Jericho Rosales has been in showbiz for more than a decade—and the 15 years he has spent honing his talent has made him a wiser individual.
At the press conference of Vantage Razors where he was introduced as product endorser, Jericho was shot a question about how he handles his earnings.
Is he frugal or a spendthrift at this point in his career?
"Yung accountant ko yung makakasagot sa 'yo dun," Jericho begins. "Pagdating kasi sa pera, hindi kasi siya yung sentro ng buhay ko, e."
The actor, who ends the year with a supporting role in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry Yesterday Today Tomorrow, says that he saves up on the earnings made for the project he is currently working on.
"Maraming attitude pagdating sa pera, e. Strike while the iron is hot, alam mo yun?
"Mag-impok ka nang mag-impok! Tama lang yun, 'di ba? Tama lang yun para sa akin."
"Pero hindi ko pine-pressure yung sarili ko."
Jericho talks about wise money-spending: "Magandang maging good steward ng blessings na pera.
"Kung mero'n kang pera, itabi mo...
"Ang ginagawa ko, mero'n ako para sa, of course, sa pamilya. Siyempre, mero'n para sa church, 'di ba?
"Normal na yun, 'di ba? Mero'n din akong para sa akin, then mero'n din akong para sa mga magulang ko.
"So I divide it."
The actor says that he also sets aside money until his savings reach a considerable amount.
"Mero'n din akong savings na hindi ko ginagalaw.
"Kumbaga, parang pitik-bulag lang na, sige, lagay lang natin lahat diyan. 'Tapos pagpitik mo ulit, 'Uy, may ipon na ko!'"
"Puwede ka nang bumili ng kung ano'ng kailangan mo, or kung ano'ng gusto mo paminsan-minsan."
To Jericho, splurging on material indulgences is part and parcel of wise spending.
"It's always good pa rin na minsan i-treat mo yung sarili mo.
"Bumili ka ng damit, bumili ka ng pang-ahit, bumili ka ng kung anu-anong mga gamit, sapatos... material."
But it is best, Jericho says, not to overdo this: "Maganda rin yung nagtatabi ka. 'Wag kang waldas lang lagi!"
"Para sa akin, ganun. But always, always guidance pa rin nung mga taong mas nakakaalam para sa akin.
"Kasi kung hindi, wala na! Hindi rin ako makakapagpatayo ng bahay.
"Minsan 'pag nangangati akong mag-shopping, instead na mag-shopping ako, maggo-grocery na lang ako, parang ganun. At least pagkain yung nabibili ko.
"Well, ako kasi, may attitude ako na hindi ako nag-aaalala kung ano'ng mero'n bukas, e. Alam mo yun?
"Kasi alam ko darating 'yan, parang ganun.
"So relax ka lang."
BLESSINGS, BIG AND SMALL. Asked if he is, at this point, enjoying a cornucopia of blessings, Jericho replies, "Hindi natin masasabi kung ano yung merong ano, e...yung blessings depende sa 'yo kung paano mo makikita yan, e, whether big or small."
The actor, who turned 32 last September, also says, "Sometimes, magrereklamo ka kapag yung show may mali.
"Let's say, for example, mero'n kang provincial show. And then, 'Ooh, provincial show lang yan, e!' Parang ganun.
"Baka hindi mo alam kung sino yung nanonood, sa 'yo?
"Mamaya yung nanonood sa 'yo would be the next politician or next ganito, alam mo yun?"
Jericho defines what blessings are to him: "For me blessings are opportunities na talagang whether big or small, para sa akin mahalaga 'yan.
"Kahit role ko support dito, blessing 'yan!
"Minsan, kahit walang trabaho, blessing 'to. Bakit?
"Kasi I could reflect kung ano yung mero'n ako 'saka kung ano yung wala.
"It's always good to know kung mero'n ka—alam mo, relax ka lang!
"It's always good to know rin na kapag marami kang pondo alam mo rin yung gagawin mo, 'di ba?
"They key is moderation," Jericho says.
"So, balance. Balance of everything.
"So now it's about... kailangan marami kang blessings, 'di ba?
"Blessings come in different forms. Friends are blessings. The family is a blessing.
"Everything is a blessing."