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Charlie Dizon during her interview on 'Oh My Gan!'. ABS-CBN News
Before becoming an award-winning actress, Charlie Dizon once left college and traveled to South Korea in hopes of becoming a K-pop artist, a dream that ultimately did not push through but eventually redirected her toward a career in Philippine entertainment.
In an interview on “Oh My Gan!” posted Wednesday, Dizon looked back on her unconventional journey into show business and how one major disappointment helped shape the career she has today.
The actress said she initially took up Nursing at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and completed two years of the program. “Nag-nursing muna ako sa UST. Tapos umabot akong two years,” she said.
At the time, Dizon said she was seriously considering a career in medicine because becoming an actress did not seem realistic for someone who had no connections in the entertainment industry. “Gusto kong mag-Med talaga. Kasi hindi ko naman talaga ine-expect na makakapasok ako sa showbiz,” she said.
Her path changed when a classmate introduced her to Korean dramas and K-pop. Dizon eventually attended K-pop events and later auditioned for a Korean entertainment agency. “Hanggang sa may nagpa-audition na Korean agency talaga. Tapos nag-audition ako,” she recalled.
The opportunity prompted her to leave Nursing and head to South Korea for training. “So nagpaalam ako sa Nursing sa UST na mag-aartista po ako,” she said.
Dizon underwent training in Korea but the plan eventually fell through because of issues surrounding her contract and work documents. She explained that she initially stayed in Korea using a tourist visa while the agency assessed whether she could handle living there.
“Tine-test ako kasi if kaya kong tumira talaga doon. Kasi 'yung iba daw sumusuko, hindi kaya 'yung food, 'yung culture,” she said.
When the agency began processing documents for her to work there, however, complications arose because her arrangement was partly for training and partly for future employment. According to Dizon, Philippine authorities required clearer terms for the contract if she was going to secure a working visa.
“Parang gusto nila, pag-working, working. Pag-training, training lang,” she explained.
The situation eventually reached a point where, according to Dizon, there was a suggestion to alter the contract, something her mother did not agree to.
“So parang umabot sa gusto nila i-fake na 'yung contract. Siyempre ayaw ng mommy ko. So hindi na ako tumuloy,” she said.
Dizon admitted that losing the opportunity was painful at the time, especially because she had already left school believing she was about to pursue a career abroad.
“Nung hindi natuloy 'yung Korea, talagang hiyang-hiya din ako. 'Yung parang, ‘Ha, anong sasabihin ko? Sabi ko mag-aartista ako sa Korea,’” she recalled.
Her faith also made the disappointment difficult to understand initially. “Yung parang, ‘Bakit? Eh pinag-pray ko ’to,’” she said.
Looking back, however, Dizon believes the setback ultimately led her to where she was supposed to be. “So dito pala ako,” she said.
She added that one pattern has repeatedly emerged throughout her career: opportunities tend to appear just when she feels like giving up. “Every time din na parang pasuko ako, lalong may nag-o-open na door,” Dizon shared.
After returning to the Philippines, Dizon attended public workshops under Star Magic while continuing her studies. A fellow workshop participant later introduced her to commercial work. She eventually finished a degree in Human Resource Management at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, fulfilling her mother’s wish that she complete her education before fully pursuing show business.
“Kailangan magtapos ako mag-aaral. Hindi pwedeng nag-aartista,” Dizon recalled of her mother’s condition.
For Dizon, earning a degree was also important because she had no guarantee at the time that her entertainment career would take off.
“Gusto ko ng stability rin sa life. So feeling ko 'yung Human Resource noon, parang kahit saang company, may Human Resource,” she explained.
Her breakthrough eventually arrived in Philippine entertainment, and she earned acclaim for her performance in “Fan Girl,” which won her the Best Actress award at the Metro Manila Film Festival.
Dizon said the recognition came with pressure because she wanted to prove that her success was not merely a one-time stroke of luck. “Ayaw kong magmukha siyang tsamba lang... na parang dahil lang sa project na yun, bigla akong nanalo,” she said.
Today, she says she continues to approach every role with the same determination. “Kailangan love mo 'yung acting din talaga, yung ginagawa mo,” she said.
And while she occasionally wonders what life would have been like had she continued medicine, Dizon said she no longer wishes to change her past.
“I think meant to be din na nandito ako talaga,” she said.