Ria Atayde dishes out her thoughts on a government-related proposal that recently came her way.
About a month ago in mid-May 2023, the 31-year-old actress made headlines after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chair Don Artes forwarded a recommendation to Malacañang to make Ria its office's spokesperson.
In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) for the premiere of her new Prime original thriller, Cattleya Killer, Ria confirmed that it was indeed an offer, but expressed her reservations about taking up the role.
"I know for a fact that that job would demand a lot of time and effort," she explained.
"And right now, I think my career is at its, like, you know, it's not the one at its best, but this is the best that's been in a while.
"I feel like now is not the time for me to abandon it. I don't want to spread myself out too thinly."
Read also: Magkapatid na Arjo at Ria Atayde, parehong blooming ang love life
HAVING A VOCAL NATURE
Reflecting on why she might have been approached for the position, Ria quipped that it probably had little to do with her driving skills and more to do with her nature to be vocal.
"When I was starting lang driving, I'm not a very... I didn't used to be a super aggressive driver," she admitted.
"I had to learn through time because I studied in Taft and I ended up driving myself there.
"Parang yung mga first few years that I was driving, I remember yung sa EDSA, sa may McKinley, pa-kanan na ako pa EDSA.
"Tapos, they weren't letting me through. I rolled down my window and started crying," she mentioned, laughing.
"I was like, ‘Please let me through.’"
She also cited a separate incident when she was issued a ticket for unintentionally getting in the wrong lane.
"So, I'm not made for," she gestured driving before saying, "I do enjoy driving though. I love driving. It's just maybe a lot more frustrating than it should be."
In all seriousness, though, the Kapamilya actress believes that her outspokenness could be perceived as an asset for public service.
"You know, I feel like it should have a lot to do with the fact that I'm very vocal and I like to speak my mind," she stated.
"I feel like that's something people would consider as an added value or an added valuable trait to being a public servant.
"But, you know, that type of calling is a lot."
Drawing observations from her brother Arjo Atayde's experiences as Quezon City 1st District Rep., she pointed out, "It really, really takes up a lot of your time.
"I don't want to commit to something knowing that I can't completely give myself, because I'm super in love with what I do. You know what I mean?
"In this day and age, not a lot of people can say they're actually genuinely happy doing what they do, and I'm so blessed to be able to say that."
Aside from a flourishing acting career, Ria is also busy fulfilling her duties as White Castle Whisky's 2023 calendar girl.
- Calendar girl Ria Atayde addresses body shamers
- Ria Atayde has hypothyroidism: "Losing weight is a lot harder for me...go ahead, call me fat."
Despite declining the offer from MMDA, she expressed, "I'm grateful that I was considered for it.
"Although there hasn't been, like, an official or formal arrangement for everything. I think that's where my head's at right now."
ON ENTERING POLITICS
When asked if she ever saw herself in a government post, Ria chuckled and firmly replied with a resounding "No."
Ria emphasized that the closest she dabbled with something relative to it was way back in her university days.
"I feel like I did it in college. Let's leave it at that," she remarked.
"Student government, and then wala na, hindi talaga."
She pointed out that it entailed several factors that went beyond personal inclinations: "Parang it's a lot more complicated than just like 'Do I wanna serve the public or not?'
"There's so many things that come into it and it's just, I'm happy doing what I do.
"It's really that actually. At the end of the day, di ko ipagpapalit ang ginagawa ko."
READ MORE: