“I was very lost.” 

Former Kapamilya talent Liza Soberano summed up what exactly she felt that eventually led her to take a controversial but much-need break from showbiz at the peak of her stardom. 

During her hiatus, many questioned her decision to rest her career. Many were then left asking what happened. 

Liza finally answered everything and poured her heart out in a new vlog post she titled “This is Me.” 

She opened her vlog by explaining that she had to take an emotional audit and that can happen if she takes a breather. 

It is no secret that Liza is one of the most successful actresses of her time. With the help of her former manager Ogie Diaz, she was able to package her from being a typical side character to a prized major lead. 

But somewhere along the lines, Liza crumbled in her perfect life. 

And it was only after a decade that she finally found the courage to speak up and speak her heart. 

Liza retrospects 

Her reflection started during the pandemic when she, for the first time, was able to stop her life and attend to herself. 

“2022, coming out of the pandemic I was very lost and introspective. I just ended my contract with Star Magic and Tito Ogie. At this point, I have been working for over a decade with no real breaks since I was a kid,” she said. 

“The pandemic was the first time in my life when I was allowed to stop and be still. This forced me to think,” she said. 

“I didn’t have a childhood nor did I have the chance to grow and become an adult on my own terms. I had always been told what to do, what to wear, what to say and what not to say,” she said. 

She knows too well that the industry she’s in requires such things for her own good. But deep inside, she knows too that her career wasn’t just hers and that freedom is something she would have to learn to live without. 

“I didn’t even choose the name Liza, it was chosen for me,” she revealed. 

She however clarified that her new outlook was never about bitterness and regret. “In fact, it’s the opposite. It’s a story about growth and gratitude.” 

“At 24 years old, I was finally given the choice to decide my own path,” she added. 

Signing up with James Reid ‘was the first decision I made for myself’ 

Many became worried when Liza ditched Ogie Diaz and signed up with fellow former Kapamilya talent James Reid as her new talent manager. 

It is no secret that the 25-year-old actress’ career skyrocketed thanks to the excellent packaging of her former manager and everyone else behind her. 

Many also worried if the actor could actually sustain managing a career as huge as Liza Soberano’s considering he himself has not hit it big internationally either. 

But Liza said she believed in James’ vision as well as his record label’s and wanted to see how her career would go if they work together. 

“I eventually sat down with them and told them that I was ready to let them manage me as Liza Soberano, and I’ll never forget the conversation we had. I asked them what the plan was for me and they said: “I don’t know, you tell us we’re here to support whatever your dreams are,’” she said. 

“That’s when I knew I had found my team. I had been approached by so many different management companies before and it was the first time any of them had asked me what I wanted, what made me happy,” she added. 

Despite people’s reaction, she was delighted to be working with people who finally respect her individuality and give her freedom to milk her creativity rather than laying one for her. 

“It was in fact the first real choice I made myself for myself,” she said. 

Projects so far 

Liza has been very vocal about her dream to pursue a Hollywood career. 

Contrary to people’s perception that Liza isn’t picking up, she shared that she and her team have in fact worked on a few engagements for her. 

Among her major achievements is having her career co-managed by American management company “Transparent Arts.”

She was able to appear in South Korean television show “Not Hocance But Scance” and filmed her first Hollywood movie “Lisa Frankenstein.”