CARLA ABELLANA has signed up with All Access to Artists Talent Management or Triple A.
Its Pres.-CEO Mike Tuviera officially welcomed her in a grand presscon at Sampaguita Gardens last Tuesday night, along with COO Jojo Oconer, Head of Operations Jacqui Cara, her road manager Nikki Villegas and stylist Celeste Tuviera.
“I’m overwhelmed,” says Carla. “This is the warmest welcome I’ve been given since I joined showbiz 14 years ago. I didn’t expect it would be this big.”
We were there when Carla signed up with her first manager, Arnold Vegafria, in a simple dinner at Dulcinea in 2009.
Compared to that, All Access offered a sumptuous buffet dinner (the dessert table is so mouth watering) with giveaways and raffled off several cash prizes to the attending press people.
Their stable of stars include Marian Rivera, Maine Mendoza, Kayla Rivera, Baste, Nichole Morgan, twins Kitty and Kakai, comedian Chamyto and Hershey Neri who all warmly welcomed Carla in their video greetings.
Carla was very candid in her replies in the Q&A. Has she forgiven her ex-hubby Tom Rodriguez?
“Matagal na. Definitely, I’ve moved on. I’ve closed that chapter in my life and I am happy where I am now.
"I’m more at peace and you cannot attain that peace without being able to forgive. I’ve also moved to my new house and I’m happy with my pet dogs.”
Is she ready to work with Tom again?
“At this point, huwag na muna. I won’t be comfortable.
"And we’ve been paired several times before so sana, iba naman.
"Ang dami ko pang ibang gustong makatrabaho. I’d like to work with Piolo Pascual, whether it’s a movie or a teleserye.
"I’m now also more brave and adventurous to try new roles, like gusto ko subukang mag-contravida and do other genres, like action, or suspense-thriller.”
How about a Girls Love series? “Why not? As long as it’s well written and tastefully handled.”
Is she ready to fall in love again?
“Sino bang ayaw? Lahat naman, gusto noon. May mga nagpaparamdam, non showbiz, but ayoko munang isipin.
"My heart has just started to heal. Kalilipat ko lang sa All Access and there are so many possibilities na puede kong gawin with them, so dito muna ang focus ko.”
Carla has just finished a new soap for GMA-7, “Stolen Life”, where she’s paired anew with Gabby Concepcion and Beauty Gonzales as the contravida who steals Carla’s soul through astral projection.
Is it true she left her last manager, Popoy Caritativo, because he is also managing Tom and Tom is said to be coming home soon and she wants to avoid him?
“No, this is just part of moving on, which is madaling sabihin pero mahirap gawin.
"Nag-usap naman kami ni Popoy at maayos akong nagpaalam sa kanya, so wala po kaming anumang samaan ng loob.
"Si Direk Mike Tuviera, nakatrabaho ko na before pa and I’m excited to collaborate with him and Triple A.
"We should not be afraid of change and I’m sure working with them will open new doors for me even in other platforms.
"Pati yung bagong short hairstyle ko from Ms. Celester Tuviera, feeling ko, bumagay siya sa changes na nagaganap ngayon sa buhay ko.
"I can really say that the best is yet to come.”
But it doesn’t necessarily mean she is leaving GMA.
“No, my contract with them has expired but now, under negotiation pa with my new management. I owe GMA a lot as they’ve given me a lot of good shows.
"I’m happy that they gave me the privilege of working with Gabby Concepcion again as our first team up in ‘Because of You’ was so well received.
"Romcom yan, now, in ‘Stolen Life’, we’re doing heavy drama naman where I also enjoyed working with Beauty Gonzales.”
How come there are reports she’s joining “Batang Quiapo”? “If may offer, why not. But there’s no offer po at all. I’d love to be a part of it, kung aalukin ako.”
How was she able to move on after the failure of her marriage?
“Hindi mo naman puedeng ipilit yang moving on. It takes time. Basta I always tell myself that you will be fine, everything will be so good for you.
"With the help of my family and friends who gave me moral support, my pets, slowly I get to move on. I also sought professional help for my mental health.
"Wala namang isang formula ang pag-move on, may sariling timing yan. But now, I can say wala na talaga yung bigat na dinadala ko. Magaan na ang feeling ko.”
Getting a hobby also helped her. She’s now into soap and candle making.
“I attended formal classes and it’s very therapeutic. I fell in love with it. Doon nauubos ang time ko at malaking tulong talaga.”
If and when she crosses paths with Tom at GMA, would she be ready to face him?
“I guess it cannot be avoided kasi we’re both with GMA at maliit lang ang industry.
"Naisip ko na rin yun and I’ve prepared myself for that eventuality. E wala naman na akong nararamdaman mangyari man yun.
"I’m confident na hindi ako matatakot o magpa-panic. Napaka-professional kong tao so kung nandun siya, no problem. Trabaho lang po.”
Will she be the first one to greet him?
“Ay, ayoko po. I don’t see the need na ako manunang bumati. Hindi naman siguro kailangang magkaroon pa ako ng ganoong initiative to reach out.
"As of now, I’m busy with a lot of other thing na kailangan kong pagkaabalahan at isipin.”
But is she willing to be friends with him?
“In life, everything is possible. Maraming kaganapan sa buhay natin na unpredictable, hindi mo akalaing mangyayari, pero nangyayari.
"So ayokong basta tuldukan or maging definite or final sa anumang bagay na puedeng mangyari. Anything can happen.
"Basta as of now, I’m starting a new chapter in my career, in my life, and I want to face it with nothing but positivity.”
