Jodi Sta. Maria considered leaving showbiz as recently as last year, but what transpired in the months that followed led the screen superstar to, in her words, take a “U-turn” instead.
Sta. Maria, 40, even remembers the precise date she started seriously contemplating on a career switch after over two decades in front of the camera.
It was December 23, 2021, the day she finished filming what would become the acclaimed teleserye “The Broken Marriage Vow.”
Referring to quitting acting and eyeing a fresh pursuit, Sta. Maria went on, “To be very honest, oo, pumasok ‘yan sa isip ko.”
Sta. Maria made the candid revelation during a press huddle on Wednesday, to celebrate her recent win as best actress for “The Broken Marriage Vow” in the Asian Academy Creative Awards.
“But then, kung iisipin mo, we can make plans talaga for our lives. But at the end of the day, si Lord pa rin talaga ‘yung mag-di-direct ng steps natin kung saan tayo pupunta. ‘Pag siya na ‘yung kumilos, iyon talagang kahit ano’ng gawin mo, hindi ka makakatakas. Dadalhin at dadalhin ka niya kung saan ka dapat, doon sa pinurpose niya para sa ‘yo,” she said.
That purpose was made tangible anew to Sta. Maria when “The Broken Marriage Vow” received successive international recognition after its June conclusion. Aside from her regional acting prize, the Kapamilya series also won best TV adaptation at the recent ContentAsia Awards.
Sta. Maria had in fact already envisioned a different life for her five years from now. She mentioned spending more time with her teenage son, Thirdy, and the possibility of continuing her studies after earning a psychology degree in mid-2021.
Whereas in December 2021 Sta. Maria looked forward to a life away from showbiz, now she can say with certainty, “I hope I’ll still be here five years from now.”
The next five years is already off to a great start, with Sta. Maria’s first-time team-up with Coco Martin in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Labyu with an Accent” — a “welcome breather” for the actress, following her back-to-back drama series.
Still ahead are major projects Sta. Maria opted to keep mum about for now. But going by her evident excitement — a telling smile and an unmistakable gleam in her eyes — they will be more reason to stay on for after once considering stepping away from the limelight.
