How Ivana Alawi’s role in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” became a defining moment in her career

Liezel dela Cruz

Ivana Alawi is saying goodbye to her role in &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/batangquiapo" target="_blank">FPJ&#x27;s Batang Quiapo</a>,&quot; and it’s clear she has a lot of love for the show. What was supposed to be a brief three-month role turned into almost a year. In a recent interview, the Kapamilya actress set the record straight about her departure from the series, clarifying rumors and sharing honest details of what really happened during her stint as Bubbles/Samantha. Ivana described her time on &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/batangquiapo" target="_blank">FPJ&#x27;s Batang Quiapo</a>&quot; as a memorable experience she will cherish for a long time, “It’s the first project na parang lumabas ako sa shell ko, and I got to do a lot of things, which is action, may comedy, romance and all, and you get to do that with one project.” Her role allowed her to explore a range of emotions and genres, marking a significant milestone in her career.Initially, she was set for a brief stint in the teleserye. She recounted, “Tumawag sa akin sina Tita Cory [Vidanes] and Direk Coco, sabi nila, may project na ‘Batang Quiapo.’ This was the time na kinasal si Lovi [Poe].” She went on to explain, “Sabi ko, ‘How long?’ Kasi hindi ko kayang matagal. I have other works, my vlog, other commitments also abroad. So no’ng sinabi na three months, sabi ko, ‘Okay, I’ll do it.’”True to her hardworking nature, Ivana thought she could manage the role for three months while balancing her other commitments. However, viewers growing in love with her character led her to extend her appearance for nearly a year. Her role proved far more impactful than she initially anticipated. Unfortunately, the demands of her other commitments made it increasingly challenging to juggle everything.“Nag-click siya!” she enthused. “Mag-one year na so nag-catch up lahat ng commitments ko, as in nahuhuli na ako.” Ultimately, she had to part ways with the show due to these scheduling conflicts. “Nagpaalam ako nang maayos, even though it was so hard for me to ask them to kill my character. Mahirap kasi minahal ko talaga ‘yung character ko na si Bubbles.” Despite the difficulty in saying goodbye, Ivana&#x27;s departure was handled with grace, and she’s leaving the show with heartfelt memories and a deep appreciation for the experience.The rumors suggesting an off-cam drama behind her exit are far from the truth. She set the record straight, saying, “Walang nangyari na tinanggal ako or something like that. That’s not true. Ang nangyari talaga, tumawag ako at ako na po mismo ang nagpaalam. It’s because of my work and other commitments na hindi na talaga kinakaya. At kahit gustuhin ko man mag-five years, six years, kung wala lang siguro akong ibang trabaho, I will do it.”She also addressed claims about leaving tapings ahead of time. “’Yung mga sinasabi na umaalis ako nang hindi pa tapos ang taping, I’ve never done that. Unang-una, alam ko malaki ang cost ng production. So kahit lumampas ako ng oras, walang problema,” she explained. When it came to gossip about her supposed attitude problem, Ivana took a lighthearted approach and laughed it off. She joked that perhaps she was simply born with a resting &quot;attitude&quot; face, which might be mistaken for a bad mood due to her facial features. Ivana has nothing but affection for her co-stars and the team. “I love them all. Sobrang bait nila sa akin,” she shared. “They’re really like family.” She reminisced about the emotional goodbyes on her final day of filming, noting that everyone was in tears. But she reassured her colleagues that they would surely cross paths again. She also expressed gratitude towards Coco, as she feels he truly understood her situation and the need for her departure. Given Coco’s deep experience and empathy as both an actor and director, he’s well aware of the challenges that come with the job.“He knows when you have so much,” Ivana said, highlighting Coco&#x27;s ability to gauge the demands placed on his actors. This mutual respect is clear in how Ivana left the fate of her character in Coco’s hands. She recalled, “Kung anong gusto ni Coco,” with a smile, “Hindi na ako nagtanong. I really left it to them. Basta sabi ko, ‘Kahit ano po ang gusto n’yong gawin. Hindi po ako nanghihingi ng big exit or anything.’” Their mutual respect as director and actress have only strengthened her admiration for him. Their strong working relationship allowed her to fully embrace her role and contribute to the teleserye in meaningful ways. As she bids farewell to &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/batangquiapo" target="_blank">FPJ&#x27;s Batang Quiapo</a>,&quot; she brings with her a wealth of experience and personal growth. She takes pride in how she tackled the demanding action stunts and pushed through even on days when she wasn’t feeling her best, all for the love of the show. Ivana’s eyes sparkled with joy and gratitude as she reflected on her time with the top-rating teleserye. “Sobrang saya ko na naging parte ako ng ‘Batang Quiapo,’” she shared, highlighting how the experience has been a significant and fulfilling chapter in her career. And she carries with her fond memories of the friendships and professional relationships she built during her time on the show.

How Ivana Alawi’s role in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” became a defining moment in her career | ABS-CBN

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How Ivana Alawi’s role in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” became a defining moment in her career

Liezel dela Cruz

Published Aug 01, 2024 11:57 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 02, 2024 01:15 AM PHT

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