SHAIRA DIAZ is happy that she is in a hit primetime romcom, “Love You Two”, and now she’s being launched to stardom on the big screen as David Licauco’s leading lady in Joel Lamangan’s “Because I Love You” that opens today in theaters.
“After huminto ang TV5 in making entertainment shows, I was really wondering kung may career pa ba ako,” she says. “Iniisip ko kung anong gagawin ko, but being an actress is really my priority. Then, I got an offer to appear in ‘Trops’ a youth oriented show ng TAPE shown before ‘Eat Bulaga’. It’s a daily show at maganda ang naging exposure ko.”
That was a big blessing for her as it opened doors for her to be noticed by GMA-7. “I was so happy when I signed up a contract as a Kapuso at una akong napasama sa ‘Pamilya Roces’. And right after that, napasama naman ako sa ‘Love You Two’ where I get the chance to work with Gabby Concepcion and Jennylyn Mercado. Maganda rin ang role ko rito as Ate Jen’s sister na may gusto rin kay Gabby and we’re all happy kasi it’s doing well at the ratings.”
She thinks changing her name from Shaira Mae de la Cruz to Shaira Diaz helped her career. “Ang haba kasi noong una at mas may name recall ang Shaira Diaz. Dahil mas madaling tandaan ito, mas naaalala agad ng tao ang name ko when they see me. Pati followers ko sa social media, mas dumamin rin. So mas buenas talaga ang name ko ngayon.”
In “Because I Love You”, she plays a feisty young woman named Summer, who happens to be a firefighter. “Yes, unusual for a woman ang trabaho ko rito. Kasi ang father ko rito, bombero, e idol ko siya kaya naging bombera rin ako. I’m an independent, empowered woman.
"Sa isang sunog, I met si David Licauco, who plays Rael, a Harvard-educated young man who comes from a very rich family. Heredero siya ng pamilya nila. Kaso, when we meet, may girlfriend na siya, si Michelle Dee, who also comes from a rich family like him. But eventually, nahulog ang loob niya sa’kin kahit isang hamak na bombera lang ako.”
So how is it working with David? “He’s easy to work with, a real gentleman. Nagtutulungan kami in our scenes together. And we both thank our director, Joel Lamangan, who really helped us and guided us well in interpreting our roles in all our scenes in the movie. Inalalayan niya talaga kami all throughout.”
She wants to make good in her career for the sake of her mom and siblings. “I’m the breadwinner kasi sa family namin after my parents separated. So I’m really thankful sa lahat ng good breaks that are now coming my way. Lahat nga ng guestings, di ko pinapalampas kasi sayang din ang kikitain ko at makakatulong din yon sa amin ng family ko.”
