ACTOR CESAR Montano, currently in a tiff with his manager of 25 years, Norma Japitana, over his decision to enter into a talent contract with GMA 7, said he was optimistic he could soon patch things up with her.

Montano recently signed the year-long exclusive management deal with GMA 7, a move that Japitana said she had no prior knowledge of.

Part of the deal

?She?s very much a part of this [development]. In a few days, we will be discussing this again,? Montano told Inquirer Entertainment shortly after inking the contract with Kapuso bosses Felipe Gozon and Jimmy Duavit at the GMA 7 offices in Quezon City on July 15.

?Ate Norms is a very busy person?she?s always abroad [with another talent, singer Rico J. Puno],? explained Montano. ?I heard she?ll be leaving again in September. But she knows about this [deal with GMA 7]. I talked with her just two days before this contract-signing. I know we?ll talk again eventually. There?s no problem that we can?t fix,? the actor said.

No counter-offer

Montano was last seen as regular host of the ABS-CBN game show ?Singing Bee,? which bowed out last year. For five episodes this month, he substituted for Willie Revillame as host of the noontime program, ?Wowowee.?

?It was just a hosting stint. They had no other plans for me,? Montano said of his former bosses in ABS-CBN. ?There?s one movie that we talked about, but it didn?t push through. When I asked about my game show, they said they planned to air another season of ?Game KNB?? with Kris Aquino first before working on ?Singing Bee.? Ang tagal pa n?on.?

On July 10, Montano said, he phoned ABS-CBN channel head Cory Vidanes and Entertainment head Linggit Tan to tell them about his decision to transfer. ?I did it as a sign of respect to my home studio of over nine years. They were fine with it. They even said that when I?m done working for GMA 7, balik ka dito.?

But the Kapamilya executives made no counter-offer, he said.

Back to business

On July 14, Montano began working on his teleserye for the Kapuso network, reportedly with actors Christopher de Leon, Rhian Ramos and Carla Abellana. It was also reported that he would join a sitcom immediately after this.

Montano said he received an offer from the newly reorganized TV5, and that he hoped to sign a movie deal with GMA Films soon.

His previous projects with GMA Films were the award-winning films ?Muro-Ami? in 1999 and ?Jose Rizal? in 1998.

?This is a welcome change for me,? Montano said. ?Everything happened so naturally. The timing was impeccable.?