Julia Barretto has signed with Viva Artists Agency.

On Wednesday, September 30, the talent agency welcomed her in an online press conference.

Julia said she spoke to Star Magic head Mariole Alberto and chairman emeritus Johnny Manahan about her decision. Star Magic has handled her career since she entered showbiz.

“With the announcement of Ms. Mariole’s retirement, I just felt that it was going to be an opportunity for me to really explore my other options and see other opportunities,” she said.

“When I met with Viva management, they really laid in a really good plan and they were really willing to help me out.”

“Si Tita Mariole kasi nag-announce na mag-reretire siya in December. Kami-kami pa lang nakakaalam sa Star Magic. After nun, ‘yun talaga ‘yung mga oras na I really took some time to think and pray. Nag-pray talaga akong matindi para tulungan lang malaman kung ano pa ang mga posibleng tahakin ko sa karera ko. But like I said, they were always guiding me,” she said. 

(Tita Mariole announced she would retire in December a few months back. At that time, only a few of us from Star Magic knew about it. After that, I took some time to think and pray. I prayed for help in knowing what path I should take with my career. But like I said, they were always guiding me.)

On September 25, ABS-CBN announced that director Laurenti Dyogi has been appointed as the new head of Star Magic, replacing Alberto effective January 1, 2021.

‘Cara y Cruz‘

In the same press conference, Julia clarified reports about her reportedly backing out from the teleserye Cara Y Cruz. According to the actress, she already went through the script readings, meetings, and was ready for the taping until she was informed she was being replaced.

“Hindi totoo na hindi na lang po ako nagpakita bigla. I was present in all of our script readings, our general assemblies. I was present for our look test. I was present for our one-on-one meetings with the director, nakapag-usap na kami sa mga character and honestly, nakapag-impake na po ako [ready for taping],” she said.

(It’s not true that I just didn’t show up. I was present in all of our script readings, our general assemblies. I was present for our look test. I was present for our one-on-one meetings with the director, we all discussed the character and honestly, I already packed [ready for taping]. )

“But last minute napag-decide ng some of our heads from ABS that they would want a Star Magic talent to be taking my role muna sa Cara Y Cruz, which was no problem for me, no hard feelings naman. It was something that I understood and supported. “

(But at the last minute, some of our heads from ABS decided they would want a Star Magic talent to take my role in Cara y Cruz, which was no problem for me and I had no hard feelings. It was something I understood and supported.)

Although she is no longer under Star Magic, Julia said she is grateful for the discipline and lessons that molded her to be the artist she is today.  

“Tita Mariole really instilled in me how important it is to have a relationship with the people in the management, with people you are working with. aside from the business, the important thing is the relationship that you have,” she said.

“So that’s a value that I will bring with me into another family of mine – valuing relationships, creating relationships, making your new family feel that you trust them and the trust is reciprocated.” – Rappler.com