
SexBomb Girls member Aira Bermudez opened up about her personal journey, from growing up in Tondo, Manila to helping build her family's four-storey home, during a heartfelt interview with Kara David on i-Listen.
As she looked back on her life and career, Aira shared how meaningful the guesting was for her, especially considering the years she spent performing with the iconic dance group. “Looking forward po talaga ako sa guesting bilang marami kaming pinalaki ng SexBomb,” she said, reflecting on the strong bond she built with fellow members and fans through the years.
During the conversation, Aira spoke candidly about the home she helped complete using her earnings from showbiz.
Growing up in Tondo meant learning to maximize limited space, a reality that shaped their approach to building upward instead of outward. “Kasi sa Tondo, Manila paliitan ng space so kailangan gumawa ka talaga ng way para magkaroon ka ng space so pataas,” she explained.
For many families in the area, she added, vertical expansion becomes a symbol of progress. “'Yun 'yung sign na umaasenso ka na, kapag tumataas nang tumataas ang bahay.”
According to Aira, each paycheck she received during her time with the SexBomb Girls went toward improving their home step by step. “Kada sumusweldo ako sa SexBomb, dinadagdagan ko siya ng floor,” she shared, saying she spent her earnings from SexBomb Girls activities in renovation of their home.
The property itself carried deep meaning, as it was family-owned land that represented years of sacrifice and perseverance. “Pride ko po iyon kahit ganyan lang 'yung bahay. Kasi lupa po talaga ng family ko iyon.”
However, the journey toward completing the house was far from easy. Aira revealed that construction initially began under her uncle's care. “Ang nagpatayo talaga noon, 'yung uncle ko. Siya 'yung kumikita dati tapos 'yung buhay talaga namin, mahirap talaga.”
At one point, progress stalled and the unfinished structure remained bare. “Nahinto kasi 'yung pagpapatayo niyan, naging hollow blocks lang siya. Na-build 'yung foundation pero hindi naituloy kahit first floor. Tapos nung kumikita na ako, dinahan dahan ko siya.”
Kara David also recalled visiting Aira's home in 2003, when it had yet to be fully renovated, remembering a wooden room with holes covered by posters, a powerful image that underscored how far Aira and her family have come since then.
Reflecting on the experience, Aira acknowledged the financial challenges that came with rebuilding. “Kasi 'yung pagpapagawa ng bahay mahal talaga.”
Beyond construction, she carried another responsibility at a young age, supporting her family as its breadwinner. “Ako pa kasi 'yung breadwinner that time, hindi lang bahay 'yung bini-build ko, 'yung pamilya rin namin.”
Despite the pressures, she continued to prioritize her siblings' education and their shared future. “So pinag-aaral ko pa rin 'yung pamilya ko. Kahit 'yung buhay namin sa Tondo, Manila ganyan, sobrang proud ako.”
The singer-dancer also reflected on her childhood and family dynamics, acknowledging that life was far from perfect. “Noong bata pa po ako, hindi naman talaga perfect lahat ng family.” Her father worked as a seaman and chef while her mother stayed home to care for Aira and her four siblings.
Over time, her father moved to the United States and started another family, a reality that was difficult to understand when she was young.
“Nakaka-proud po 'yung pag-aalaga sa amin ng mama ko kasi 'yung father ko chef kasi siya tapos seaman. Nag-stay na siya sa Amerika. Nagkaroon siya ng ibang pamilya. Mahaba 'yung istorya pero ngayon naiintindihan ko na kung bakit.”
Looking back, Aira admitted that confusion and pain shaped much of her early years. “But then nung time na bata pa kami hindi pa clear sa mind namin, bakit nga ba, Papa? Kasi hindi mo na kami binalikan. Kasi at the age of let's say 13 years old, nagtatrabaho na ako para sa pamilya. Gusto ko makapagtapos ng pag-aaral pero pamilya muna, mga kapatid ko muna. 'Yun kasi 'yung mindset ko dati. But now I understand bakit nangyari ang lahat.”
Today, she views those experiences as the foundation of her resilience and success. “Naging foundation ko siya kung bakit ako naging successful ngayon.”
Through her story, Aira's journey reflects not only perseverance but also the deep value she places on family, proving that every floor added to their home stands as a testament to years of sacrifice, growth, and unwavering determination.