MANILA — Ogie Diaz on Monday said he is hoping that his former ward Liza Soberano will continue to shine with the new image and branding she recently launched.

Diaz responded to Soberano's statements about her career transition in his vlog, saying that the actress has the liberty to choose how she would like to present herself and the goals she wishes to pursue.

"At the end of the day, si Liza pa rin ang masusunod kung ano'ng gusto niyang gawin sa buhay niya, kung ano'ng gusto niyang gawin sa socmed accounts. 'Yung akin suggestion lang, ganun din kay Tito Boy, suggestion din 'yung kanya or affirmation," Diaz said.

"Tingnan natin kung sinong mas tama nga sa darating na araw, hindi natin alam kasi dati in-archive ni Liza 'yung kanyang IG post pero binalik din niya ulit. Hindi naman natin alam baka naka-archive or naka-hide lang 'yan. Abangan natin. Kung ito 'yung makakapagpabalik ng dating sigla ng career ni Liza, bongga 'yun, mali ako, I am sorry," he added.

Diaz said that he is thankful for Soberano for being obedient during her time with ABS-CBN's Star Magic, but clarified that she, too, had a say in her career, contrary to the actress' earlier claim.

"Gusto ko na lang unawain at intindihin ang kanyang kwento tungkol sa 13 years ng kanyang showbiz career. Kung sinasabi ni Liza na parang kino-kontrol siya ng mga tao sa paligid niya, kung ako man 'yan at sa Star Magic, gusto kong magpasalamat kay Liza kasi sinunod niya kami kaya siguro, sumikat siya," Diaz said.

"Imaginin ninyo kung walang nangyari sa career ni Liza noong hawak ko siya at ng Star Magic, malamang iba ang narating niya ngayon, at least ok na 'yan kasya naman nagra-rant dahil walang magandang bagay na nangyari sa career, diba," he added.

Diaz went on to remind Soberano about discussions she would have with management, as well as compromises both parties made during her time with Star Magic and ABS-CBN.

"Anak, lagi kang binibigyan ng chance to say your piece, your opinion, your suggestion. Pinapakinggan ka rin naman 'pag may complaints ka pero minsan diba we have to meet halfway," Diaz said.

"Pinagbibigyan mo naman ang production 'pag nilambing ka nila and I thank you for that. Pakikisama ang tawag doon, anak, pagtatanim para in the future, may aanihin. Kapag may ayaw ka, anak, isinaalang-alang din nila 'yun diba. Tandaan mo, anak, narating mo ang fame 'di lang dahil sa akin at ng Star Magic, ng ABS-CBN, at ng production staff, dahil din 'yan sa dedication mo sa trabaho, dahil 'yan sa'yo," he added.

"Kaya palakpakan mo rin ang sarili mo ah, lahat ng ito, ng narating mo, pinaghirapan mo 'yan, anak, para mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang pamilya. Sila ang inspirasyon mo, kaya minahal mo rin ang career mo."

Diaz also explained how they ended up with Soberano's screen name, in response to the latter's statement that it was simply given to her.

"'Yung sinabi mo na 'I didn't choose the name Liza, it was chosen for me.' Anak 'yung screen name na Liza Soberano na ibinigay sa'yo ni Tita Malou Santos, ng Star Cinema, 'yan ang nagtaguyod sa pamilya mo."

"Nabigyan mo ng bahay at magandang buhay ang Daddy mo, nakakapagpadala ka rin ng tulong sa Mommy mo sa States. Naibili mo ng bahay sa Amerika ang lola at lolo mo na kumupkop sa inyo ng kapatid mong si Justin nung mga bata pa kayo sa Amerika, lahat 'yan dahil sa'yo, dahil sa pagiging Liza Soberano mo, anak," the actress' former talent manager said.

"Mas issue siguro 'yung screen name kung tumatak sa mga utak ng tao ng mga Pilipino, kung hindi ka tinangkilik," he added.

Diaz also addressed his "bashers" following Soberano's statements in her vlog.

"Kaya roon sa mga bashers ko na sinasabing mukha akong komisyon, mukha akong pera, na palibhasa hindi ako ni-renew bilang manager ni Liza, na pinayaman ako ni Liza Soberano, na kundi dahil kay Liza mamamatay ako sa gutom, darling, no man is an island, 'pag hindi niyo alam ang meaning niyan baka kayo ang mamatay sa gutom."

He also wished Soberano good luck, saying he hopes her career will continue to flourish.

"I wish you good luck sa bagong bihis na Liza Soberano. Alam mo ito, lagi kong sinasabi kahit kanino, malaki ang utang na loob ko sa'yo dahil ang mga kinita ko sa'yo bilang manager ang ipinambabayad ko sa hospitalization ng inaanak mong si Miracle noong 2017 na 6 years old na siya ngayon," Diaz said.

"Siyempre, ako bilang former manager ni Liza, buksan mo man ang puso 'yun ang laman, na gusto kong makabalik uli si Liza. Gusto ko, magningning uli ang career niya. Alam ko kaya pa ni Liza, alam ko may asim pa si Liza. Hinihintay lang siya ng mga fans," he added.

"Nung naghiwalay tayo bilang manager-talent, sabi ko sa'yo, basta 'pag may concerns ka, problema o tanong ka nandito lang palagi ang Tito Ogie mo, maghihintay lang ng tawag o text mo."

Soberano earlier said that she remains in touch with her former management at ABS-CBN, a day after she detailed her career transition, including why she signed up with a new agency.

Soberano, 25, is now managed by another former Kapamilya star, James Reid, under the latter's own talent agency, Careless. She signed with the startup in mid-2022.

• Liza Soberano declares: 'I've earned the right to finally be me'

In her vlog reintroducing herself — released Sunday after she wiped clean her social media pages to drum up the rebrand — Soberano reflected on her time with ABS-CBN, during which she became a showbiz A-lister and an in-demand endorser.

"I've been in six feature films, over 500 episodes of teleseryes and have only really dabbled into three main genres – romance, comedy and drama. Since I was 16, I had only really worked side by side with one main co-star, with the same production company, rotating around the same three directors," she said.

"During all those years, I was never really asked for my input, my thoughts, my ideas. I felt like I was being told to be just a flower for so long and I finally started to explore a world of being able to create and tell my story and hopefully others," Soberano said.

— with a report from Mario Dumaual, ABS-CBN News

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