"Kapag may isang pintong nagsara, may ibang pintong magbubukas."
Akma ito sa nangyari kay Beth Tamayo, na iniwan ang bansa noong December 25, 2008, at tuluyang tinalikuran ang buhay niya rito, maging ang showbiz.
Alam ng marami ang kuwento ni Beth at ang dati niyang mister na si Johnny Wong, na noon ay inakusahang sangkot sa sindikatong nagbebenta ng mga lupang may pekeng titulo.
Fifteen years later, kumusta na si Beth?
“I’m fine. Naka-move on na ba ako?
“Ang tagal na, matagal na matagal na, nasa New York pa ako nun. I’ve moved on."
BETH TAMAYO'S BIG MOVE TO THE U.S.
Ang paninirahan daw niya sa Amerika ay nagbigay ng panibagong perspective sa buhay.
"You know, moving here has given me a different perspective in life, na parang... yun, trabaho lang and just like, I’m so blessed with all the people that I’ve met here and all the friends that I’ve made, they’re all amazing people, they’re great!
“Yeah, matagal na matagal na akong naka-move on, super!"
Naging "humbling experience" para kay Beth ang kanyang pagsisimula ng bagong buhay sa Amerika.
Ang first job niya ay pagiging babysitter. Nagtrabaho rin siya bilang cashier at waitress.
Maliit lang na amount ng cash ang dala-dala niya noon kaya kelangan niyang magtrabaho.
Aniya, sa exclusive interview niya sa PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), "You know, it was hard and it’s challenging to be away from your family.
"But it’s also, like, a humbling experience being able to, like, parang start from scratch.
“When I first moved here, my God, 700 dollars lang yata yung dala ko, 600 dollars, para mag-move ka dito forever, and that’s the only money that I had,” at natawa si Beth.
“But with all the help of the people that I know, like my best friend, si Armi, she’s my best friend since I was third grade, sa kanya ako tumira for like eight months, free of charge, pati pagkain sinasagot na nila.
"Until I found my first nanny job, tapos nagkahera sa Victoria’s Secret, and then nag-restaurant, and then finally, was able to get into a corporate job.
"And you know, it’s like starting from nothing, and being able to build something na I guess I would say na stable."
Ngayon ay nakakatulong siya sa kanyang pamilyang naiwan sa Pilipinas, bukod sa pagtataguyod sa sariling pamilya.
"You know, I’m able to help my family back home, yung mommy ko, you know, I provide for her.
"And you know, Adam and I are like helping each other also, raising a toddler and just making sure she has the best life, and working and preparing her future as well.
"I wouldn’t have it any other way, kung sasabihin nila na if there’s anything I would want to change, would I change anything? Probably not, you know, everything happens for a reason and just like it’s a learning experience for me,
"I guess, and yun nga, I’ve known a lot of people along the way. God gave me like amazing friends here in America, aside from amazing friends that I’ve had there in Manila, kayong lahat.
"So, you know, blessed in so many ways, I’ve always been... sabi ko nga, I never take anything for granted, I will always be grateful for anything and everything that have happened to me since 2009, when I moved here.”
Read: Beth Tamayo shares glimpses of mommy life in the U.S.
beth's NORMAL life after showbiz
Ikinuwento naman ni Beth kung ano ang trabaho nila ng asawang si Adam Hutchinson.
Lahad ni Beth, “I work as an executive assistant for a venture capital firm, here in Menlo Park, Silicon Valley, kung nasaan yung mga tech companies and all.
"So, I work as an EA, I support two people, two general partners.
"I’ve been with Sequoia Capital for five years now, it’s been great, and I love the people I work with, so yeah, assistant.
"Making my executive’s life a little bit easier, so I do a lot of scheduling, a lot of planning with travels, and anything and everything in between. It’s been great.
“Adam works for Google. He’s been with Google for like… I think 10 years, 10 or 11 years.
"When I first met him, he was already working for Google, so he actually works with the finance team at Google.”
Ibang-iba ang buhay niya ngayon. Nami-miss ba ni Beth ang showbiz at acting career niya?
“I guess, I can say… half-half, I don’t know, I guess, no, in all honesty, hindi masyado,” at natawa si Beth.
“I take that back, hindi masyado.
"I guess I got so used to just being normal, doing a normal job, doing a normal 8-to-4, 9-to-5 job, and I know that I would get paid by the 15th and end of the month.
“So, it’s kinda like stable."
BETH TAMAYO'S ACTING OFFERS
Nakakatanggap pa rin daw siya ng offers mula sa Pilipinas.
"Of course, I feel flattered and it’s really like… nakakatuwa lang when mga producers or mga EPs would reach out to me via Instagram or Facebook Messenger, they got my email from somebody, asking me if I was interested in doing a movie or a TV show.
"So nakakatuwa naman na naiisip pa din nila ako.
“Although, on the other side, siyempre ninenerbiyos din ako na parang, ‘Tatanggapin ko ba ito? Marunong pa ba akong umarte?’
“Feeling ko hindi na, I would be so rusty, so nahihiya lang din ako, I might be embarrassed or whatnot.
"So, yun din siguro yung one thing that’s kinda of like stopping me from doing it."
Isa sa mga projects na inalok sa kanya ay pelikula na idinirek ni Coco Martin.
Kuwento ni Beth, "But yeah, the last time that I was offered to do a movie was with Coco Martin and Jodi Sta. Maria. I forgot the title, but I think it was actually filmed here in the States.
“I think my role actually went to G Tongi, nagkaroon lang ng… we were discussing with the EP and I remember she said, ‘Si Direk Coco wants talaga to work with you, I hope you can make it work on your end.’
“But the thing is, I already have a set schedule, I was travelling to Chicago for a race.
"And you know how I am with marathons, like I put my heart and soul into it, like I work hard and train for like months, like 16 to 20 weeks.
"And then, kung hindi ko siya maitutuloy, I would really feel bad.
“So yung pinaghirapan ko, hindi ko magagawa. Kasi iba rin naman yung feeling na binibigay sa akin ng running. Sabi nga nila, yung runner’s high, yung feeling ng accomplishment when you finish one.
"So pinagpalit ko yung pelikula over a race."
Dagdag pa ni Beth, “And then, my last TV cameo was with Xian Lim and si Kim Chui, yung The Story of Us sa ABS, that was set in New York. So nag-taping ako for like a week.
“And yeah, that was it. Okay naman, yun lang, natutuwa lang ako when people still like reach out to me asking or even inquiring if I would still want to act.
“Minsan nga, pag namimili ako sa Filipino groceries dito, pag nakita ako ng kapwa Pinoy, sasabihin nila, ‘Ms. Beth, ayaw mo na ba talagang bumalik mag-artista?’
“Ang lagi ko na lang sagot is like, ‘Okay na po ako, I’m fine maging normal na tao.’
“And it’s funny because they kinda like understand, yung mga matatanda sasabihin, ‘Oo nga, mas okay ka na lang din na ganyan, yung showbiz kasi magulo,’” at muling natawa ang aktres.
“Minsan may mga comments pang ganun.”
Ang tanging exposure na lang ni Beth sa showbiz ay ilang hosting gigs.
Isa rito ay sa concert nina Joey Generoso ng Side A, Moira dela Torre, at Ice Seguerra.
“I haven’t really done any showbiz gig. Actually, one time, minsan na-a-ask akong mag-host sa mga concerts, I think there’s one concert, si Joey G from Side A band, and then, si Moira, and then si Ice Seguerra, sila yung mga headliners, sila yung may concert.
“So ako lang yung nag-host nung first part of the show, nung may mga front acts, and after that tapos na.
"Usually, I do it pro bono naman, yung mga, you know, friends of friends ng mga producers din dito.
“What else? That was it. I mean, when I was in New York I was asked to host also, twice, yung sa Philippine Consulate Office, pag meron silang mga programs, like Philippine Independence Day.
"Tapos meron yung parang Miss USA or Mrs. Phillipines-USA, nag-host din ako nun.
“So mga karamihan, mga hosting gigs at lahat naman yun ay ‘for the love of’ sa mga kababayan natin, hindi na tayo humihingi ng talent fee for that,” kuwento pa ni Beth.
beth's friendship with judy ann santos
Isa sa matatalik na kaibigan ni Beth ay si Judy Ann Santos, na ang kanyang term of endearment ay "kabetchi."
Kumusta ang kanilang friendship, at may plano ba silang magkita sa Amerika?
Aniya, “We’re good! We don’t talk all the time, we don’t need it.
"Sabi nga namin, we don’t really have to do like a monthly check-in or whatever. But when we do, we…
"Mas maganda pa nga yung random, e, like sometimes, randomly, I’ll just send her videos or pictures of Sloane, sabi ko, ‘Tingnan mo itong inaanak mo.’
“Yung mga biglaan lang, and sometimes she would text me back and say, ‘Oh my God, this made my day, thank you so much for sending this!’
“And then, ganun din siya, like she would send me pictures of the kids, sina Ate Yohan, si Lucho, si Luna.
"We have been planning to see each other, I think yung last na kita namin was 2019 pa, iyon yung nag-Mexico kami, and then, the pandemic happened, hindi kami nakapagkita na.
“We have been planning to see each other, pero nagkasali-saliwa na, then I got pregnant, and then, I started, siyempre, taking care of… iba na kasi ang buhay when you have kids.
“And then, I think nung nag-New Zealand sila… was it last year? I don’t know if it was last year or this year. I wanted to go, but for some reasons, I can’t go.
“Mahirap na, e, kung ako lang, kung wala akong anak at walang dyowa, bakit ba?
"Mabilis naman akong… kaladkarin ako, I would always meet them and be there right away.
"But, I guess, the dynamics now have been different and has changed, since we have a toddler.
“She wanted to meet me sa Japan, when I ran the Tokyo Marathon last year, 2023, yeah, yung nandun din sina Mommy [Zeny, Beth’s mother], sina Dom [Dominic Roque, Beth’s nephew], dapat pupunta siya.
"But again, I think with schedule, I think she was shooting something, so last minute hindi siya natuloy.
“But it was fine, sabi ko nga, sa amin naman ni Juday, wala namang nagbago, distansiya lang. Kung ano kami before, ganun pa rin naman hanggang ngayon, so nothing has really changed.
“I love her dearly and I think mas lalo lang lumalalim o mas lalo lang parang yung feelings ko about our friendship has just been like validated.
"Na no matter what, ano man yung distance namin, ano man yung mga pinagdaanan and all, matibay kami, we will always remain friends, no matter what.
“So, she will always be my kabetchi, and I know she has my back all the time, all the time, and she always thinks about me and about the kids and like… si Sloane."
Maging ang mga pamangkin ni Beth, kabilang ang aktor na si Dominic Roque, ay malapit kay Judy Ann.
"She was a big help sa mga pamangkin ko din, of course, like Dominic’s very close with her and kina Ryan, with the Agoncillos basically.
“So, during that time that Dominic needed some good people around him, and I was so happy and lucky that the Agoncillos were there for him. So you know, he’s family, which is so, so appreciated by us.”
beth's life lessons
Sa dami ng pinagdaanan ni Beth, ano ang masasabi niyang greatest lesson in life?
“I guess, just always be grateful for anything and everything, because being grateful, thankful goes a long way and it speaks volumes.
"It means that you are content, it means that you are okay with a lot of things, kahit na maliliit na bagay lang, di ba?
“Ako nga, pag nagda-drive ako, if I go somewhere, and I find a parking right away, 'Thank you Lord for parking.'
"Kasi hindi na ako magpapaikot-ikot pa e, hindi na ako nahirapan, bigla na lang na may umatras na sasakyan, I was like, ‘Oh, perfect spot!’
“Kasi ang lapit lang sa pinto ng grocery or something like that.
"You know, it’s the little things, just being able to say thank you for...
"Nung nasa New York ako I always take the public transportation, so I always take the train, the subway.
"If I get a seat on the subway, I’m thankful for that. Sometimes I just tell myself, ‘Thank you Lord for a seat on the subway. Thank you po nakauwi ako nang maayos. Thank you po that I come home in one piece.’
“Pag tumatakbo ako sa labas, ‘Thank you Lord for strong legs, nakakatakbo pa ako. Thank you Lord for our jobs that provide for our families.’
“So many things to be thankful for. Kung lahat ng tao magiging thankful sa lahat ng bagay, maliit man o malaki, I think it would really make a big difference in the world. Yun lang yung tingin ko.
“Alam mo yun, just be grateful, big and small, even with the challenges in your life, because it just makes you stronger."
"Like, ‘Lord thank you for these challenges that I’ve been experiencing, it will only make me a better person. Please give me enough strength to go through all of these challenges, and thank you in advance po for taking care of me.’
“That’s it, and just being content, kasi na-realize ko tayong mga tao talaga, parang yung hindi marunong makuntento.
"Meron ka na ngang ganito, gusto mo pa ng mas malaki. Meron ka nga ganitong relo, pero gusto mo pa ng mas mahal na relo.
“I mean, it’s… walang masama na you wish for nicer things, but in the end, hindi siya yung importante.
“The important ones are the time that you’ve spent with your family, the quality time that you’ve spent with your friends, the time that you volunteered somewhere and helping people, that’s what’s important.
“The material things… sabi ko nga, coming from a life that I’ve almost had everything, you know, alam mo naman iyan, na parang money was not the problem or daming kotse, laki ng bahay, may bahay sa Tagaytay, may bahay sa ganito, may condo sa Ayala, sa Serendra, and all these things, and malalaking alahas and all, but did it give me anything?
“In the end, yun pa yung naging problema sa buhay ko, and I wasn’t… I guess, it did not make me happy at all, and then, now I realize I didn’t need all that much."
Iba na ang pinahahalagahan ni Beth ngayon.
Kuwento niya, “Mommy ko nga nakakatawa, binibigay niya sa akin yung mga dating alahas na binigay ko sa kanya, na malalaki… diamond-stud earrings or whatever, binigay na niya sa akin ulit.
"Sabi ko, ‘Why are you giving these back to me? I don’t need it.’
"Sabi niya, ‘Para meron kang malaking alahas.’
"Sabi ko, ‘Para saan? Saan ba ko nagpupunta? I only go to the office.’ Sometimes manaka-naka may party or whatever, but I don’t really use it.
“Happy na ako dun sa maliit kong earrings, maliit ko na hikaw, yeah, those things don’t matter anymore.
"What matters for me is like just, I guess the time, the quality time that you spend with the people that you love.
"And also again, just being grateful for anything and everything.
“It could go a long way.”
