Sunshine Garcia opens up about being a politician’s wife: ‘Basta mahirap’

Sunshine Garcia admitted that being a politician’s wife is not an easy thing.

On Tuesday’s “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” the former Sexbomb dancer got real about her previous experiences.

“Maraming expectation ‘yung tao sa ‘yo, pati ‘yung kung pa’no ka magsalita minsan, pa’no ka kumilos. Kailangan parang obligasyon mo minsan na alam mo ‘yun, tumulong ka nang tumulong,” she said. “‘Pag hindi mo natulungan, masama ka.”

[People expect a lot from you. How you speak, how you act. It's as if you have an obligation to keep helping, and when you don't, you become the bad guy.]

She also shared some unpleasant experiences with other politicians who would look at her from head to toe, saying “Para ka nilang ‘Magkano ba ‘to?’ ‘Yung gano’n. Sinusukat ka na nila. ‘Pag hindi ka nila type, hindi ka nila kakausapin.” 

[They would size you up and when they don't like you, they won't speak to you.] 

“Basta mahirap, Tito Boy,” Sunshine reiterated, explaining the world of politics is way different from show business.

“Akala nila, porke naging artista ako, sanay ako sa maraming tao. Ang problema kasi, Tito Boy, ‘di ba minsan sa ‘tin, ‘pag pagod ka na, makikita na ‘yan sa mukha mo, ‘Puwede bang ‘wag na muna?’ Sa kanila, hindi puwede na gano’n. Kailangan kahit pagod ka, kahit masama ‘yung pakiramdam mo, ‘Hi, hello, ganito, ganiyan,’” she said.

[They think because you're a celebrity, you're used to people. The problem is — in our industry, when you are tired, it shows. You can ask to take a break. That's not OK with them. Even if you're tired, even if you don't feel like, you have to keep a happy and friendly demeanor.] 

It's a real problem especially because Sunshine is sensitive to people she doesn’t know.

“May ugali pa naman ako minsan, Tito Boy, na pagka hindi ko na kaya, masama pakiramdam ko, pagod na ako, makikita mo na sa mukha ko,” she said. “Ilang din ako sa maraming tao, ‘yun [ang] totoo, Tito Boy. Ilang din ako sa maraming tao na hindi ko kilala.”

[My face is very expressive. When I'm tired or not feeling well, you will see it. And the truth is, I'm not very comfortable when there are a lot of people. That's the truth. I get awkward around people I don't know very well.] 

She said that she’s OK whenever she’s with her friends, “Pero ‘pag ibang tao, wala.”

Sunshine’s husband, Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro, would comfort her by offering: “‘Mama, kaya mo pa? Gusto mo sa sasakyan ka nalang?’ Gano’n.”

“Naiintindihan din niya, Tito Boy,” she said.

Sunshine and Alex tied the knot in 2019. They have two sons, Axel and Alexander.

— Carby Basina/LA, GMA Integrated News