Maja Salvador in showbiz: 10 and going further

MANILA, Philippines – 2013 is another landmark year for Kapamilya star Maja Salvador, who turns 25 on October 5 and celebrates her 10th anniversary in show business.

This year she had begun a concert tour titled “Maja Unveils@10.”

“The concert tour started last April and [we kicked it off] at Glorietta Makati,” said the actress-model-singer.

“My special guests on my tour are Cacai Bautista, Thou Reyes, and Young JV.

Together, they have been on the road, performing in malls and other venues in Cavite, Lanao del Norte, Cebu, Pangasinan, Batangas, Bataan, and Palawan, among other provinces.

“This concert tour is a big highlight in my career,” Maja said with pride. “Kasi umikot na kami sa buong Pilipinas [We’ve been around the whole Philippines], and now, there are negotiations to [bring the tour] abroad.” This, apart from her other performances abroad as she reaches out to the global Filipino community.

Maja conceptualized this tour with the help of other people.

“Since it’s my 10th anniversary, I want to give back to the people so I’m sharing the proceeds of my concerts to Ephesus, a home in Bulacan for abandoned children.”

Her next stop is at SM San Lazaro on September 28. On her birthday, she will be at the Kadayawan Hall in Davao with actor-singer Rayver Cruz as special guest.

Maja will cap her tour on November 9 at the KCC Convention Center in General Santos City.

Looking back

“I have so much to be thankful for,” she said. “Imagine, 10 years na pala ako sa trabahong ito [I’ve been in this line of work for 10 years] and I feel that I just started yesterday.

“Sa lahat ng mga shows at pelikula na nagawa ko [In all the shows and films I’ve done], I gave my best and showed that I am really serious sa pagpasok ko sa trabahong ito [about this work].

“I’ve developed my talents further in acting, dancing, and now singing. I don’t want to stop learning new things. Para sa pag-abot ko ng 20th year ay mas marami akong ma-achieve sa career ko.” (So that when I reach my 20th year, I would have achieved more in my career.)

It was only in 2003 when Maja was persuaded to take a crack at showbiz. After 4 years of doing teleseryes (a continuing line in her still thriving career), Maja ventured into cinema and was soon gaining critical notice for her performances – culminating in her slam of awards in 2011-12, including the Gawad Urian and FAP Luna Best Actress trophies, for her real-life role as athlete Elma Muros in “Thelma.”

For Maja, her busy concertizing this year continues her commitment to remain productive in her chosen field.

Merry intrigues

And this field being, of course, showbiz, the merry intrigues have been inevitable.

Maja has been romantically linked to John Prats, Coco Martin, Matteo Guidicelli, and Gerald Anderson – the last, so far, causing a rift in her friendship with Gerald’s ex-girlfriend Kim Chiu and prompting netizen outrage among the KimErald fans.

“Noong una, siyempre, masakit [Of course, at first, it hurt],” she said. “I mean, hindi ko naman kasalanan na nangyari ito sa amin ni Gerald [what happened between me and Gerald isn’t my fault]. We fell in love and normal iyon [that’s normal] for two single people, ‘di ba?

“Tinanggap ko na lang ang mga pintas at lait nila sa akin [I just took the criticism in stride]. Wala akong [I have no] power over social media. Kung sasagutin ko pa sila, lalo lang hahaba ang issue [If I bothered to respond to all that, it will just compound the issue].

“I respect their opinions. What’s important is that I know myself and I have not hurt anyone intentionally.”

Apart from her concert tour, Maja has several ongoing or recently finished projects. 

She had just wrapped a movie with Sen. Jinggoy Estrada titled “Tatay.” The comedy “Status: Complicated” for Regal Entertainment is almost finished. And she will soon start taping a new TV series titled “Hanggang Kailan Kita Mamahalin,” with Angel Locsin, Jericho Rosales, and JC de Vera. – Rappler.com