Rica Peralejo believes the best lessons are taught early.
With her two boys—Philip Nathaniel, 11, and Manu, 5—she takes a hands-on approach to teaching, including how to value money.
Young as they are, her sons have started saving, with some of their money coming from brand collaborations they do alongside their mom.
Rica told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal): "I am content creator. Sometimes, they're being asked to appear with me in my content or during events.
“So they get a fee for that...
“I’ll tell them na, ‘I have this video. Do you wanna be a part of it? Of course, you'll get paid, but it's also okay if you don't wanna be a part of it.’
“And they're like, ‘Yeah, yeah, I wanna work with you. I wanna work…’
“Nag-iisip na sila lahat ng bibili nila, di ba, para ganyan.”
But she would remind them: "When you get your money, may pupuntahan muna iyan. One is for giving away, for generosity. Then you have investments.
"And then whatever is left, basta, sige, bahala kayo."
What if her sons want to buy something?
Rica said she avoids giving an outright “yes” or “no.” Instead, “We process with them."
For instance, before going to a toy store, she sets expectations by telling her sons the budget.
"Okay, we'll buy this much for you. Look for toys with this amount. But if what you want is something that's above that, you get it from your own money.
"If the amount is really big. I will ask them, 'Gusto mong gatsusin ang money mo riyan?'
"When he is sure, 'Sige, gusto ko ito,' I will tell him, 'But you're burning all of your savings in one toy. Are you okay with that?'
"So we just process with them. We don't really tell them yes or no.
"It's more of like we want them to learn the process of struggling with only what is enough, what they have."
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RICA PERALEJO’S THIRD “BABY”
When asked if she and her husband are trying for another child, she replied, “If it happens, then it happens. I had three miscarriages, e, di ba.”
But the “baby” that she is currently hatching is a business venture.
“It’s a brand that I started, like, a few years back, and I am working it slowly.
"I am not trying to rush into it. I'm trying to figure out, like, what I really wanna do with it.
"But what's important for me is that there is this seed of an idea.
"And I already locked in the brand. Parang ito yung gusto ko na brand feel, brand look, and I'm working on it little by little, because my primary business partner rin is, like, my content creation.”
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This venture, which will be called Well and Wise, is related to “education.”
Rica further explained: “It has something to do with, like, just really giving you knowledge, wellness, and wisdom.
"And we've been doing things already to test it out, parang, the viability of the brand and what it offers.”
SHE SHINES SUMMIT
This month, Rica will also be busy with the She Shines Summit, which she co-founded with businesswomen Cat Ilacad, CEO of Posh Nails Inc., and Rache Tan-Stern, CEO of Alphabetsoup Inc.
What began as a series of meet-ups for a small group of women called “leading ladies” has now grown into a summit expecting 150 “female leaders from different spaces.”
Is this like a gathering of lady bosses?
The actress replied: “Yung demographic na nakukuha namin, the ladies who really come are like more on the entrepreneur side and those holding high positions in different companies.”
But she clarified that the event is open to any woman who wants to “belong to a community and network with like-minded people.”
She recalled the energy of past events: “Minsan, nakakatuwa kasi sila-sila naghahanapan dun sa crowd na, ‘O, e, alam mo? You can help me with my business.’ Parang ganun. So it’s such a good energy.”
The She Shines Summit will be held at Gallio Events Hall, Aseana City, Parañaque (near City of Dreams Manila), from 9:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
To join, visit linky.ph/RicaPeralejo and click the She Shines Summit tab.
Registration fee is PHP7,999.00.
