PEP: Jessica Rodriguez talks about life after Beverly Hills 6750

Controversies, legal cases, and alleged threats have clouded over the Bunevacz household since the Beverly Hills 6750 hullabaloo erupted late last year. David Bunevacz no longer has a say on the company he formed. Jessica Rodriguez, who has been in showbiz for 15 years, is no longer visible in the entertainment scene. Their children—Hayca, 19; Grant, 13; Breana, 4—also got embroiled in this ruckus. In an exclusive interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Jessica revealed the drastic changes and adjustments her family had to go through after leaving the country last December. They have been staying in the U.S. for three months now. And the first two months, according to Jessica, were “all crying." She said, “Right after the incident, we felt the need to protect our family. After yung incident na nangyari, from thereon, talagang ano, hindi na kami naghiwa-hiwalay." The incident she was referring to was the alleged beating of her husband in Greenhills last October. Subsequently, the Bunevaczs were reportedly haunted by the threatening text messages of their clinic partners. CLICK THIS LINK to read the story. Jessica continued, “Up to now, palipat-lipat kami. Kaya nga hindi nakakapasok itong mga bata. I only stay in this place kapag may home study sila. Mahirap. Takot ako nun." But after the “crying months," things have slowly gone back to normal. David, according to Jessica, is already on “back-to-work" mode. And although he became the target of these controversies, he seemed to be unfazed. “Siya yung talagang ano, tinitira and everything, but he has moved on," Jessica said. “He doesn’t even, you know, want to hear. He doeasn’t even want me to discuss anything. He said, he has to work for his family and, you know, whatever it is that is work. And the court case, dun siya nakatutok." But initially, David was “hurt." His wife revealed, “He doesn’t want to say anything. That’s why he doesn’t want any interview because the first thing talaga, he was hurt. He was like hurt, hurt a lot. And you know, he’s their friends [sic] kaya super ano siya…Hanggang ngayon, kunyari ano ka lang, yung sabihin ko lang sa kanya, he doesn’t even wanna talk about it. Ang sabi lang niya ano, “God is with us. God is the reason why these things are happening…" The only thing that David asked from her is to “stop the publicity." “That’s my ano daw…my territory. He’s more on the business side. Marketing and everything and showbiz, that’s my ano, eh, my territories. So sabi niya, “Just do that. I don’t care anymore whatever they say," Jessica told PEP. For her part, Jessica resumes her job as a talent manager. She said, “Nandiyan pa rin naman yung mga talents ko. I’m so happy that they’re still there. I still manage my artists. Hindi sila umalis sa akin. So yung assistant ko, continue pa din, and then, may mga projects pa din naman sila. But yun nga lang, it’s hard for me because if I close deals, I close it thru Skype [Online Instant Messaging] na lang. Hindi na personally, so I apologize na lang na I couldn’t be there. But they know, they understand. I explained everything to them. And lucky enough naman, may trabaho pa naman sila. Still happy na okay sila." One of the best things happening to her now is that she gets to spend more time with her kids. Back here, she’s been busy marketing Beverly Hills 6750 and promoting it on TV. HOLLYWOOD. One of the things the couple are looking at is potential business in Hollywood. Jessica shared their plans enthusiastically, “Of course, the whole December-January, I was upset, pero hindi ko alam David pala was already talking to his best friend, niya. And then yun, sabi ng friend niya, “Why don’t you just produce a movie?" Ganyan-ganyan…Ang sabi niya [David], “I’m not into it." And then, sinabi niya sa ‘kin, “Why don’t you do it?" Negotiations with a Chinese investor is in the works. Aside from producing a movie, Jessica is thinking of pursuing a clothing business venture. “David kasi, before he opened Beverly Hills, hindi lang naman iyan yung business niya, eh. In fact, we have business na mas malalaking business before Beverly Hills," her explanation began. “And this Beverly Hills, he opened this for me. Because he knows that this is what I want and he knows that baby ko ‘to. He knows na ‘eto talaga yung dream ko before pa I handled Calayan [Surgicentre], so binigay niya ‘yan talaga sa akin." Before David put up the clinic, Jessica said she had another option: “To have her own clothing line here [U.S.]" She continued, “But mas nauna iyong Beverly Hills because to have your own clothing line here, you have live here in the States, right? And the reason why I thought of that is because yung best friend ni David is a big time producer here in Hollywood. Kaya inano ko lang, “If you have a movie, you can let them wear my clothes, ‘di ba…Parang gano’n…" ‘Tapos nag-commit naman kaagad siya. Kaso nauna yung Beverly Hills so, nag-stay kami sa Manila. But if Jessica will have her way, she’d rather be in the Philippines. In her email to PEP, dated March 17, she wrote: “We still hope that our stay here is only temporary. But we are very patient. We understand that the process takes time, and we are willing to wait. We do not plan to have businesses here in the U.S., we just plan to treat this entire thing as a much deserved extended vacation. David though is completing business ventures in other countries. I don’t think anyone can get him to enjoy a vacation anyway without him thinking of his businesses." THE BUNEVACZ KIDS. The Beverly Hills 6750 issue was revealed to Hayca, Grant, and Breana in a “family meeting." “We had like a family meeting. My dad even came here. And then, the family of David, they’re all complete. This never happened but they came to L.A. and they had a meeting about this," Jessica said. Jessica said that out of her three children, it was Hayca who was “the most affected." The mom described that moment when her daughter saw David after the alleged beating incident, “She saw David when he had bruises in the face. She saw and she cried, ‘How can they do this?’ She saw David. She saw yung parang ano niya sa bibig when he was mobbed. She saw everything." It will be recalled that Hayca even wrote a letter to PEP in defense of her stepdad. Things became a bit traumatic for Hayca that her plans in life made a 180-degree turn. Jessica, said. “Now, it’s spring break here. Walang pasok yung mga bata pero may office pa din, so we’re actually flying on Monday [March 17] to Washington DC because she wants…After this thing happened, parang nagtanim na siya ng sama ng loob sa Pilipinas, sa gobyerno. Ganun na yung thinking niya na she was supposed to study here in LA, then now, she said she wants to study in Washington and pursue ano…She wants to be a CIA, ewan ko ba. We have a governor-friend here in L.A. who’s actually helping us, and [he] introduced us to some friends in Washington para ma-interview lang siya. “Hindi niya alam if she’ll take up law, but she wants to…like for the whole summer, she wants kahit ano lang daw na work in the CIA. Kahit na ano gusto niyang pasukin, for experience and everything. And then that’s where she wants to study. Nag-iba talaga." Hayca initially wanted to take up Global Studies. Jessica continued, “You know she even cut her, you know, ‘di ba kids have that Facebook, Multiply, may mga ganyan iyan? I think she cut like some of those, isa lang yata ang tinira niya or something. Basta she totally cut her communication with anybody in the Philippines. Yeah, ganun siya kagalit. She’s only, I think, talking to one of her best friends. And the rest, wala. And then, she has naman new friends here. And she has yung before, yung mga former classmates in La Salle who are also here. They like get in touch with each other, ganyan. But she’s really ano…she’s like straight A. She’s really studying, and I’m proud of her." On Grant and Breanna, Jessica described their state as “naka-adjust-adjust na ng konti." Jessica said, “But no’ng umpisa, talagang ano…puro depressed for two months. My daughter said…I even called the school in the Philippines, “Mommy, I want to go back to the Philippines," and the she said, “I don’t belong here." I cried talaga, then I called the teacher, and I was crying, “You know, Breana wants to go back. “And then my son naman, he’s thirteen years old. You know, yung 13 years old, yung ganyang age, ‘yan yung tahimik sila. They have their own mundo. And he’s saying…god, he’s really mad. Kasi medyo may isip na yung 13 years old. “Parang with us parents, with me and David, we can easily adjust. But the kids, siyempre, sila yung parang affected, ‘di ba. Yun lang talaga yung ano ko, na parang siyempre kahit papa’no, naging kaibigan namin ang mga ito [Beverly Hills 6750 partners] and then parang ginawa nila ‘to. Alam mo iyon, yung mga anak namin, dala-dala nila ‘yan hanggang paglaki nila. Yung sama ng loob nila sa kanila." MOVING ON. She’s been crying and depressed for the first two months of their stay in the U.S., but the Bunevacz family is now starting to move on. Jessica beamed, “Ngayon, I’ve realized I’m excited and happy, kasi, you know, there’s like a lot of opportunities pala here. And I didn’t realize because after these things happened talagang I just wanna go back to the Philippines than work so hard here. But the again, you know, nung nakilala ko na. Nung nakakuha ng mga connections dito and everything, sabi ko, 'Wow, okay pala.'" Staying in the Philippines is still her preferred option, but with the alleged threats, she won’t take the risk. She said: “David and I are Filipinos. The Philippines is our home. There is nothing more that we want than to come back to our home and live as Filipinos do. But, as a mother, I will never put at risk the safety of my family. That is the first and foremost concern. So with the threats that we have been receiving, I don’t see us coming back as of yet. If we have to protect ourselves and our interests from here, then, no matter how long it takes, so be it." When asked about the legal cases, she answered in her email, “The truth will be our weapon. As in all things, we are confident that this will ultimately prevail." Almost eight months after the most publicized TV appearance of the couple on Celebrity Duets, Jessica’s faith in her husband has never faltered. “I’m a mother to our children, and a wife to my husband. Especially now, at times of adversity, I make it a point to give an extra effort to let David know that I’m with him through all this. In turn, David naman makes it a point to make me feel that he appreciates my efforts. Together, we have decided to take advantage na din of the circumstances to take a step back, and appreciate the life that we have. Our life is not the businesses that we successfully manage. Our life is our children." Indeed, there’s sunshine after the rain. - Philippine Entertainment Portal