MANILA – While feeling honored to be part of the Kapamilya network again, Mariel Rodriguez admitted that she was hesitant to join the ABS-CBN noontime program “It’s Showtime” when it was first offered to her.

Speaking to entertainment site Push, Rodriguez said she didn’t know how she would blend in with the “It’s Showtime” group.

“Noong una talaga I was hesitant kasi grupo na sila, barkada na sila. Paano ka magpe-penetrate? But they were all so welcoming and they were all so nice and warm so I didn’t have any problem at all,” she said.

A photo posted by mariel padilla (@marieltpadilla) on Dec 21, 2015 at 8:45pm PST

Now that she’s back to hosting a noontime program, Rodriguez feels she got her “second wind.”

“I really, really feel blessed and grateful. I never thought that I could be part of another noontime show again tapos what more ‘It’s Showtime’ pa. Talagang feeling ko it’s my second wind, it’s my second life in noontime,” she said.

Asked what she enjoys the most about being in showbiz, Rodriguez said: “It’s really fun. I don’t know any work na ganito ka fun, ‘di ba? You talk, you meet people, you get to dress up, you get dolled up. It’s really, really fun.”

A photo posted by mariel padilla (@marieltpadilla) on Jan 14, 2016 at 12:00am PST

At the end of the day, Rodriguez said she is grateful that ABS-CBN gave her another chance to entertain Kapamilya viewers every day again.

“A part of me naiisip ko rin na siguro when you’re destined for something ‘yun talaga, whatever happens mababalik at mababalik ka don and I’m so thankful for ABS-CBN kasi they gave me another chance to be with ‘yung mga Kapamilya natin sa kanilang mga tahanan tuwing tanghalian, malaking bagay talaga, the honor is mine,” she said.