“Ako ‘yung sure na top 1 na sure nang gusto nilang tanggalin ng dati po naming company.”
That is what Eat Bulaga host Ryzza Mae Dizon shared during her interview with Toni Gonzaga on the online talk show Toni Talks.
The former child star, who will soon turn 21 years old in a couple of days, was pertaining to the internal scuffle at the production team of the noontime variety show and its former producer, Television and Production Exponents, (TAPE) Inc. in 2023.
At that time, she was among the names disclosed to be on the firing line by the company, who sought to reformat the longest-running noontime show.
Although, things escalated and led to the dissociation of Dizon, along with the entire group led by Tito and Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, in May of that year, which was quickly followed by their move to TV5.
When asked by the host about the reason why she was being slated for removal, Ryzza shared: “Mayroon pong bata na gusto nilang ipasok.”
She then emotionally recalled how much it affected her during that time. “Grabe ‘yung ano n’on sa akin. Nararamdaman ko talaga ‘yung (sakit).”
Ryzza remembered that during the entire brouhaha, she was only being directed to come to the show only once a week and for only one segment.
“Nag-aantay lang po ako n’on sa hosts room kasi ‘yung ibang segment (kahit) all hosts ‘yan, ako lang ‘yung nasa dressing room…”
Dizon, who made local TV history as the youngest-ever to headline her own eponymous talk show, also said that she did not ask why, as she already knew what was going on and it was a matter beyond the powers of TVJ during that time.
The Eat Bulaga host also said that she already felt that she was already being eased out as her replacement was already being trained.
“Masakit talaga kasi pinaghirapan mo ‘to, tapos, bigla-bigla na lang aalisin nang ganun-ganon lang,” Ryzza conveyed her emotions then.
“Pero sobrang nagpapasalamat po ako sa TVJ noon kasi pinaglaban talaga nila na di ako maalis. Grabe rin ‘yung assurance na binigay nila sa amin, ‘di lang po sa akin kasi lahat naman po kami parang plano nilang alisin,” she added. “Pero ako lang ang pinaka-sure na sure talaga.”
Meanwhile, on the pivotal May 31 departure of the TVJ team from TAPE, she noted that it happened all of a sudden.
“Biglaan lang po talaga ‘yun e’. Pumasok kami doon na parang wala lang… na may regular program, na may show. Tapos, bigla na lang na all hosts, tapos TVJ announcement. Doon na lang po namin nalaman.”
Dizon also shared that she was saddened by that moment, but their group was able to pull through and make it past the major event for the variety show.
When they jumped ship to TV5, Ryzza said she felt a huge relief as the program is now directly being managed and handled by TVJ.
“Doon, mas naging close talaga kami. Dahil nga ‘yung dressing room po namin, sama-sama kami. ‘Yung TVJ, nasa likod lang namin. So mas naging strong ‘yung relationship ko with (them) and the staff members,” furthered Ryzza.
Meanwhile, in the same interview, Ryzza opened up about her family’s struggles when she was younger, her Little Miss Philippines journey, and her being a breadwinner.