Rochelle Pangilinan still clearly remembers how she spent her very first talent fee in show business.
The Kapuso actress recounted on PEP Spotlight that her first priority was to repair the ripped floors of her father's house in Malabon.
"Meron ako binili. Kasi yung unang-una kong suweldo, ang gusto ko talaga mapagawa yung bahay.
"Kasi bago ako magkaroon ng pangalan sa showbiz at bago kami sumikat, ang pangarap ko lang, mapagawa yung bahay ng tatay ko na tagpi-tagpi.
"Sa kanya kasi ako nakatira. Ang nanay ko naman maayos ang tirahan. Nakikita ko.
"So kay tatay ako sumama kasi gusto ko tulungan siya. Naghiwalay na yung mga magulang ko, e."
Proud of her humble beginnings, Rochelle went on to describe the state of her father's house.
"Yung bahay niya may sahig, alam mo yung kahoy na may siwang-siwang? Makikita mo yung ilalim, pag sumilip kang ganun.
"[Sa] Malabon, pag tumataas yung tubig kita mo. 'Ang taas ng tubig. Mag-akyat na tayo ng gamit!' Yung ganon!" Rochelle vividly recalled.
"Yung lamok din pumapasok lalo na pag pahapon na. Dati naman wala namang dengue. Di ko naaalala na may dengue dati.
"Sa gabi malamok, so lagi kaming nilalamok. 'Tapos pag magkakatol ka o kahit anong pamatay sa lamok, minsan pag ang dami na ng usok, masakit sa lungs."
What kind of flooring did she buy for her father's house?
Rochelle cheerfully answered, "Alam mo yung linoleum? Yung parang plastic na pantapal dun, oo, pansahig. Yun ang una kong binili para matuwa tatay ko."
ON CHOCOLATE MILK AS A LUXURY TREAT
Rochelle also treated herself to what she considered a luxurious purchase at the time.
"Tapos pangalawang binili ko, same suweldo pa rin, yung Chocolait, yung chocolate milk drink.
"Kasi pag may commercial, 'tapos nakikita ko sa commercial yung clear na baso, takam na takam ako. Nakikita ko, 'Ay, ang sarap nun!'
"Bumili talaga ako tatlong piraso. Gabi-gabi talagang inuubos ko. Ang sarap! Ang bilis makabusog.
"Isang linggo lang, from payat ang laki ko na," Rochelle recalled in between laughs.
"Ang lakas makalobo. Lobong-lobo ako. Hindi ko talaga siya tinigilan. In-enjoy ko talaga siya. Dream come true sa akin yun."
Later on, when she earned more, Rochelle added, "After nun, pinagawa ko na bahay ng tatay ko, 'tapos next naman na pinaayos ko yung bahay ni nanay."
HOW ROCHELLE JOINED SHOWBIZ
Rochelle started out as back-up dancer in the noontime show Eat Bulaga! back in 1999. She later became the leader of the popular all-female group Sexbomb Dancers.
The group ventured into acting via the defunct Kapuso afternoon series Daisy Siete, which aired from 2003 to 2010.
One of her favorite roles is when she played Agane in the 2016 remake of GMA-7's Encantadia.
Rochelle is currently part of the Kapuso prime-time series Lolong headlined by Ruru Madrid.
She plays the role of Ma'am Karina, a member of the Atubaw tribe of natives who possess a unique trait where their wounds get magically healed in an instant.