Rica Peralejo on supporting family at 12: ‘I was so lost’

Rica Peralejo admitted to feeling lost when she started working at a young age of 12.

In an episode of “Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel,” Rica said she did not have the best kind of life as she started having responsibilities early on. 

“I was badly in need of like guidelines, I was so lost when I was much younger and it’s probably ‘cause nung masyado akong maaga nag-start sa buhay. I started working, I was only 12,” she said.

“What did I know back then, diba? Parang growing up in the industry got me so lost talaga,” she added. “No one should be carrying that much of a load at 12, and you don’t know that when you are 12.”

Having a different life from other kids, Rica said she thinks that “aggravated wherever I was in life.”

Rica became a sexy actress years later and “had to bare some flesh and all that.” Though she was aware of the job, she admitted that it “takes away from the dignity of a woman.”

As a way to cope, Rica turned to unhealthy acts that would cover whatever she was feeling.

“The way that I’d address this is like, ‘keep working, keep working, just do whatever we need to survive pero deep inside, namamatay na ako,” she said.

“I would cover it up with relationships, a lot of drinking, partying,” she added, saying "buti na lang walang social media noon.”

Rica knew her parents did not plan any of it. She doesn't blame them, she says.

“It’s just that nagka sabay-sabay na like my dad’s business went down after the Mt. Pinatubo erupted because we were in the fishery [industry],” she said.

“I started helping the family and it became a thing until I was like in my 20s na ‘sige, since I am the one who earns a lot, I get to support the entire family, and it was okay.”

She only wished she had someone who explained the situation.

“If only somebody just sat down with me and explained to me that this is what’s happening, I could’ve probably been better.”

According to Rica, she's gone through a lot of therapies and "it really points back to that. I was a child but I already have to act on things and carry problems like an adult.”

Apart from seeking professional help, Rica said one of the greatest help she received is her faith.

“Basically, dati, wala na akong makita into the future until I was able to see with my own eyes that God can give me a different kind of life pala moving forward,” she said.

It is also helpful to let everything out, she said, as faith helps one “face your broken-ness head on.”

Rica is married to Pastor Joseph Bonifacio. They have two children: Philip and Manu.

In the podcast, she also talked about how she endured three unfortunate miscarriages  and writing her book on marriage "Eleven Eleven." — LA, GMA Integrated News