Just before the long break, Rhian Ramos was brimming with excitement. She told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), "It's my first trip to the U.S. kaya excited ako. Even si Chard, kahit na he's been in the U.S. for so many times, it's his first time din to visit NYC kaya pareho kaming excited at may itinerary pa kami."
The press people gathered around the leading lady of Zorro asked: Hindi ba magseselos ang boyfriend niyang si JC De Vera?
She answered, "Hindi ko siya tinanong kasi trabaho naman."
We prodded: Hindi kaya kayo mag-away?
Rhian's nonchalant reply, "Hindi, okay lang yun. Sabi ko, bilhan ko na lang siya pasalubong, okay lang yun."
We got curious about the way she and her former screen partner handle the showbiz issues hurled at them. As we all know, JC recently got himself entangled in the rift between his manager, Annabelle Rama, and GMA-7's lady boss, Wilma Galvante.
"Pagka siya kasi, pagka napapansin kong may problema, tanungin mo lang siya mababa-bad mood na kaagad siya, eh," related Rhian. "Basically, kunwari, dini-distract ko na lang siya parang, 'Anong ginawa mo today?' Yung ganun-ganun...Hanggang mamaya mapapakuwento na 'yan na nakalimutan niya kung bakit siya sad, ganun."
Does he confide in her?
Rhian said they don't discuss the controversies straightforwardly. "As much as possible, may mga times lang na medyo mababanggit niya kasi makikita niya sarili niya sa news, mababanggit niya sa 'kin, 'Nakita ko na naman sarili ko sa news, ganito itsura ko.' Pero yun, out of nowhere...Ayaw niya masyadong pag-usapan."
The lead star of the defunct TV series Lalola said she doesn't give advice either. In the case of her rumored boyfriend, she'd rather keep her mouth shut.
"Pagdating sa pagbibigay ng advice sa mga kaibigan ko, very careful din ako kung paano ko magbigay, kung sino bibigyan ko, at kung tama bang magsalita ako. Kasi kung talaga namang... kung unang-una, hindi naman ako tinatanong, ayoko magbigay ng advice. Pero minsan, may mga oras na kahit tinatanong ako, ayoko pa rin kasi feel ko wala naman ako sa tamang lugar na magbigay ng advice, lalo na sa lugar na wala naman akong alam na kung paano mag-manage ng isang talent," Rhian explained.
But she's happy that JC remained a Kapuso.
HOLY WEEK DIET. In observance of the Holy Week, Rhian's sacrifice had something to with her diet. She deprived herself of her favorite foods.
She told PEP, "Sinacrifice ko lots of my favorite foods, 'tsaka sa tingin ko, if it's not good for my body, tinanggal ko muna sa Holy Week. Hindi ako nag-fast sa amount. Nag-fast ako sa flavor, so pretty much yung kinakain ko ngayon, saging, 'tapos apple, okra, radish ganun...Medyo boring, pero hindi ako vegetarian, ha."
The side effect of her sacrifice: Ang bilis ko maantok, magutom 'tapos parang yung tahimik na lang ako. 'Tapos nakatitig na lang ako kasi parang gusto ko na kumain, puro food na lang iniisip ko. Pero yun, happy naman ako kasi naging faithful ako sa fast ko.
She started eating last Palm Sunday, April 5, and she then exclaimed, "Excited na 'ko kumain."
GLOBAL RECESSION. From Holy Week, our talk shifted to the global recession. Are the stars affected by it?
"Affected kasi, ako, kasali ako sa stock market," said the 18-year-old actress. "Yung isa sa mga bagay na sobrang na-hit, medyo pumu-pull out ako pa-unti-unti."
She's been into buying stocks for over a year now, and Rhian is being guided by a financial adviser. Her hard-earned money goes to "water" and "diamonds."
The Kapuso actress related, "Water is a good idea kasi yun yung pakonti na nang pakonti sa world, pataas na nang pataas ang presyo. Diamonds are good, kasi pataas din nang pataas."
She placed her investment in one of the two water companies in Manila. When asked which company, she refused to divulge it and just remarked, "Basta ano, to the water companies lang which are doing well right now, maraming salamat because I am making money because of you."
Rhian continued talking about stocks in a trivial way, "Yung pinaka-panic ko lang, yung kung saan ko ngayon i-invest, kasi nakakatakot mawalan pa, kasi marami ding bumaba na mga stocks, 'tapos kelangan pang ibenta, para hindi na bumaba pa lalo. Pero may mga iba naman, nag-decide ako to keep it there, kasi naniniwala ako na aakyat ulit 'yan, if I gave it a little time. E, kasi bata pa ako, eh, I have nothing but time."
In terms of lifestyle, Rhian doesn't have to adjust because she's been a frugal spender.
The Zorro co-star said, "Basically, ako lang, mommy ko, ate ko, 'tapos daddy ko out of the country so, he take cares of himself. Paminsan-minsan na rin lang ako sa bahay, so, ang nako-consume lang ng sister ko at mommy ko na electricity at water, mga gano'n, konti lang.
"Ang mga girls, hindi kami masyadong yung parang solid kami kumain, so, most of the things, hindi naman kami masyadong naapektuhan. Basically kung saan ko lang nilalagay yung pera, yun yung na- affect."
Tomorrow, Rhian will end her Holy Week break. "April 11 resume na yung shooting namin," she said.