Kapamilya actress and content creator Ivana Alawi has finally spoken out about the rumors surrounding her departure from ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’, dismissing claims that she was removed from the show due to attitude problems and excessive demands on set.
During a thanksgiving event with select members of the press, including LionhearTV, Alawi categorically denied the allegations, branding them as fake news.
“Maayos sobra. The whole production, nag-text silang lahat, maayos.”
“Nagulat ako, minention yan ng production, sabi, ‘hindi yan sa amin.’ Mga fake news yan. Sometimes, it really happens, especially when you’re in showbiz. Ako naman, siguro yung nagmamahal sa akin, kilala nila ako.”
The actress previously explained that her exit from the show was a personal decision, driven by the demanding taping schedule that conflicted with her other commitments. She emphasized that she left on good terms with lead star Coco Martin, the production team, and ABS-CBN executives.
In an earlier interview, Coco Martin admitted that he was saddened by Alawi’s exit, as she had been part of their on-set family for nearly a year.
“Malungkot, kasi siyempre, tagal din namin nakasama si Ivana. Almost one year. Kumbaga, parang pamilya na ‘yung turing namin sa kanya tapos napakabait niya eh,” he shared.
Martin revealed that Alawi was originally set to appear for only three months, but her character Bubbles became a significant part of the storyline, leading to her extended stay.
“Hindi naman namin akalain na gaganda nang gaganda ‘yung role at ‘yung kwento namin. E, humaba na nang humaba. Siyempre, nakakalimutan namin, si Ivana marami siyang mga commitments eh. May mga show pa siya gagawin, may vlog siya. Kaya nung kailangan na niya magpaalam, wala naman akong magawa.”
On Alawi’s final taping day, Martin chose not to dwell on her departure, opting instead to maintain a positive atmosphere.
“Hindi nga kami nag-uusap. Kasi ayokong pag-usapan na about sa pag-alis. Nag-uusap kami as normal. Ayoko kasing ano, ayokong… Basta ano kami, normal masaya, nagtatawanan lang kami.”
Despite her exit, Martin remains grateful for Alawi’s contributions to the series.
“Sobrang laki na ng naiambag ni Ivana sa show. Sobra-sobra ‘yung karakter ni Bubbles, and then ang hinihingi ko lang, sana nag-enjoy s’ya. At sana wag s’ya magsawa na makatrabaho ulit ako.”
Alawi has remained busy with other projects, recently making waves with her special participation in the pilot episode of ‘Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition’, marking the 20th anniversary celebration of the reality show.
She is also focusing on her YouTube channel, while gearing up for a new teleserye and an upcoming film under ABS-CBN.
Meanwhile, ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’ continues to dominate primetime ratings, with Alawi’s exit episode setting a new record-high of 635,636 concurrent viewers on Kapamilya Online Live on YouTube, proving the show’s enduring popularity.
