Talent manager and showbiz insider Ogie Diaz has addressed speculation that he was the person alluded to by Liza Soberano in her latest feature ‘Can I Come In’, a podcast-cinema-documentary hybrid directed by Sarah Bahbah.
In one of the most talked-about moments of the documentary, Soberano was asked to cut a cake, with each slice representing someone who had hurt her. She mentioned several names, including one that was bleeped. The actress then threw the cake slice across the room — sparking intense online debate on who she meant.
Netizens quickly speculated that the censored name was Ogie, her former manager. Their assumption drew from Soberano’s previous 2023 interview with Boy Abunda, where she admitted being hurt after Ogie called her “ungrateful” when she decided to rebrand her career.
But on the August 17 episode of his vlog ‘Showbiz Updates’, Ogie denied being the person behind the bleeped name.
“Ako sa totoo lang, feeling ko, hindi ako ‘yon. At alam naman ni Liza ang totoo,” he said. “We’ve done our part bilang manager niya, together with Star Magic, ‘di ba? Ngayon, kung kulang pa ‘yon, narrative na ni Liza ‘yon kung ano ang gusto niyang sabihin against us. Basta ako, ang pinagpapasalamat ko pa rin dumating si Liza sa buhay ko.”
Ogie also expressed both sympathy and admiration for Liza, who not only confirmed her breakup with longtime partner Enrique Gil but also revealed childhood traumas and experiences of abuse.
“Naawa ako and at the same time ang tapang. Napaka-tapang ni Liza Soberano,” Ogie said.
According to him, much of what Liza shared in the documentary was no surprise.
“Syempre ‘pag tatanggap ka ng talent, kailangan makilala mo ‘yung talambuhay niya. ‘Yung kanyang istorya ng buhay, kung saan siya nanggaling,” he explained.
He admitted that Liza has changed over the years, but emphasized that such growth is part of life.
“Hindi mo na makikita ‘yung dating Liza sa Liza na napanood mo sa vlog. I’m open to changes and people change. Kailangan matanggap ko ‘yun na nagbabago ang tao, nagbabago ‘yung pananaw niya, perspektibo niya, outlook niya, behavior niya.”
When it comes to the controversial “cake scene,” Ogie suggested that Liza may have been referring instead to her former road manager Joni Lyn Castillo, or “Tita Joni.”
“Si Tita Joni ‘yung kumupkop kay Liza. Si Tita Joni rin nagbigay ng pag-asa kay Liza,” Ogie said. “In fairness kay Tita Joni, mabait ‘yung tao. Kasi kung maldita ‘yun, baka katigan ko si Liza kung si Joni ang binigkas niya. Eh mabait ‘yung tao, hanggang ngayon nag-uusap kami. Si Liza hindi ko nakakausap e, kung si Joni nga ‘yon.”
Despite the intrigue, Ogie maintained that he holds no grudges.
“Kung kulang pa ‘yun, e narrative na ni Liza ‘yon kung ano ‘yung gusto niyang sabihin against us,” he said. “Basta ako, nagpapasalamat ako na dumating si Liza sa buhay ko.”
