Nearly seven years after her departure from GMA Network, Ryza Cenon has returned to her former home turf—this time as a guest on ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda’—where she candidly reflected on the choices she made in her career.
Ryza rose to prominence as the Ultimate Female Survivor of ‘StarStruck’ Season 2 in 2004 and later earned praise for her role in the hit Kapuso afternoon drama ‘Ika-6 na Utos’. Looking back, she likened the experience of filming the series to unpredictable weather.
“Para siyang weather for me. May maganda, may masaya. Basta po iba-iba. May sunshine, may bagyo, may rainbow. May mga ganoong feeling po habang ginagawa siya. Ibig sabihin hindi siya ganoon kadali. Mahirap po siyang gawin,” she shared.
Despite the show’s success, Ryza made the decision to leave GMA Network in 2018 and transfer to rival network ABS-CBN.
“Sinabi ko naman po na parang gusto kong mag-explore. Gusto kong lumaki pa po, lumawak pa po ‘yung mundo ko. Like, gusto ko pong gumawa ng pelikula. Gusto ko pa pong makakilala, makatrabaho pa po ng ibang artista,” she explained.
Ryza emphasized that her exit was done respectfully. “Pero hindi naman po ako umalis ng GMA na basta umalis na lang. Nagpaalam po ako nang maayos. Umakyat po ko sa itaas. Inisa-isa ko po sila para magpaalam po.”
At the time, she was also the breadwinner of her family, which weighed heavily in her decision-making. “Siyempre, ako po, tao lang din po ako. May pangangailangan din po ako. Breadwinner din po ako so kailangan ko rin pong kumita. So, isa rin po ‘yun sa rason.”
Some criticized her decision, but Ryza remained unfazed. “Dinedma ko na lang po. Kasi hindi naman po nila alam ‘yung buong istorya.”
When asked if she has any regrets, the actress was clear: “Wala naman po. Kasi, like ngayon po, kung dati ‘yung mga network nag-aaway, ngayon po, magkakasama naman na po eh. So, mayroon pa rin pong healing, may hope pa rin po sa atin. So, bakit kailangan pagsisihan na isang bagay na puwede naman pong balikan din.”
Ryza revealed that GMA Network recently invited her to guest on the action-drama ‘Sanggang-Dikit FR’ starring Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo. Though she had to decline due to a scheduling conflict, she said, “Open pa rin ako if ever na ma-adjust ang taping schedule. Open pa rin po ako. Regular teleserye, oo naman, trabaho po ‘yan.”
She also clarified that any past issues between her and Jennylyn are water under the bridge. “Wala na po ‘yon. Tapos na po ‘yon. May pamilya na po kami, may mga anak na po kami.”
Ryza fondly recalled her bond with fellow ‘StarStruck’ alum LJ Reyes: “LJ po ‘yung pinaka-close ko. Minsan, kinakamusta ko siya or binabati ko siya kapag may special occasions.”
Asked whether she still dances—once a signature talent of hers—she laughed, “Yung pagsayaw kasi, naging nanay na ako, nakalimutan ko na. Kaya hindi ko alam baka pareho nang kaliwa ang mga paa ko. Hindi ko na siya masyadong ginagawa.”
“Ang ginagawa ko, yung pagiging nanay ko. Mas nagpo-focus ako kay Night, sa school niya, hatid-sundo siya. Minsan nagbe-bake ako. Minsan art. Ngayon may mga ginagawa akong painting pero kapag natapos, ipo-post ko,” she shared.
“Ang buhay ko noon happy-happy lang, so parang walang meaning. Ngayon po, may meaning na. Before kasi, kung anong mangyari sa akin, okay lang. Pero ngayon takot ako na may mangyari sa akin kasi siyempre meron na akong Night. So, dapat walang mangyari na masama.”
Ryza was joined by her five-year-old son Night during her visit to GMA Network. “Lagi po siyang ganyan. Supportive po siya. Every time na may work ako, palagi kong kasama si Night, kasi sobrang clingy siya sa mommy niya.”
Asked if Night might follow in her footsteps as an actor, Ryza chuckled, “Naniniwala ako na magiging writer siya, hindi artista.”
