Maja Salvador narrates how the idea of owning a talent agency came to her months when the COVID-19 pandemic started.
She asked the help of Rambo Nunez, her boyfriend then and now her husband, and his mom, Marilen Nunez, for this venture.
Maja recalls, "Nung mga panahon nga po na yun, around April or May, nung sinuspend nga po yung contract namin [ABS-CBN], dun nag-umpisa yung ang dami kong iniisip, ganyan-ganyan.
"'Tapos out of nowhere, sabi ko lang kay Rambo, 'Mag-self manage na lang kaya ako?
"Kasi parang okay naman na rin naman ako.' Kasi halos artista rin po kahit papaano yung nagde-decide.
"Parang nandiyan yung mga managers namin para i-guide kami, pero kung yung gusto or hindi, di po ba, parang nasa amin din po talaga minsan.
"Kasi po, para sa akin, hindi naman forever na sasayaw ako lagi, hindi forever na magugustuhan ako ng tao sa pag-arte, alam niyo po iyon?
"So andun ako sa hinahanda ko yung future ko na, 'Anong puwede kong gawing business na nasa industry pa rin, na alam ko may maishe-share ako, na alam kong may matutulungan ako?'
"Sabi ko, ayun nga, 'Sige, magse-self manage na lang ako, magtayo na lang kami ng talent management.'"
She also relates how she asked for the blessings of Mariole Alberto and Johnny Manahan, former Star Magic heads.
Read: Maja Salvador fondly recalls English sessions with Mr. M
Star Magic is the Kapamilya agency that handled her career from 2003 to 2020.
Maja continues, "Nung nakakausap ko na si Mr. M, sila Tita Mariole, shinare ko sa kanila, and may blessing.
"Sabi ni Mr. M, 'Naku, kaya mo naman iyan,' parang ganun. Tapos nalaman ko pa pa-retire na pala sila nung December [2020]."
She adds, "'Tapos nung final na final na, kinausap ko ulit sina Mr. M, Tita Mariole, na 'Final na po, magtatayo talaga kami.'
"And yun, kasi nagso-sorry pa nga ako kay Mr. M na, ayun nga, baka hindi muna ako mag-sign with Star Magic.
"'Tapos sabi niya, 'Kung iyan decision mo, kaya mo naman iyan.' Parang, 'It's for your future,' parang ganyan.
"So at least may blessing talaga nila. So nung may blessing talaga nila, sunud-sunod na yung meetings namin. Dire-direcho na at ito. Finally, this week, maglo-launch na po kami."
Without wasting time, Maja proceeded to look for talents for Crown Artist Management (CAM), the name of her agency.
Here is the list of talents, in alphabetical order, currently being managed by CAM:
ANDREI SULEIK
From Cotabato to Davao, Andrei moved to Manila in 2011. He interned for director Petersen Vargas to learn filmmaking. His career path shifted towards photography after a series of projects that eventually led him to handle a photo feature.
Despite not owning a camera and borrowing one from a friend, Andrei embraced each opportunity that came his way, which fueled his growing passion for photography.
His big break came when JaDine (James Reid and Nadine Lustre) approached him to photograph a behind-the-scene event, which led to his role as their preferred photographer for non-work-related shoots.
Bernadette sembrano
Bernadette began her newscasting career in 1997 with IBC before moving to GMA Network in 1998, where she became known for anchoring GMA Network News and hosting Wish Ko Lang!
She joined ABS-CBN in 2004, where she took on roles in various shows, including Lukso ng Dugo, Nagmamahal, Kapamilya, and Magandang Umaga, Pilipinas.
She co-anchored TV Patrol Weekend from 2005 to 2011 and later became a permanent co-anchor of the weeknight edition of TV Patrol in 2015.
She is currently one of the more visible newscasters, television hosts, and correspondents of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs.
christine samson
Christine was initially recognized as a gaming video content creator, but has recently shifted her focus to acting. She was featured as Layla in the TV5 sitcom Oh My Korona (2022), which was produced by Cignal Entertainment and Crown Artist Management.
The show was also the first line production venture of Crown Artist Management.
gelli de belen
Gelli entered showbiz in 1987, at the age of 14, via th sitcom Palibhasa Lalake.
She became a mainstay of That's Entertainment, too.
Her performance in Gagay: Prinsesa ng Brownout garnered her a Best Actress nomination at the 1993 Manila Film Festival.
She won the Gawad Urian Award for Best Actress in 1995 for her role as Sarah Jane Salazar in The Secrets of Sarah Jane: Sana'y Mapatawad Mo.
Thirty-six years in showbiz has made Gelli a bankable host and a reliable actress.
GINO SANTOS
He was still a teenager when Direk Gino attended a filmmaking workshop of National Artist Marilou Diaz-Abaya.This experience transformed a hobby into a passion and ultimately into a career for him. His notable directorial projects include #Y (2014), Sin Island (2018), Ex With Benefits (2015), and Love Me Tomorrow (2016).
guel espina
Guel’s first gig under Crown Management was becoming a cast member of Oh My Korona.
In an interview in August 2022 by Philstar, he pointed out that aside from building on his acting career, he wanted to finish his studies.
“It is my goal to finish my studies. After that, hopefully, tuluy-tuloy pa rin po yung sa pag-acting ko. It is my main goal to balance the two,” he said.
jarlo base
Jarlo is a Filipino singer-songwriter behind the song Kalapati, which he described as a son about “loving someone for reasons that actually matter and accepting them for who they are now, not for who they were, and definitely not for who we want them to be someday.”
jasmine curtis-smith
Jasmine has long stepped out of sister Anne Curtis's shadow, establishing herself as a versatile Kapuso actress.
She has won acting awards for her portrayals in the movies Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo (2015), Baka Bukas (2016), and Siargao (2017).
jessie salvador
Maja’s younger sister became famous in the pageant scene as Bb. Pilipinas-Aklan 2023.
Jessie made her debut in 2015, and has since been involved in various locally produced streaming and TV shows including Happy Truck ng Bayan (2018) and the movie Chainmail (2015).
John Lloyd Cruz
A highly acclaimed actor in the Philippines known for his versatility and depth in acting in both television and film, John Lloyd has garnered a significant following.
His showbiz career began in the late 1990s.
Some of the shows he starred in are One More Chance (2007), The Trial (2014), Dubai (2005), A Second Chance (2015), and It Takes a Man and a Woman (2013).
Joj martin agpangan
Joj is Jyra’s twin sister, who also signed up under Crown Artist Management.
She starred in movies like Everyday I Love You (2015) and Finally Found Someone (2017), and the TV series The Good Son (2017).
Joj and Jyra made it as finalists or top 4 in Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition 4 (2012).
Jyra MARTIN AGPANGAN
Jai is recognized for her roles in movies like A Moment in Time (2013) and This Time I'll Be Sweeter (2017).
lauren reid
Lauren is James Reid’s sister.
She joined Koffeedream Artist, a Korean artist management company, as part of her exploration of the K-Pop industry.
Aside from being a guest DJ in two local radio stations, she also has multiple endorsements under her belt and modeled for different magazine brands.
MarviN agustin
Marvin began his career in the entertainment industry in the mid-1990s, and quickly gained popularity for his boy-next-door appeal.
He also became the screen partner of Jolina Magdangal.
Aside from his acting career, Marvin has also made a name for himself as a successful entrepreneur in the culinary and restaurant business.
MerylL SORIANO
She comes from a family with a strong showbiz background, being the daughter of actor and comedian Willie Revillame and the niece of award-winning actress Maricel Soriano.
But she became an in-demand actress because of her acting talent, which had reaped numerous acting awards from local and international award-giving bodies.
Meryll won for her roles in Room Boy (2005), Rotonda (2007), Donor (2010), and Honor Thy Father (2015).
MileS OCAMPO
Miles is an actress, singer, and model who started her showbiz career at a young age.
She first gained recognition as a child actress in the long-running kiddie gag show Goin' Bulilit (2005). This paved the way for her to work on other projects, like the series Luv U (2012), the sitcom Home Sweetie Home (2014), and the series I Love You So (2015).
PATTY ANG
Following her pregnancy, Patty experimented with different styles to find what suited her figure best. This was the moment she discovered her passion for fashion.
At the age of 30, she began managing her own atelier and studio.
Yanee nunez-alvarez
Yanee is Rambo’s sister known as a blogger mom.
She has expressed her affection for her sister-in-law Maja, declaring her brother's love story as one of her absolute favorites.
