Sunshine Dizon excited to work with former GMA-7 co-stars in ABS-CBN
Sunshine Dizon officially signed with ABS-CBN last week, after over two decades of staying with GMA-7. And while she already has an upcoming project with her new network—Marry Me, Marry You, which stars Janine Gutierrez, Paulo Avelino, and Jake Ejercito—Sunshine also hopes to work with her former GMA-7 co-stars who are currently also with ABS-CBN.
Namely, Sunshine wants to work with ABS-CBN stars Iza Calzado and Karylle. The three—along with Diana Zubiri—worked on the 2005 hit fantasy series Encantadia on GMA-7.
The 37-year-old actress said Iza and Karylle were the “first ones who knew” about her transfer to ABS-CBN.
“I was telling nga (Karylle) na, ‘Sis, pray for me, sana matuloy yung project because I’m very excited for it,” Sunshine said during the mediacon welcoming her to ABS-CBN on Friday, April 30. “Masaya sila para sa akin.”
Sunshine did not give any specific reasons for the transfer, saying “Siguro out of respect, hindi na ako magbibigay ng specific details.”
However, she said that her camp and her former network were able to iron out the transfer properly. “With whatever decision it is, maluwag sa puso ko dahil they [GMA management] actually wished me well,” she said.
She added, "To be honest, no hard feeling. Wala akong bitbit na sama ng loob.”
Coincidentally, Sunshine’s first project with ABS-CBN also stars former GMA-7 talents. Janine Gutierrez moved to the Kapamilya network earlier this year. Meanwhile, Paulo Avelino, whose showbiz career began in the GMA-7 talent show Starstruck, transferred to ABS-CBN in 2011.
In an Instagram post, Janine welcomed Sunshine to their new network, noting that she worked with the veteran actress in the 2013 drama Villa Quintana, her first soap opera as a lead actress on GMA-7.
“Ilang beses ko na sinabi sayo ate pero sobrang saya ko talaga na magkakasama ulit tayo,” Janine wrote. “Ate Shine is one of the most generous, kindest and undoubtedly one of the BEST actresses we have in the Philippines. I was so lucky to have the privilege of working with her in my first lead teleserye EVER and I'm still so honored now - to be working with her on both our FIRST seryes in ABS-CBN! We are so lucky to have you!!”
Sunshine replied by saying, “I got your back then and Ate will always be here for you alam mo yan. Love you and happy to be doing our first together.”
Buzz that Sunshine will move to ABS-CBN surfaced last month, with reports claiming that it was GMA-7 that didn’t renew her contract. Sunshine was with GMA-7 for 25 years and has starred in a number of the network’s hit shows including Encantadia and Ika-6 Na Utos.