Talent manager Shirley Kuan broke her silence to open up about her decision to end her working relationship with actress Bea Alonzo after nearly six years.
Kuan shared her side in an exclusive interview with select members of the media amid reports about her departure as Alonzo’s manager.
According to Kuan, her resignation officially took effect on Aug. 11, when she directly informed the actress of her decision.
“The reason I called for this interview kasi I feel that it’s time for me to tell the truth and defend myself,” Kuan said.
“Kasi parang mali ‘yung mga sinusulat on the part na nagtampo ako kasi hindi ako pinagtanggol. Nagmukha akong weakling. Bakit ko hinihintay na ipagtanggol ako ni Bea? Kaya ko naman ipagtanggol ang sarili ko, but you have to know why,” she added.
Shirley spoke about allegations that she was the “culprit” or “meddler” behind the delay and postponement of Bea’s Spain wedding with her now-husband, businessman Vincent Co.
According to Kuan, Alonzo personally asked her to remain silent about the issue.
“Sabi ko [to Bea], ‘We both know the truth, right?’ And, sabi niya agad sa akin, ‘Please, SK, promise me you won’t say anything. Kasi ayoko nang lumaki pa,’” the talent manager recalled.
Kuan said she respected Alonzo’s wishes and chose not to publicly respond to the accusations, particularly because she believed her talent was heartbroken at the time. The criticism against her, however, continued to intensify even as she remained silent.
“Because I promised her, I kept quiet. In other words, she did not allow me to defend myself. I didn’t take it against her because at that time that’s how she felt, I respected that,” she said.
Kuan added that even after Alonzo and Co eventually got married, she continued to be portrayed as the reason behind the earlier postponement.
“Parang [sinasabi nila na] ‘Finally, natuloy na rin ‘yung kasal kasi hindi na nakialam si Shirley Kuan.’ Parang ginawa pa rin akong kontrabida,” she said.
Despite this, Kuan said she chose not to respond publicly because she did not want to overshadow the newlyweds’ happiness.
“Kinasal na, why would I rain on their parade? Let them be happy. Ayoko ngang maging kontrabida,” she said.
Kuan said she also directly asked Alonzo about the wedding cancellation rumors when she resigned on Aug. 11.
According to Kuan, she asked the actress whether she was responsible for the cancellation of their wedding plans, to which Alonzo allegedly replied, “No. Hindi!”
Kuan said she also asked whether she had ever told Alonzo, even jokingly, to cancel the wedding.
“[Sabi niya], ‘No. Never!’ Okay, malinaw ‘yan!” Kuan said.
She maintained that she has evidence to support her claim that she had no involvement in the wedding’s postponement and challenged those accusing her to provide proof of their allegations.
“Meron akong resibo, kung gusto niyo malaman, I can prove na hindi ako kasali d’yan. Ang tanong, ‘yung mga nagpapalabas na kasalanan ko, na ako ang nagpa-cancel, maglabas sila ng resibo, kasi ako kaya ko maglabas,” she said.
Shirley also revealed the “last straw” that led her to withdraw from being Bea’s manager was when she was removed from an event she had organized for the actress without receiving any prior notice. She did not disclose the brand or client involved.
When she brought the matter up with Alonzo, Kuan said the actress told her she was unaware of the disinvitation.
Kuan then informed Alonzo that she was resigning from her position as her manager.
According to Shirley, Bea asked her, “How did it come to this?” She recalled responding, “I don’t know. I had no idea bakit ako sinisiraan nonstop.”
Kuan also expressed disappointment over what she described as Alonzo’s failure to publicly defend her or clarify the rumors directed at her throughout the controversy.
Despite her departure, Kuan said her decision to speak out was primarily about finally being able to share her side and defend herself against the allegations surrounding her former talent’s wedding.
Alonzo and Co tied the knot in a discreet civil wedding ceremony in July, reportedly officiated by Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay.
