Kris Bernal has put rumors about her non-renewal with GMA-7 and GMA Artist Center to rest.
In a vlog post published on Sunday, August 22, 2021, Kris denied she was negotiating with other networks and management companies while she was under contract with her home network.
This was in response to a blind item that Kris also featured in her vlog. The video clip from the show of Mr. Fu, Lolit Solis, and Cristy Fermin showed the hosts talking about an actress who supposedly approached managers when she was still a Kapuso.
But Kris said this happened many years ago.
In her recent vlog, she admitted to entertaining an offer from a different network when her contract with GMA-7 expired in 2016.
“I’ll be honest, there was a time when my contract expired and then a different network reached out to me, iyon lang.
“Pero hindi siya umabot sa point na nag-contract signing, nag-close ng deal. Walang ganoon and nangyari lang iyon noong nag-expire na talaga iyong contract ko, as in malinis na malinis.
“Pero never, never kong ginawa na while I was in contract with them, lumalapit ako sa iba, nagbabaka-sakali ako.
“Never kong ginawa iyon, maniwala kayo. Hindi ko gagawin iyon, hindi ako ganung klaseng tao. Hindi ako bastos.”
This was also what she said in her September 2020 exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
THANKFUL TO GMA-7
Kris started her career in 2006 after winning the Ultimate Love Team title with Mart Escudero in the fourth season of StarStruck.
Since then, she had been given lead roles in afternoon and prime-time teleseryes.
The actress revealed she has high respect for GMA-7 and GMA Artist Center, “Ang laki-laki ng respeto ko to my home network. They took care of me for more than 13 years, even with my previous management, alagang-alaga ako.
“Wala po akong reklamo at sila ang nagtupad sa pangarap kong maging artista, iyong mga shows ko, puro bida.
"Magaganda iyong mga projects ko kaya very, very thankful ako sa GMA. Malaki ang utang na loob ko kaya hinding-hindi ko magagawa na siraan [sila]. Actually, I have nothing to say na masama sa kanila.”
Kris can now say that she has moved on from the non-renewal of her contract in August 2020.
She assured her followers, “I totally understand, wala talaga. Hindi talaga ako nag-hold ng grudges sa GMA. Totoo ito, ha. Wala talaga, as in.”
But Kris also admitted it is not easy being a freelancer and not have exclusive ties with any network.
“Medyo nakakalungkot din kasi kapag freelancer ka, nagre-rely ka lang sa projects na dumadating sa iyo, kumbaga there’s no guarantee na may kikitain ka, so it’s per project.
“Mahirap siya kasi nga kung ano lang iyong dumating, lalo na ngayon na siyempre, ang tight din ng competition.
“So ako, tumatanggap lang ako and I’m very thankful everytime I get a guesting or project. Kahit online iyan, I’m very appreciative pagdating sa ganyan. Basta ako binibigay ko lang iyong hundred percent ko.”
SHOPPING FOR MANAGERS
In the vlog, Kris also addressed the issue about her shopping for managers.
The 32-year-old actress admitted that indeed, she inquired with a number of management companies when her contract with GMA-7 and GMA Artist Center expired.
She explained, “So actually when my network contract expired, same expiration siya with my management contract which was [with] GMA Artist Center.
“So siyempre, nawala na iyong network contract, nawalan na rin ako ng manager, so kailangan kong maghanap ng manager.
“Hindi siya madali kasi siyempre, I want someone who will handle me well, who can give me projects. Talagang maalagaan akong mabuti, has good connections.
“So naghanap ako, kumausap ako ng iba’t ibang managers. Siyempre, hindi naman puwedeng isa lang kakausapin mo o dalawa.
“Siyempre makakasama mo iyon for years, iyon magha-handle sa career mo, iyon magbibigay sa iyo ng projects, kaya talagang marami akong nakausap.”
In November 2020, Kris first signed with Cornerstone Entertainment.
A management-production company headed by Erickson Raymundo, the company handles the careers of Julia Montes, Catriona Gray, KC Concepcion, Moira dela Torre, Kris Aquino, and Sam Milby, to name a few.
But her management contract with Cornerstone recently ended.
Kris said she doesn't think there is anything wrong with shopping for managers once your contract has ended.
She explained, “I think it’s just normal, it’s just natural na once you get out of a company or nag-expire na iyong contract ko.
“Sabi ko nga, kapag naghahanap kayo ng trabaho, you have so many options, nagiging open kayo to many more opportunities. I guess iyon lang iyong nangyari sa akin.
“Siyempre, kapag naghahanap ka ng bagong opportunities, makakasama mo for long years, you wanna make sure na iyong best ang makukuha mo, iyong talagang maalagaan ka."
NEW MANAGEMENT
Right now, Kris’s career is being managed by ALV Talent Circuit, headed by talent manager Arnold L. Vegafria.
Kris has just been with ALV for two months but the actress can say that she is enjoying her time with her new manager.
She happily said in her vlog, “Two months pa lang and may mga projects na ako, nakagawa ako ng mga shows sa GMA, nakagawa ako ng mga guestings.
“Alagang-alaga ako ni Sir ALV and talagang lagi niya akong tinatawagan, lagi niya akong ina-update, na-appreciate ko talaga.
“Before signing with ALV, wala na akong ibang kinausap kasi siya talaga iyong choice ko rin noong nagkaroon ako ng chance na maghanap ng bagong manager.”
Among the projects that her new management has lined up for her are a movie and a series.
Kris also recently signed a movie deal with Regal Entertainment, Inc.
She said of these new projects, “Huwag ko munang i-disclose iyong mga information kasi mamaya, baka hindi pa matuloy, di ba, dahil nga nag-ECQ agad.
“May series din akong gagawin, ayoko muna mag-disclose ng information, ayoko muna magbigay ng details kasi baka hindi pa matuloy, mapahiya pa ako.
“Pero ang sarap lang pakinggan na may mga interested pa sa akin, may gusto pa sa akin, and then may new endorsements din ako.
“So lahat naman ire-reveal ko sa inyo kapag pwede na. For now, secret muna.
“So I’m very happy with ALV, with Sir Arnold Vegafria. Feeling ko maaalagaan akong mabuti.”
Going back to her issue about shopping for managers, Kris admitted, “It’s actually true na nag-shop ako for managers, but hindi to the point na ang dami kong pinangakuan. It took me months to finally decide na gusto ko kay Sir ALV, and I think I made the right choice.”
Kris also said that she just wants her future career to be secure, especially now that she is about to get married.
“May ganito akong frustration na once I get married, after getting married, magkaroon ako ng sariling pamilya, mamaya mabawasan mga projects ko.
“Sabi nila, minsan mawawalan ka raw ng spark, umo-onti iyong interested sa iyo dahil nga kasal ka na.
“So parang nandoon ako sa point na sana, even after getting married, nagbibida pa rin ako or kung hindi naman bida, kontrabida na lang!
“Basta may trabaho pa rin ako, basta artista pa rin ako kasi mahal na mahal ko iyong trabaho ko.”