Jackie Rice is today dead set on getting her USA-based business off the ground.
In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Jackie talks about the new business venture in a foreign territory as her only focus at this time.
It's a home-care business that's already in the works, she reveals, which is why she is constantly flying to and from the Philippines and the U.S.
"Niluluto pa lang. Parang magiging home care siya sa States, so matrabaho talaga," she discloses.
While mum about what the future holds for her showbiz career, she reveals that, if she has her way, she is going back to acting once her business gets off the ground.
"Nami-miss ko, gusto ko. Once siguro stable na lahat, once okay na yung negosyo, once ano na siya, stable na. Niluluto pa kasi, e.
"Wala rin akong bahay dito [sa Maynila], sa kanya [a friend] lang ako nakiki-stay sa Rockwell. Sa probinsiya naman sa Iloilo, Guimaras, pa gano'n-gano'n ako, e."
Jackie says that what ultimately pushed her into becoming an entrepreneur is her parents' wish for her to take steps toward a back-up plan.
"Kailangan na, e, kailangan," she says. "Hindi raw lifetime ang [showbiz]. Nung pandemic, nung nag-lockdown ang lahat, yon. So, wala rin kaming work, di ba? So yun.
Of her parents, she says, "Tumatanda na rin sila and gusto rin nilang maging okay ako. Si Mom kasi nauna doon, Dad ko taga-doon talaga. So, binenta ko na yung house ko dito, wala na rin."
ON ABS-CBN TRANSFER
Asked about her rumored move to the Kapamilya network in 2021, Jackie explains, "Dapat, sana dapat, sana. Pero, hindi ko talaga matututukan kasi. Magnenegosyo kasi nga sa abroad."
The talk then was that she would play Valentina in the Darna series of ABS-CBN.
But in this exclusive PEP.ph interview, Jackie clarifies that there was no official agreement between her and the network.
"Hindi totally nag-usap, e, pero plano. Ayoko nang sagutin, kasi mas pinili ko, abroad na lang."
The 32-year-old actress says that these days, even without showbiz on her calendar, she is kept very busy.
"Pag may time, nag-e-enjoy, kasi grabe yung sa abroad. Hindi madali yung buhay abroad. Yun naman yun."
To the question about whether she enjoys being out of showbiz more than being in it, she quickly replies: "Hindi. Mas masaya siyempre nung nasa showbiz. Kita mo, andami kong na-build na connections."
Read also: Jackie Rice replaced by Kris Bernal in Artikulo 247; is she still with GMA Artist Center?
Finally, Jackie confirms that she has no ongoing contract with any management firm, including GMA-7: "Yes, natapos na. Tapos ako diyan. Wala na akong contract with any ano.
"Wala—wala na akong manager, wala na lahat.
"Kaya rin ako nag-decide na kailangan ko may stable na ano talaga, na magiging proud lahat sa akin. Parang gano'n."
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