Liza Soberano now wants to be called Hope, as some ABS-CBN execs react to her ‘gripes’

Just hours after baring her frustrations as an actress who was not able to speak her mind about matters pertaining to her career, Liza Soberano appeared to be pushing forward with her rebranding, starting with a change in her name — Hope.

In a new vlog posted on her Instagram, a voice can be heard in the background asking a bespectacled Soberano what she had in mind, to which she replied in a series of sentences spliced together: “Imagine me: explosions. An alien invasion. Fast cars. Flying, with a kitten… I wanna give the people a Liza like they’ve never seen her before.”

“Please, call me Hope,” she added, which is also her first name, the second being Elizabeth.

Soberano, in her caption, said that she is currently working on “something big.”

In a YouTube vlog on Sunday, Feb. 26, Soberano gave a “life update” claiming that while she was grateful for the experience, she felt that she was giving into the “pressure of doing what everybody else wants,” working “side-by-side with one main co-star, same production company, rotating around the same three directors,” and that she was not asked for her input as an actress.

The Filipino-American actress is currently being managed by Careless, a label founded by actor James Reid, who was also a former colleague at ABS-CBN. She signed with Careless Music in June 2022, and which is set to launch her new project as an “ambassador” on Feb. 27.

‘Ungrateful, desperate’

But some ABS-CBN executives did not seem too happy with her “life update,” taking to social media to air their sentiments without naming the actress.

ABS-CBN Music head Roxy Liguigan and Star Cinema executive Mico Del Rosario were perceived to be alluding to Soberano when they posted on Twitter.

“Hiyang-hiya naman ako sa statements. parang walang walang naambag sayo at all ah. kayo talagang mga kayo,” del Rosario tweeted. (I feel embarrassed by your statements. It seems like we’ve done nothing for your career. These types of people, really.)

hiyang hiya naman ako sa statements. parang walang walang naambag sayo at all ah. kayo talagang mga kayo. hahahaha #hilap

— Mico del Rosario (@micodelrosario) February 26, 2023

“Be grateful. Not just in good times, but at all times,” Liguigan wrote.

Be Grateful. Not just in good times, but at all times.

— RXL (@Roxy_Liquigan) February 26, 2023

Producer John Leo Garcia seemingly responded to the “Forevermore” star as well, saying he prefers those who can stand by their decisions without blaming others.

“Mas bilib ako sa taong kaya panindigan ang mga decisions nila sa buhay than being desperate and blaming others for their decisions that [didn’t] work out. Yun ang brave. Needs to learn: being kind, being grateful. Periodt,” he stated.

(I have more respect for those who remain firm with their decisions in life compared to those who are desperately blaming others for their decisions that didn’t work out. That is what it means to be brave. She needs to learn to be kind and grateful. Period.)

mas bilib ako sa taong kaya panindigan ang mga decisions nila sa buhay than being desperate and blaming others for their decisions that didnt work out. yun ang brave. needs to learn: being kind, being grateful. periodt.

— john leo garcia (@johnleogarcia) February 26, 2023

Del Rosario, for his part, quoted Garcia’s tweet and responded, “Accountability ang tawag dyan.” (That’s what you call accountability.)

Accountability ang tawag dyan. https://t.co/sIHvClqtvc

— Mico del Rosario (@micodelrosario) February 27, 2023

Screenwriter Mark Angos, on the other hand, admitted that the actress’ thoughts are coming from someone “trying to figure herself out.”

“By the same token, she’s still trying to learn how to express herself better. So if she comes off hurtful to some of my colleagues, let’s be patient. She will be able to find the right words next time,” he added.

A friend asked me if I was hurt by Liza’s insinuation that we boxed her so hard that it drove her away from our industry. That’s a horrible take. What I got from the vlog was a person trying to figure herself out. To be fair, she’s only “starting to dip her toes into writing.”

— mark duane angos (@markangos) February 26, 2023

Soberano’s former manager Ogie Diaz confirmed that he is set to respond to the actress’ vlog through a showbiz update within the day, although it’s unclear what time this would be released. EDV

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