Jan Kristoffer Enriquez, basic supervisor, and Katrina Aguila, CEO
Even with the existence of network-owned expertise administration corporations as of late, Aguila Leisure, which found actresses like Angel Locsin, Jennylyn Mercado and Andrea Brillantes, nonetheless prefers to maintain its roster of artists moderately small.
It is because its founder Becky Aguila believes in working the corporate with “simply the appropriate mix” of care and practicality, a invaluable lesson she has taught her daughter Katrina and Jan Enriquez, the 2 “millennial managers” who’ve taken the reins from her lately.
“‘Tamang timpla’ within the sense that, with the business evolving so quick, Tita Becky needs to be sure that we’re in a position to correctly adapt to all these adjustments and nonetheless discover our spot on this business as her millennial managers,” Jan instructed Inquirer Leisure in a latest interview. “The business is increasing and we’d like to have the ability to navigate it properly. Whereas we’re pro-artists, we additionally work with the networks.”
This was additionally the rationale Aguila Expertise Administration was lately modified to Aguila Leisure, Katrina identified. “I grew up observing my mother at work. I noticed how she operates purely along with her coronary heart. She realized from her errors and now works with an ideal mix of coronary heart and thoughts,” she added. “Additionally, we’re already a full-force machine by way of leisure [with the creation of the production company Brightburn Entertainment].”
Becky began out greater than 20 years in the past as a expertise provider. “From there, I received to satisfy many brokers,” she recalled. “They’d come to my home and advocate their children. There weren’t lots of expertise managers on the time. I used to be energetic even earlier than Star Magic was created. Finally, a lot of the skills that turned a part of Artist Heart have been beneath me, like Jennylyn, Angel and Valerie (Concepcion).”
Angel was Becky’s first, her “eldest baby,” adopted by Jennylyn.
“I simply noticed Angel’s image and instructed an agent to seek out her. After we lastly met within the flesh I noticed that she was actually lovely and attractive. Walang retoke,” Becky recalled. “Jennylyn was introduced in by one in every of my employees who noticed her hanging out in a parlor. She regarded like Mama Mary. She got here along with her guitar. We instantly related as mommy and daughter. Valerie didn’t have a supervisor when she was beginning, so she determined to only switch to me.”
Becky then recalled the very best half about her early years in present biz. “The competitors now could be very stiff. You actually must be well-rounded. Earlier than, you might be a part of even for those who didn’t know learn how to act and study alongside the best way. My daughters (Katrina and her twin Bianca) have been nonetheless in class then, and they’d see me at work. I used to be actually extra of a ‘momager’ as a result of I used to be very protecting of my artists.”
Jennylyn Mercado —PHOTOS COURTESY OF AGUILA ENTERTAINMENT
On Jennylyn Mercado
Becky stated she made positive that she and Jennylyn’s guardian, Lydia Mercado, have been aligned as to how they need to care for {the teenager}, particularly along with her historical past of being a battered baby. “I made positive I used to be there for her, even throughout her ups and downs,” Becky stated. “I’m very pleased with the girl she has change into. She’s a mother now … and considers me her mom, now that Tita Lydia has already handed away.”
On Angel Locsin
When Angel was simply beginning, she lived in Becky’s residence for a yr. “She finally transferred to the rental unit, which she purchased and I helped furnish, when she was lastly incomes sufficient,” Becky started. “My expertise along with her was very painful. After I enabled her switch to ABS-CBN, it was like I left the whole lot I had. My company was banned [from working with GMA 7] due to what occurred. A yr or two later, she left me as a result of possibly she discovered what she thought was a greater alternative to develop. The switch was very controversial, and it damage each of us. ”
Becky continued: “I might query myself, ‘What did I do incorrect?’ I do know I did my finest for her. I suppose I turned overprotective. ‘Di ko natitimpla. I ought to have thought-about what the manufacturing wanted, as properly. There have been lots of humps and bumps, however my love for her remains to be there. Today, transferring from one community to a different is already quite common.”
On Empress Schuck
When Becky introduced her twin daughters to audition for “Ang TV” they usually finally received in, she additionally received a name asking for a 6-year-old lady to play a rape sufferer in a venture by the late Maryo J. delos Reyes. Becky advisable Empress Schuck.
“It was actually Empress who began my profession as a supervisor. I began ‘supplying’ younger skills and finally youngsters, then their numbers grew,” she recalled. “I can’t say a lot about what occurred to Empress previous to her getting pregnant. However when that occurred, she met up with me and introduced her associate alongside. Empress is a really form and giving baby to her household. For a time, she was the breadwinner, and he or she wished freedom. She wished to benefit from the issues she’d labored arduous for.”
On Valerie Concepcion
“I used to be with Valerie even on the hospital whereas she was giving delivery,” Becky recalled. “She was on the peak of her profession. For a while, we tried to cover [her pregnancy] as a result of she had a present then. Finally, the information leaked so we needed to admit it. Valerie received pregnant as a result of she was naive. She is fortunate to have very form and understanding dad and mom.”
On Andrea Brillantes
Andrea was an Aguila expertise from when she was 9 until she turned 19. When Andrea’s contract with ABS-CBN expired, Becky tried to switch her to GMA 7, however the Kapamilya community wished to maintain her and so she was given a component within the drama collection “Annaliza.”
“That’s what began the whole lot for her. Fortunately for Blythe, she by no means went by means of a clumsy stage as a result of she is admittedly very fairly,” Becky stated. “If you handle a expertise, you don’t simply take care of her but in addition her dad and mom. I suppose, regardless that you attempt to do the whole lot for a kid, they nonetheless anticipate increasingly more. The issue wasn’t actually from Blythe.”
Katrina then in contrast Andrea’s leaving their firm as a “breakup.” She added: “You notice your price after you undergo a breakup. That’s after we realized how good we’re with what we do. Apart from Jennylyn, we now have Dennis Trillo, Zeinab Harake, Magnificence Gonzalez and Mika Salamanca.”
Dennis Trillo
On Dennis Trillo
One other milestone within the company’s lengthy historical past is the switch of Dennis, who was one in every of GMA 7’s prime skills, to their turf. “We owe it to Jen and Jan,” stated Becky.
“I used to be the set off,” Jan stated. “We simply had that dialog, however it was actually one thing that Dennis and Jen had been discussing as a married couple. They wish to handle their schedules higher, particularly since they have already got a toddler. We’ve at all times handled Dennis like our personal, since Jen loves him,” added Jan.
Whereas the job is financially rewarding, Becky stated creating skills has additionally change into an advocacy for her. “I knew I had a calling to assist these women get into present biz and fulfill their goals. There have been different women who underwent workshops with me like Nadine Lustre, Julia Montes, even Kathryn Bernardo. I’m comfortable for them as a result of they’ve already come to this point.”
Becky stated she considers Katrina her “savior,” as a result of it was her daughter who labored on mending her damaged relationship with GMA 7. In 2011, Katrina personally sought an viewers with Kapuso govt Annette Gozon-Valdez.
“I owe the whole lot to Tita Annette. She was very open to speaking to me, to the daughter of somebody who moved Angel out of GMA 7. It was a closed-door assembly, additionally with Sir Joey Abacan. After that, I used to be in a position to go to Tita Lilybeth (Rasonable) and push for our artists,” Katrina started. “I merely went to Tita Annette with the mindset that I had nothing else to lose as a result of we’d misplaced the whole lot already. The success of the company now could be due to her.”
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When Jan joined in 2022, the corporate was named Aguila Leisure. It additionally manages the careers of Nikko Natividad, Mikoy Morales, Jon Lucas, Migs Almendras, Jin Macapagal, Jet Delgado, Eco Sala, Martin Escudero, Alex Medina, Nico Antonio, Neil Coleta, Sunshine Garcia, Sheena Halili, Priscilla Meireilles, Karel Marquez, Charee Pineda, Dianne Medina, Stephanie Sol, Erin Espiritu, Angelic Guzman, Lala Vinzon and Rana Harake.
