Diego Loyzaga said he doesn’t see anything wrong with celebrities expressing their opinions online and defending themselves for their beliefs.

Celebrities have often become the point of ridicule for expressing their views on political issues, from the government’s handling of the pandemic to the franchise rejection of media giant ABS-CBN.

During an online press conference on Wednesday, August 12 where he was introduced as Viva’s latest contract artist, Diego said that while being vocal is a good thing, people should also consider if engaging is worth it.

“I sit on the fence with this issue because I think it’s right for a person to stand up for themselves, in what you believe in, if may comment na something and para sa iyo hindi tama, magrereact ka di ba (if there’s a comment that to you seems wrong, you’ll react to it, right)?” Diego said.  

“Pero you also have to know when you’re also wasting your energy trying to answer back to this person, reply to this person na he’s not even trying to have a conversation with you.”

He added: “You also have to know when to take a step back and be like okay, you know what, choose your battles, that’s not for me today. I’m happy today, hindi ko papansinin iyan (I won’t pay attention to that). Pero tama rin na you know (But it’s also right that) if you want to stand up for yourself, stand up for yourself. Make sure you’re not stepping on anybody else’s toes na lang.”

Showbiz return

After two years away from showbiz, Diego is back and is now part of Viva’s roster of talents.

“I feel like I’ve been ready for a while,” Diego said. “ Kaso nga lang ang daming set backs ang daming nangyari sa mundo. And we’re all still in this situation wherein hindi tayo pwedeng lumabas ng mga bahay natin. So kung tinatanong mo ako na ready ako, I am more than ready.”

(The thing is there are so many setbacks, so much is happening in the world. And we’re still this situation where we can’t even go out of our houses. So if you’re asking me if I’m ready, I am more than ready.)

“I love to lose a couple of more pounds and really really get fit again pero wala rin gym. So I am making use of what we have here in the house. But every single part of me wants to go out there and work again because you know, we’re not getting any younger… I’m just really excited to go back to work.”

“I think it’s very important for people to have time also for themselves, to find yourself,” he said, reflecting on his time away from showbiz.

“Sometimes, people just need to have time to reflect on what they want to do in life, what they want to become, where they are now, what happened in the past and just get ready for that next chapter in their life.”

Diego the big brother

Last July, Diego and his mom, actress Teresa Loyzaga, visited his sisters, Angelina, Samantha, and Chesca Cruz. The 3 are the daughters of actress Sunshine Cruz from her marriage to Cesar Montano, Diego’s dad.

Diego said that he regularly communicates with his sisters and tries to be there for them as much as he can. Like any brother, he’s protective of them but is also mindful of his boundaries.

“So siguro exagge nga yung pagiging older brother ko na in a way na hoy, this may not be good or ayaw mo pumunta sa ganyan (So I guess sometimes I go overboard as an older brother in that I tell them this might not be good for you or you might not wanna go there). But they’re all living their own lives eh. There’s only so much you can advise a person and you have to let that person also live their life,” he said.

Happy for Sofia Andres

Diego was also asked about former onscreen partner Sofia Andres, who is now a mom. The actress and her boyfriend, race car driver Daniel Miranda, introduced daughter Zoe last June.

“I’m happy, I’m really happy for Sofia, ” he said. “I see in her post that she’s happy and you know, someone’s well-being, their mental health is important.”

“And nakikita ko sa mga napopost ng family ni Sofia or siya miso that she’s happy. So I couldn’t wish her anything more in the world but that.”

(And I see in their posts that she’s happy. So I couldn’t wish anything more in the world but that.)

The two were paired in various projects, including the afternoon show Pusong Ligaw in 2017 before they went their separate ways. 

Diego clarified that he has yet to talk to Sofia. “Hindi pa kami nag-uusap, pero sinabi ko sa sarili ko na when the day comes na I bump into her or I see her, I think, definitely.”

(We haven’t talked but I told myself that when the day comes, if I bump into her or I see her, I think I’ll definitely talk to her.)

“I do really wish her the best and I’m happy that she’s happy,” he said. – Rappler.com