“Yes, I’m no longer with Popoy,” she declared. “Hindi po ito biglaang decision. Matagal ko itong pinag-isipan at iniyakan. Iisa lang po ang sinabi ni Popoy: he will respect kung anuman ang decision ko. Tumatanaw pa rin po ako ng utang na loob sa kanya at magkaibigan pa rin kami.”
The press was taken by surprise because they had no inkling there’s a rift between the two. Is there money involved? “Basta pagdating sa pera o kontrata, ayokong pag-usapan yan. Magiging unfair din for him kasi wala siya rito. Sabihin na lang nating hindi na productive ang relationship namin as manager and talent. Basta nais ko lang maging mas malaya sa anumang gusto kong gawin. Walang samaan ng loob.”
Marian admits there’s been some misunderstanding between them but she no longer wants to go into the details of why she left Popoy, out of respect for him since he managed her for seven years. Has Dingdong Dantes anything to do with her decision? “Wala siyang kinalaman dito. Hindi niya ko inimpluwensiyahan. Basta sabi niya, kung anuman ang decision ko, susuportahan niya ako.”
She says Mr. Tuviera is dear to her as it’s his APT Production that gave her a break on TV, introducing her in such TAPE-produced soaps as “Kung Mamahalin Mo Lang Ako” and “Agawin Mo Mang Lahat” in 2005, and “Pinakamamahal” in 2006. After that, GMA-7 got her to do supporting roles in their owns shows until she was launched to full stardom in “Marimar”. Her contract with GMA-7 expires in August. Does this mean she’ll move to another channel? “Hintayin nyo na lang.” She won’t say anything else. But most writers feel it’d be a real big loss for GMA-7 if she’d really choose to leave them. Her last show with them is the hit “Temptation of Wife”. She still has a pending movie with GMA Films, “My Lady Boss”, which is said to be shown in June yet. She’s now filming “Kung Fu Divas”, a co-production with Ai Ai de las Alas and Reality Entertainment, that will be an entry in the annual Metro-Manila Filmfest.
