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Michelle crosses over

Philippine show business has become a veritable merry-go-round these days, what with the number of Kapuso stars — like Angel Locsin and Valerie Concepcion, to name just two — joining the rival network. But it’s not a one-way street; past and present ABS-CBN talents have also been keeping up a merry exodus to the other side, led by Hero Angeles, the Grand Questor of Star Circle Quest, who has reportedly struck a deal with the GMA Artist Centre. Joseph Bitangcol, another SCQ alum, has also left Star Magic and is now being handled by an independent manager, leaving him free to negotiate with either network. Angelika dela Cruz, who started with ABS-CBN’s Ang TV, moved to GMA-7, then back to ABS-CBN, and is now in the process of moving back a fourth time after it was reported that she was dissatisfied with the second-lead roles she’s been getting since her transfer to the Kapamilya network.

The latest to hop on this merry (if dizzying) bandwagon is yet another Star Circle Quest product, young actress Michelle Madrigal. Michelle joined the first season of SCQ and made it to the Magic Circle of 10. Michelle eventually became part of shows like SCQ Reload, where her loveteam with Joseph Bitangcol was launched.

Michelle spent several years with ABS-CBN, but never really graduated to first-tier roles such as those given to other SCQ finalists, notably Roxanne Guinoo, who bagged a lead role in Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos. Because of this, people began to speculate that Michelle would eventually seek other opportunities outside ABS-CBN. GMA-7 seemed like a logical choice, because her sister, Ehra Madrigal, was already signed up with them.