Former talent manager Shirley Kuan has broken her silence over allegations that she was responsible for the cancellation of Bea Alonzo and Vincent Co’s planned wedding in Spain.
Speaking to select members of the entertainment press, including LionhearTV, on Monday, August 24, Kuan strongly denied claims that she advised Alonzo to call off the wedding or interfered with the couple’s plans.
“Ako raw ang reason or culprit, whatever they call it, or the meddler, kaya hindi natuloy, kaya na-cancel ‘yung wedding in Spain,” Kuan said.
According to Kuan, she immediately contacted Alonzo after reports surfaced linking her to the cancellation.
“Immediately when I saw it, I called Bea. I said, ‘Bea, what’s this?’ Tapos, I don’t know. And I said, ‘We both know the truth, right?’ And sabi niya agad sa akin, ‘Please, SK, promise me you won’t say anything? Kasi ayoko nang lumaki pa.’”
Kuan said she agreed to remain silent out of consideration for Alonzo, whom she described as heartbroken at the time.
“And syempre, pagbibigyan mo yung alaga ko heartbroken at that time, you know, you try to accommodate her wishes, kasi ayaw niya sigurong lumaki na,” she recalled.
“So talaga, I kept quiet. But ayaw tumigil, ayaw tumigil, lalo akong, dahil hindi ako sumasagot, lalo akong tinitira. And patindi na nang patindi. But because I promised her, I kept quiet, okay?”
Kuan said keeping that promise effectively prevented her from publicly defending herself as the allegations continued.
“In other words, she did not allow me to defend myself. I didn’t take it against her because at that time, that’s how she felt. And I respected that,” she explained.
However, she said she became increasingly troubled when she continued to be portrayed as the “villain” even after Alonzo and Co eventually tied the knot.
“Kaso, pati nu’ng natuloy na, ako pa rin ang villain. Parang, teka lang, why am I supposed to be the villain here? Wala naman akong ginawa,” Kuan said.
She claimed that some comments surrounding the eventual wedding suggested it had finally pushed through because she was no longer interfering.
“Parang, finally, natuloy din ang kasal kasi hindi na nakialam si Shirley Kuan. Parang, ginawa pa rin akong kontrabida. Hindi ko na lang sinagot din,” she said.
Kuan explained that she chose not to respond at the time because she did not want to overshadow the newlyweds’ happiness.
“Kasi nga, ako naman, ang reason ko ngayon, kasi kinasal na eh, why would I rain on their parade? Let them be happy. Ayoko nga maging kontrabida.”
Kuan says Alonzo denied she ever told her to cancel wedding
Kuan further claimed that she directly raised the issue with Alonzo when she resigned as her manager on August 11.
“But anyways, I will just let you know, kung kinausap ko si Bea, when I resigned last August 11, ako sabi ko, ‘Bea, I just want to make it clear. Malinaw naman tayo, di ba, na ako ba nagpa-cancel nu’ng kasal n’yo?’”
According to Kuan, Alonzo answered, “No, hindi.”
The former manager said she went even further and asked whether she had ever suggested canceling the wedding, even jokingly.
“Okay, I’ll go further, pa. ‘At anytime, kahit pabiro, even in jest, did I tell you to cancel the wedding? Baka nakalimutan ko lang.’ Sabi niya, ‘No, never.’”
Kuan then said she has evidence that could support her account.
“Okay, malinaw yan. Meron akong resibo. Kung gusto n’yong malaman, I can prove na hindi ako kasali d’yan,” she said.
She also challenged those accusing her of interfering in the wedding to provide evidence of their claims.
“Ang tanong, yung mga nagpapalabas na kasalanan ko, ako yung nagpa-cancel, maglabas sila ng resibo. Kasi ako kaya kong maglabas,” Kuan stressed.
Reports about Kuan’s alleged involvement emerged following the cancellation of Alonzo and Co’s earlier wedding plans in Spain.
Despite the controversy surrounding their previous plans, Alonzo and Co eventually married in an intimate civil ceremony at Makati City Hall on July 13.
Kuan has since confirmed that she is no longer managing Alonzo’s career, ending their longtime professional relationship.