Bea Alonzo’s former manager Shirley Kuan has resigned from her post on August 11 after nearly six years of working with the actress.
Following her resignation, Bea has tapped film producer and festival director of CinePanalo Film Festival, Chris Cahilig, to serve as her interim manager.
According to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on August 23, the actress and her husband, businessman Vincent Co, approached Chris to temporarily oversee her existing commitments and professional inquiries.
Chris has also confirmed his role in an exclusive interview with the media outlet.
“I am not really privy doon sa conversation nila (Alonzo and Kuan),” Chris said. “But there is a need to take care of unfinished businesses. There are inquiries for endorsements. So the couple approached me if, for the meantime, I can take care of all those things for them. And I agreed as the interim agent or manager for Bea.”
For now, Chris said his priority is to make sure Bea's existing obligations are properly handled while also looking into opportunities that may fit the actress' next chapter.
Asked about his plans for her career, the interim manager acknowledged that Bea is entering a “new phase in her life being a married woman” and that her current priority is her family following her marriage to Vincent.
Chris also clarified that he did not take Bea away from anyone, stressing that he only stepped in after Shirley’s resignation.
“I love the family. Bea is part of the family na rin and everything. She (Kuan) resigned kaya ako interim kasi somebody has to take care of what she left, di ba?” he explained.
While he is currently overseeing Bea's professional matters, Chris said he and the actress have yet to sit down and map out her long-term career plans.
The film director also made it clear that Bea's own choices will remain at the center of her career moving forward, noting that she is “very intelligent” and “very smart and knowledgeable about the industry.”
“I would respect that kind of direction in life that she would take and support her and create opportunities for her along the way,” he added.
The management transition comes weeks after Bea and Vincent made headlines with their intimate civil wedding in Makati on July 13. The ceremony was officiated by Makati Mayor Nancy Binay.
Bea's change in management also comes amid online speculation surrounding Shirley's relationship with the actress and her personal affairs, claiming that the former manager had opposed the couple’s marriage. However, Shirley has not publicly commented on those allegations.
Meanwhile, she previously said she was unaware of the ceremony despite being Bea's manager at the time.
“Wala akong alam. Laging wala akong alam, ‘di ba? What I know is what everybody knows,” she said, as reported by the Daily Tribune earlier this month.
Shirley has yet to share further details about her resignation, and Bea has also yet to publicly comment on the change in her management.