MANILA — Actress and singer Rita Daniela announced her departure from GMA Network after 21 years, expressing gratitude for her long tenure while revealing plans to pursue new opportunities under Viva Artists Agency (VAA).

“I want to explore new opportunities. We all know that Viva has many platforms. They produce concerts, musicals, and series like Viva One. I want to try them all,” Rita said during a media conference in Pasig City on February 25, explaining her decision to leave the Kapuso network.

The 30-year-old actress described leaving GMA as a difficult choice.

“That’s 21 years of my life. I have nothing bad to say about GMA, especially about Ms. Annette [Gozon-Valdes], Ms. Joy [Marcelo], and my long-time manager, Ms. Tracy [Garcia]. They supported me in so many ways—not just personally, but by helping make my dreams come true.

“It’s natural for every artist to seek a fresh start and growth. I have nothing but gratitude. That feeling will never fade—it’s forever engraved in my heart,” she added.

Rita first rose to national fame after winning QTV’s reality singing competition Pop Star Kids. Following her victory, she appeared in several GMA-7 variety shows and became a member of Sugarpop, a group formed by the Top 5 finalists of the show’s first season.