Most reality show graduates start out as homegrown talents of the network that discovered them.
They often get their big break in their “mother” station, but sometimes, they end up in other places where there are bigger opportunities—in or out of showbiz.
In the case of ABS-CBN and its reality shows such as Pinoy Big Brother and Star Circle Quest, 15 of its graduates made a big career move by transferring to GMA-7.
What happened to the career of these celebrities when they became Kapuso stars?
Check out these 17 ABS-CBN reality show graduates who made a bold move by transferring to the rival network.
JASON ABALOS was the second questor to get eliminated in Star Circle National Teen Quest in 2004.
However, he was immediately given a break when ABS-CBN bigwigs decided to pair him with Angelica Panganiban in the primetime series Vietnam Rose in 2005.
Jason also played leading men to Kapamilya big stars Judy Ann Santos in Maalaala Mo Kaya (2006) and Heart Evangelista in Your Song: Muntik na Kitang Minahal (2007).
He also served as the leading man of the then newly-transferred Kapamilya Cristine Reyes in the late-night drama series Eva Fonda (2008).
Soon, Jason became the resident leading man in ABS-CBN's afternoon TV shows namely: Kambal Sa Uma (2009), Nagsimula sa Puso (2009), Precious Hearts Romances: Alyna (2010), Reputasyon (2011), and Precious Hearts Romances: Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin (2012).
He also got big roles in the primetime shows Agua Bendita (2010), Maria Mercedes (2013), and Two Wives (2014).
Jason's last Kapamilya teleserye was the child-friendly daytime series Langit Lupa in 2016.
On October 3, 2017, Jason signed a management contract with GMA Artist Center. Jason admitted in an interview with GMA News that he wants to try doing comedy in his new home network.
MATT EVANS was a housemate of Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition in 2006. He was evicted on Day 28.
Months after PBB, in September 2006, Matt got his big break on television when he was tapped to play the title role in Komiks presents Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko. He was paired with leading lady Melissa Ricks in this fantaserye.
Originally slated to run for only one season, Pedro Penduko was extended for over a year. It ended in October 2007.
The Kapamilya network placed importance on Matt and Melissa's love team that they were given big roles in projects such as Princess Sarah (2007), Iisa Pa Lamang (2008), Kambal Sa Uma (2009), and Tanging Yaman (2010).
After the network decided to break up Matt and Melissa's love team, the 30-year-old actor focused on becoming a character actor.
He played supporting roles in the teleseryes Rosalka (2010), Juanita Banana (2011), Angelito: Batang Ama (2011), Precious Hearts Romances: Paraiso (2012), Pure Love (2014), and The Greatest Love (2016).
On September 11, 2017, Matt made an appearance in GMA-7's Eat Bulaga! He also posted a "thank you" message to the people he worked with in Star Magic and ABS-CBN.
He revealed to PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) that his career is now being managed by Rams David.
On September 30, 2017, Matt was the guest star of the Kapuso drama anthology Tadhana, along with former Kapamilya actress Lauren Young.
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TOM RODRIGUEZ was a housemate of Pinoy Big Brother: Double-Up.
On Day 41, he received a forced eviction as a result of violating a rule of PBB. Out of anger, Tom slammed his fist against a wall. The rules state that any form of violence will result in forced eviction.
However, it proved to be a blessing in disguise because Tom was immediately given plum roles in different teleseryes and movies in the Kapamilya network.
In 2013, despite being a part of the ABS-CBN teleserye Be Careful With My Heart, Tom auditioned for a breakthrough role in GMA's then-upcoming drama series My Husband's Lover.
He eventually got the role of Eric, a family man who is a closet gay. Tom signed a contract with GMA, where he was able to land more lead roles.
Currently, Tom and his rumored girlfriend Carla Abellana are the lead actors of the primetime series I Heart Davao.
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CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓NOOD KA MUNA!
Before using the name BENJAMIN ALVES, he was Vince Saldana, a finalist of ABS-CBN's Close Up To Fame 2.
After the competition, he signed up with VIVA Artists Agency and was included in the youth-oriented series POSH, which aired in the defunct sister channel of GMA, QTV.
The young actor took a break from show business, and when he returned in 2012, he used the name Benjamin Alves. He signed up with Mercator Talent Management and GMA Network.
As a full-fledged Kapuso actor, he was given several promising roles in teleseryes such as Coffee Prince (2012), Unforgettable (2013), and Dading (2014), among others.
He is currently part of the primetime series I Heart Davao.
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IVAN DORSCHNER emerged as the Fifth Big Placer of Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash of 2010.
The reality show alumnus was included in the youth-oriented shows Good Vibes and Luv U.
Ivan went to California when he decided to go on a showbiz hiatus from 2012 to 2015.
In November 2016, he returned to show business and signed up as a talent of GMA Artist Center.
He was given a break as one of Barbie Forteza's leading men in the primetime series Meant To Be.
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MIKA DELA CRUZ started her showbiz career as a finalist of Star Circle Kid Quest in 2006. It was not long after Mika was included in the cast of Goin' Bulilit.
As she transitioned from a child to teen actress, Mika was frequently tapped to play younger versions of lead actresses in teleseryes.
Eventually, Mika was groomed to be a kontrabida in the 2014 series Mirabella.
In late 2016, Mika decided to sign up with PPL Entertainment, Inc. and GMA Artist Center. She was given a major role in the primetime series Meant To Be.
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JINRI PARK had already appeared in several GMA drama shows and sitcoms before she joined Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7 in 2016.
She served as a celebrity housemate until the end of its run in February 2017.
Two months after PBB ended, in April 2017, Jinri joined the cast of the Encantadia requel to reprise the role of Juvila, originally played by former Sexbomb dancer Jopay Paguia.
Jinri will also be a part of the upcoming Kapuso drama series My Korean Jagiya.
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JASON FRANCISCO served as the Third Big Placer of Pinoy Big Brother: Double-Up.
His well-received and highly popular love story with Big Winner Melai Cantiveros immediately landed him his own TV series titled Melason In Love together with Melai.
Jason was then included in several teleseryes of the Kapamilya network portraying supporting roles. His last project was the 2016 fantasy series My Super D.
Last July 2017, Tess Bomb posted on Instagram that she and Jason will have cameo appearances in the upcoming GMA action series Alyas Robin Hood Book two.
It has yet to be announced, though, if he will transfer to GMA.
Photo by: File / Instagram account of Tess Bomb
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ADDY RAJ was a finalist of ABS-CBN's reality singing competition I Love OPM in 2016.
However, he was only able to reach the Top 24.
In November that year, it was announced that Addy signed a contract with GMA Artist Center.
He became one of Barbie Forteza's leading men in Meant To Be.
Photo by: ABS-CBN / Instagram account of Addy Raj
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HERO ANGELES won the Grand Questor title of Star Circle Teen Quest in 2004.
He was able to do several shows with his then love team partner Sandara Park, such as SCQ Reload and Krystala.
However, their love team was cut short when Sandara decided to return to Korea, eventually becoming one of the country’s biggest K-pop stars and is now known as Dara. This left Hero’s career uncertain.
To make matters worse, Hero and his brother Henry had problems with ABS-CBN's talent arm Star Magic.
In 2008, Hero surprised everyone when he signed up with GMA Artist Center and became a Kapuso talent.
He was able to do teleseryes such as Dyesebel (2008), Luna Mystika (2008), and Paano Ba Ang Mangarap (2009).
Eventually, Hero decided to leave show business.
However, in 2015, the first grand questor of SCQ tried his luck again when he did several episodes of Maalaala Mo Kaya in ABS-CBN.
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JOROSS GAMBOA was part of the Star Circle Quest Magic Circle of Five.
He was then included in the youth-oriented series SCQ Reload: Ok Ako and formed a love team with questor Roxanne Guinoo.
Joross was also cast as a leading man in several projects of the network, particularly in teleseryes that starred Cristine Reyes like Eva Fonda (2008) and Your Song: Babalik Kang Muli (2009).
In 2010, Joross decided to be a freelancer and did projects with GMA-7.
He would then intermittently do projects with ABS-CBN, GMA, and TV5 in the years that followed.
In 2016, Joross stayed with GMA-7 for one whole year and was given several projects, including Encantadia and Full House Tonight.
In June 2017, Joross returned again to ABS-CBN to do the primetime series La Luna Sangre.
Photo by: File / Encantadia
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ROXANNE GUINOO also became part of Star Circle Quest's Magic Circle of Five.
After a string of supporting roles with love team partner Joross Gamboa, Roxanne was given leading lady roles, starting with the remake of Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos in 2007.
In 2010, Roxanne was supposed to do the drama series Magkano Ang Iyong Dangal. However, she had to be pulled out of the project because of her pregnancy.
In 2012, she returned to showbiz through the remake of Valiente in TV5.
In 2013, Roxanne transferred to GMA-7 and did the teleseryes Home Sweet Home and Pyra: Babaeng Apoy.
The actress got pregnant again and took a rest from show business.
In 2015, Roxanne returned to ABS-CBN to do the short-lived drama series Walang Iwanan.
Roxanne is currently not active on television.
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SAM PINTO was a housemate of Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up in 2009.
She was predicted as the next talent to be groomed by ABS-CBN, especially when she played leading lady roles in the projects Your Song: Isla and Agimat: Elias Paniki in 2010.
However, in 2010, Sam decided to transfer to GMA Network.
Sam played supporting roles in Kapuso series such as Captain Barbell: Ang Pagbabalik (2011), Legacy (2012), and With A Smile (2013).
Currently, Sam has returned to ABS-CBN and is included in the primetime series La Luna Sangre.
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MICHELLE MADRIGAL was the third finalist to be eliminated in Star Circle Quest.
ABS-CBN, however, gave her several supporting roles in its TV series like Vietnam Rose and Maging Sino Ka Man.
In 2007, Michelle transferred to GMA where she was given several kontrabida roles.
She stayed in the Kapuso network until 2013, with Adarna as her last project.
In 2015, she returned to ABS-CBN and became a part of Pasion De Amor.
The actress is currently on showbiz hiatus as she is pregnant with her first baby.
Photo by: File
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VALERIE WEIGMANN was a housemate of Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus in 2008.
Back then, she was paired with Ejay Falcon. However, their team-up did not prosper as she was immediately evicted from the PBB house.
Valerie then concentrated on doing modeling stints.
In 2013, Valerie became a host of GMA's variety show Eat Bulaga!
In 2014, she left the noontime show when she was crowned as Miss World Philippines.
Currently, Valerie is pursuing an international modeling career.
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CATHERINE REM was originally known as Cathy Remperas when she joined Pinoy Big Brother: Double-Up.
After being given a major role in the 2010 afternoon series Precious Hearts Romances: Love Me Again, the former PBB housemate landed minor roles in teleseryes until 2011.
However, she suddenly disappeared from the limelight.
In 2016, Cathy returned with a new screen name: Catherine Rem.
She has appeared in several Kapuso shows such as Alyas Robin Hood and Poor Señorita. Catherine recently portrayed a special role in I Heart Davao.
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VICTOR BASA started as a teen actor in ABS-CBN, and later on joined the celebrity edition of Pinoy Big Brother in 2007.
After several supporting roles, he did a teleserye with TV5, Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak in 2011.
In 2012, Victor transferred to GMA and appeared in shows Cielo De Angelina (2012) and My Husband's Lover (2013).
Victor is currently inactive on television.