Leaving a TV network you’ve stayed with for several years is probably one of the hardest decisions an artist has to make in his or her career. Celebrities who needed bigger breaks in their career had to give up years of being a Kapamilya in order to shine brighter as a Kapuso.
From a former child actor to a veteran actress, these artists took a bold step in their careers in order to get bigger and better opportunities in GMA 7.
Here are 12 Kapamilya celebrities who chose to become Kapuso stars.
1. Heart Evangelista
The soon-to-be wed Kapuso star became a household name for playing the role of Missy in the ABS-CBN teen-oriented show “G-mik”. Evangelista topbilled several Kapamilya teleseryes including “Hiram” and “Panday”.
The actress-host made several hit films for Star Cinema including “Trip”, “Jologs”, “My First Romance”, and “Bcuz of U”.
In late 2009, Evangelista made the big switch as Kapuso from Kapamilya.
2. Sam Pinto
The sexy actress became known to the public after being part of ABS-CBN’s “Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up”. The former FHM sexiest woman of the world appeared in ABS-CBN shows such as “Your Song” and “Agimat”. In 2010, Pinto left her mother studio to become part of GMA 7.
Currently, Pinto stars in several Kapuso shows including “Bubble Gang” and hosts “Sunday All Stars”.
3. Iya Villania
Now Mrs. Arellano, Iya is reunited with hubby Drew Arellano in her original network after 10 years of being a Kapamilya. Villania moved to ABS-CBN in 2004 after doing a couple of shows for Kapuso network from 2002 to 2004. The TV host-actress did a lot of hosting stints in the Kapamilya network including “Wowowee”, “ASAP”, “Umagang Kay Ganda”, “U Can Dance”, and “I Dare You”. The 28-year-old celebrity currently hosts “Sunday All Stars” and “Taste Buddies”.
4. Empress Schuck
The Pinay-German actress was discovered by ABS-CBN when she was just 8 years old. As a Kapamilya actress, Schuck played supporting roles in shows like “Super Inggo”, “Lastikman”, “May Bukas Pa”, “100 Days to Heaven”, and “Apoy sa Dagot”.
Schuck also played the starring role in the drama series “Rosalka”. At GMA 7, Schuck is part of the drama series “Kailan ba Tama ang Mali”.
5. Eula Valdez
Famous for playing the role of Amor Powers in ABS-CBN’s teleserye “Pangako Sayo”, Valdez was a Kapamilya star for several years and played memorable roles in TV series “Darating ang Umaga”, “Ikaw ay Pag-ibig”, “Dyesebel” and “Walang Hanggan”.
Last year, the veteran actress transferred to GMA 7 and is expected to do the series “Half Sisters” with former co-star Jean Garcia.
6. Eugene Domingo
Prior to stardom, Domingo played the iconic role of “Simang” in ABS-CBN’s “Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan” in 2002. The comedienne was also recognised for her supporting role in the Star Cinema movie series “Ang Tanging Ina” series as Philippine comedy queen Aiai delas Alas’ best friend.
The award-winning actress eventually decided to move to GMA 7 in 2008. Domingo now hosts “Celebrity Bluff”, a Saturday game show in the Kapuso network.
7. Rachelle Ann Go
Just weeks after being proclaimed as the grand champion of GMA 7’s reality talent competition “Search for a Star”, Go quickly signed a contract with ABS-CBN.
From 2004 to 2010, Go appeared in several Kapamilya shows like “ASAP”, “Star in a Million”, and “Your Song”. She finally moved to the Kapuso network in 2010.
8. Camille Prats
Best known for playing the role of Sarah in the Star Cinema film “Sarah: Ang Munting Prinsesa” in 1995, Prats was a Kapamilya star until 2003. The former child star transferred to GMA 7 in 2004.
Aside from playing roles in several GMA 7 drama series like “Munting Heredera”, “The Borrowed Wife”, and “Second Chances”, Prats discovered her knack for hosting in the Kapuso show “Mars”.
9. Paolo Contis
The Filipino-Italian actor was a popular child actor in the 90’s and was part of the ABS-CBN show “Ang TV”. But Contis rose to fame in his teenage years when he was cast as one of the actors of the Kapamilya youth-oriented show “Tabing Ilog”.
Contis explored different roles when he transferred to GMA 7 in 2004. As a Kapuso, Contis also played comic and villain roles. He is one of the main casts of “Bubble Gang”.
10. Christan Bautista
A finalist of ABS-CBN’s “Star in a Million”, Christian Bautista was a mainstay in “ASAP” for 10 years until he moved to GMA network in 2013. Aside from singing and hosting, Bautista tried his hands on drama appearing in several Kapamilya shows such as “Kampanerang Kuba”.
A host at “Sunday All Stars”, the multi-awarded singer also starred in Kapuso shows “With a Smile” and “Strawberry Lane”.
11. Dennis Trillo
Prior to being one of the most sought-after actors of GMA Network, Dennis Trillo started out as a member of Star Circle batch 10. The award-winning actor played supporting roles in Kapamilya shows “Pangako Sayo” and “Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan”.
Trillo made the decision to move to the Kapuso network in 2002, but it was in 2004 that he got the biggest break of his career when he starred as Gabriel in the fantaserye “Mulawin”. Trillo is best known for his gay role in the highly controversial TV series “My Husband’s Lover”.
12. Tom Rodriguez
The hunk actor first appeared on television when he joined the Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up in 2009. After Rodriguez’ stint inside the Big Brother House, he was given several projects including “Guns and Roses”, “Anghelito: Ang Batang Ama”, and “Be Careful with my Heart”.
In 2013, Rodriguez was cast as the leading man in my “My Husband’s Lover”. His role in the controversial gay-themed series catapulted him to stardom.
