Bea Alonzo plays a “babaylan” in “1521” —PHOTOS COURTESY OF INSPIRE STUDIOS Months after the manager of Bea Alonzo went public to air their side on the mishap while shooting the historical drama “1521: The Quest for Love and Freedom,” it is now the turn of the film’s producer to publicly apologize. Inspire Studios head Francis B. Lara Ho said he is “taking responsibility” for decisions made on the set that eventually inconvenienced the actress.
He already reached out to Bea and her manager Shirley Kuan prior to speaking with the media last week but has yet to receive a response. “I hope she hears this: I apologize. Because of my limited knowledge and experience—I’m a first-time producer—I made some calls that apparently didn’t help her, and I take responsibility for them.
It wasn’t my intention to hurt her,” Francis told Inquirer Entertainment during the media gathering organized by Viva Entertainment, the film’s distributor in the Philippines. He continued: “Shirley is a family friend. Her family would spend time with us in America.
We’ve known each other for three or four years. Last time I heard, she and my wife would talk, but they probably don’t talk about me or the production. I also want to apologize to her.
It was never my intention for our relationship to turn this way.” In September 2023, a report was published quoted the producer saying that Bea made “unreasonable demands” that were not included in her contract, and t.