Veteran talent manager Shirley Kuan is setting the record straight about one of the narratives that surfaced following the end of her professional partnership with Bea Alonzo.

Speaking before a small group of entertainment journalists at a restaurant in Quezon City, Kuan addressed suggestions that Alonzo had been her biggest source of income during the six years they worked together. She strongly objected to the idea, saying her career and financial standing were never dependent on the actress.

“I just wanna make this clear, ha. Bea did not make me rich nor will she make me poor,” Kuan said.

She was particularly bothered by the term “cash cow,” which she felt created an inaccurate picture of their former working relationship.

“So stop calling her my cash cow. I have bigger stars that I’m handling who are busier than her,” she added.

For Kuan, the issue goes beyond her association with Alonzo. She said the description also diminishes the career she has built over more than three decades in the entertainment business.

“I find that very insulting, ha. Parang tingin nila sa akin pulubi, di ba? Na parang pag wala na si Bea sa akin, magugutom na ako,” she said.

Kuan then pointed to her long track record in talent management, saying people who have worked with her through the years could speak about how she has conducted her business.

“At saka tanungin niyo kahit sino dito sa showbiz. More than 30 years na ako dito,” she said.

She also challenged anyone in the industry to come forward if they had experienced financial impropriety in their dealings with her, including accusations of mishandling an artist’s talent fee.

Kuan’s roster through the years has included several established personalities from different generations of Philippine entertainment. Among the names associated with her management are Helen Gamboa, Albert Martinez, Hilda Koronel, Donna Cruz, Agot Isidro and Andrea Brillantes.

Her comments came following confirmation that her six-year professional partnership with Alonzo had ended on August 11, 2026.

The separation has generated considerable attention, with questions surrounding what led to the breakup of a partnership that had lasted several years. But amid the speculation, Kuan wants one point removed from the conversation: the notion that losing Alonzo as a talent would significantly affect her livelihood.

“Bea did not make me rich nor will she make me poor,” she reiterated.

After more than 30 years in show business, Kuan maintains that her career has been built across numerous artists, projects and professional relationships rather than around a single star.

With Alonzo now moving forward without Kuan managing her career, their six-year partnership may have reached its conclusion, but the veteran manager appears determined to correct what she considers misleading assumptions about the professional and financial dynamics behind it.