Nabigla si Bianca Umali sa isyu na, diumano, pinapapalitan ng mas malaki ang billing ng pangalan niya sa Mananambal, ang pelikulang pinangungunahan nila ni National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor.
Sa media conference ng Mananambal noong Huwebes, Pebrero 6, 2025, tinanong ng Abante entertainment editor na si Jun Lalin si Bianca tungkol sa isyu para malinawan ito.
Pero labis ang pagkagulat ng aktres sa katanungan na kanyang narinig.
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Pahayag ng Kapuso actress, “I am shocked by your question po, but I would like to handle it as professional as possible.
"I believe po the question is inappropriate for the event and also… hindi ko po alam kung ano ang nararamdaman ko because that is… I do not have any idea about that.
“And I am worried about how people in this room might take it, hearing it from the representative from the press.”
Bakas sa tono ng boses ni Bianca ang naramdamang tensiyon.
Nangatuwiran naman si Jun na nais lamang nitong maging malinaw ang usapin kaya binanggit din niya ang pag-uusap nila ni Tracy Garcia, ang talent manager ni Bianca mula sa Sparkle GMA Artists Center, ang namamahala sa showbiz career ng 24-year-old actress.
Paliwanag ni Jun, “What I am after is maging malinaw kasi kanina nilinaw na ni Tracy.
"Kasi nung Monday, may kumakalat na ganyang isyu. So, sabi niya, tanungin daw si Direk [Adolf Alix Jr.].
"Tapos kanina, tinanong ko si Tracy, sabi ni Tracy mismo, 'That’s not true. Hindi namin pinapapalitan. Yes, we requested na medyo lakihan. So, yun nga, medyo nilakihan nga siya.""
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BIANCA UMALI ON WORKING WITH NATIONAL ARTIST NORA AUNOR
Matapos magsalita ni Jun, humingi ng pasensiya si Bianca, kasunod ang paglilinaw na isang oportunidad para sa kanyang makatrabaho si Nora.
Saad niya: “Pasensiya na po, pero I would just like to clarify also na the opportunity to work with the Superstar, with our National Artist, is already a blessing.
“And it is an opportunity that I already knew na hindi ko po palalampasin.
“Being with her on set was a masterclass for me and was a dream I never thought I would achieve this early in my career.
"Kaya po yung makasama si Miss Nora is already enough."
Dagdag ni Bianca: “Ako, bilang isang aktor and the love that I have for my craft, and the respect I have for myself and the industry, billing is not really... it’s a bonus.
“It is something …I don’t know internally, but ito pong question is something that I am not aware about and bonus na lang po yun.
“It is a recognition as to how people see and respect the way I do my work.
"Pero dito po sa pelikulang ito na Mananambal, napakatagal ko pong panahon na hinintay itong maipalabas dahil pinaghirapan po naming lahat ito.
“At marami pong pinagdaanan ang pelikulang ito.
"At ang maipalabas po ito at makita, lalo na po na ito ang pagbabalik-pelikula ni Miss Nora Aunor, is all that matters. Maraming salamat po.”
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