‘Thank you for everything:’ Jon Lucas bids farewell to ABS-CBN, Star Magic

FILE: Once you stop looking for what you want, you FIND what you need 👌🏼💯 #FindingYou (Photo: lucas_aljhon/Instagram)

Actor Jon Lucas has bid goodbye to ABS-CBN and its talent arm, Star Magic.

The 23-year-old actor announced this through an Instagram post on Wednesday, June 19, as he expressed his gratitude to the Kapamilya network for giving him a spotlight in the entertainment world.

“Thank you for the wonderful 6 years you’ve given me! I will forever be grateful and blessed to be part of your wonderful Family! Maraming salamat sa mga oportunidad na binigay niyo sakin. Oportunidad na totoong nagpabago sa aking buhay bilang isang tao (Thank you so much for the opportunities you have given to me. Opportunities that changed my life as a person),” he wrote in the caption.

“Mga Oportunidad din na sinayang ko ng maraming pagkakataon (The opportunities which I also wasted for how many times),” he continued as he admitted that he had shortcomings — which he did not further elaborate — as their artist.

Jon was one of the original members of the all-male dance group Hashtags along with Zeus Collins, McCoy De Leon, Ronnie Alonte, Jameson Blake, among others. Their group was first introduced in ABS-CBN’s noontime show, “It’s Showtime,” in 2015. But in 2018, there were reports that Jon got “suspended” from the program. No official reason has been issued regarding the matter, but there were speculations that the actor got his girl pregnant.

In July 2018, Jon admitted that he is already a  married man and has a son.

“Alam ko kung gaano niyo ko pinahalagahan noong una akong tumapak sainyong tahanan, ramdam ko yon at ng aking buong pamilya. Ngunit alam ko rin na ako’y lubos na nagkulang sainyo, lalo na sa mga taong malalapit sakin, na noong una ay labis labis ang pagtulong sakin para maabot ko ang aking mga pangarap (I know how much you gave importance to me when I first stepped my foot into your home; my family and I felt that. But I know that I had shortcomings, especially to those people close to me, who, at first, extended so much help just so I can reach my dreams),” Jon said.

He also thanked his bosses, his Star Magic and “It’s Showtime” family, and his handler Gidget Dela Cuesta whom, he said, treated him like her ‘troublesome’ son.

The actor was also thankful to his friends in the show business for being there for him through his ups and down, as well as employees of the broadcast giant whom he had interacted with.

“Kahit hindi tayo magkakakilala basta magkasalubungan tanguan agad na parang may secrets tayo sa isat-isa (Even though we do not know each other personally, when we encounter each other we automatically exchange nods as if we have secrets),” he said, referring to the staff.

Ending his long post, Jon finally extended his gratitude to his fans who supported him all throughout his career, saying if there is someone who can be patient to the ones they love, it was them.

“Hindi namin kailanman masusuklian yung efforts niyo! Ang kaya lang namin gawin ay mahalin din kayo tulad ng pagmamahal niyo samin (We can never reciprocate your efforts! What we can do is to love you just like how you love us!)!” Jon said.

Jon started his career in ABS-CBN in 2013 when he was introduced as a new talent of Star Magic along with Liza Soberano, Julia Barretto, Janella Salvador, and Khalil Ramos to name a few.

Since then, he appeared in several Kapamilya shows, including the 2013 drama television series “Kahit Konting Pagtingin” where Angeline Quinto, Sam Milby, and Paulo Avelino were the main characters, and the 2013 romantic comedy-drama television series “Got to Believe,” directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina and starred Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.