, I made a movie with him so sana, sa teleserye naman. Also Marian Rivera. I think it’d interesting na pagsamahin kaming dalawa. And si Dennis Trillo, bagets pa kami nang makatrabaho ko siya sa ABS, so I look forward to working with him again. Also with Derek Ramsay na naging leading man ko rin sa movies. Also sina Jennylyn, Lovi, Barbie, Sanya, Jasmine, Ruru, basically all of them.”

What can she say to fans who don’t seem to approve of her move? “I’m hoping that they will embrace my decision and they’ll be happy as I’m happy with what I’ve decided to do with my career. I pray that they will continue to support me and continue to grow with me now that ang feeling ko nag-uumpisa ako uli. It’s like a rebirth for me and it feels so good.”

How does she feel that GMA gave her such a grand welcome? “Parang surreal ang lahat ng nangyayari, e. Hindi ko maipaliwanag. I was so touched sa kalakihan ng event na binigay nila sa akin. At first, I was also scared, but now napalitan na ng happiness and excitement. I know I’m very well loved here, so I choose to focus on the positive and not on the negative.”

Her first GMA project will be the movie with Alden. “I am really excited to do the movie with Alden. We already had a workshop with direk Nuel Naval. We will start shooting in September, then tuluy-tuloy na ‘yun. Mauuna muna ‘yung movie with Alden kasi I’m leaving for the States in a few days. Matagal nang plano ‘yun and I need to re-energize para pagbalik ko, ready na ako to work. Ready na ako to collaborate with new people. May primetime soap daw for me pero di pa puwede i-reveal ang details. Excited din ako to do lock in taping kasi di ko pa na experience.”

Mavy slowly making it on his own

MAVY Legaspi now gets his own share of the spotlight after his sister, Cassy Legaspi, got her own show in “First Yaya” as Gabby Concepcion’s daughter. The twins of Carmina Villarroel and Zoren Legaspi are now slowly but surely making their own mark in the industry.

Mavy will be hosting the comedy-gag-variety show titled “FLEX” on GMA News TV, along with Lexi Gonzales, JD Domagoso, and Althea Ablan. This is his third regular show as he is also in “Sarap, Di Ba?” and “All Out Sundays”.

“Me and my co-hosts are all excited to make ‘FLEX’ the show to watch for Millennials and the Gen Z crowd,” he says. “‘FLEX’ is really our show. It’s a comedy-gag, musical variety show meant for today’s young people and we will feature today’s most talented young performers doing sketches and production numbers. I’m so happy kasi lahat kami ng kasama ko, we enjoy each other’s companies, no clashes at all. FLEX is all about showing who you really are, your own uniqueness, your true colors. Whatever you have, i-FLEX mo ‘yan. That’s basically the whole concept of the show.”

It’s common knowledge that his co-host, JD Domagoso, is the ka-love team of his sister Cassy in “First Yaya”. So how is it working with JD now? “We’re okay kasi bago pa man siya nag-showbiz, kilala ko na si JD. Now, we’re good friends and we do dance number together in ‘AOS’ and also hosting ‘FLEX’ so it’s really cool.”

Since Cassy has tried acting, has he any plans of also doing a teleserye soon? “If given the opportunity, why not?” he shrugs. “Sana, before the year ends, ma-try ko naman ang acting.”

And who would he like to be paired with? “Siempre, si Kyline Alcantara kasi friends na kami sa ‘AOS’. Also, I watched her in ‘Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit’ where she worked with my dad and she really knows her craft well. She’s really good. I’m fine to be working with anyone but iba kasi ‘yung impact kapag friend mo na talaga yung katrabaho mo. I’d also like to try working with other Kapuso actresses like Ysabel Ortega and Kate Valdez, but I feel parang naka-home run ka talaga kapag friend mo na ang kapareha mo kasi comfortable na agad kayo sa isa’t isa.”

Meantime, don’t miss Mavy, JD, Lexi and Althea in ‘FLEX’ this Sunday, July 4, 8:20 PM on GTV. Eight other Gen Z Kapuso stars will be their guests in the pilot month of July: Will Ashley, Elijah Alejo, Ysabel Ortega, Allen Ansay, Jamir Zabarte, Dani Porter, Dave Duque, and Kim De Leon. The fun and celebration continue as fans of the show can also interact with their idols and become a ‘Flexer’ by joining the official nationwide fan club of the group called FLEX Squad. Celebrate the youth in you on ‘FLEX’ – under the helm of esteemed director Treb Monteras.