Tomorrow, October 3, Rhian Denise Ramos Howell—popularly known as Rhian Ramos—will be celebrating her 18th birthday with a grand party at the Manila Peninsula in Makati City. Rhian's debut party is a gift from the Kapuso network.
Three days before her debut, last September 30, select members of the entertainment press including PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) had the chance to talk to Rhian in a mini-presscon given by Artist Center, which manages the young actress' showbiz career.
Is Rhian ready for her big day?
"Getting there!" she quips. "Parang hindi talaga ako mare-ready hangga't sa araw na ‘yon. Until that day, I won't still be ready kasi nakakanerbiyos talaga, especially kapag sinasabi ng tao na... Well, first, malaki ang expectations na, you know, to be a lady; na parang that's the day where you grow up or whatever. Nakakanerbiyos lang at siyempre, gusto kong paghandaan na mag-enjoy yung guests and everything. So yun yung mga iniisip kong bagay."
Rhian reveals that her leading man in her upcoming GMA-7 primetime series La Lola, JC de Vera, will be her escort and her last dance. The entertainment press was quick to comment that it could be a promo for their upcoming TV series.
She explained, "I don't know how people would think of it. Pero ako personally, pinili ko siya [JC] as my last dance kasi, show or no show, nasa akin pa rin yung decision. Debut ko naman yun."
So, why did Rhian choose JC when she could have picked Richard Gutierrez who was her first leading man in her first-ever TV show, Captain Barbell?
"Si Chard kasi... Well, yeah, we started together and everything. Pero ngayon kasi, it's time for my journey to continue. Parang hindi naman puwedeng I'll stay somewhere forever. Kailangan din naman naming mag-move on," she explained.
As for JC, Rhian has this to say: "Because we're going through something together. Parang pumapasok kami sa isang bagay na exciting, pero nakakatakot, and we're going through it together. ‘Tsaka siguro the growing up part because he's been so good in helping me out to this whole La Lola thing. Gusto ko also na samahan niya din ako sa growing-up-together thing."
But Rhian assured that Richard will still be part of her debut as one of the 18 roses, including Mark Herras, Alfred Vargas, Raymond Gutierrez, Paolo Paraiso, Dingdong Dantes, and others.
As for the 18 candles, Rhian mentioned Karylle; her Ouija co-stars Jolina Magdangal and Iza Calzado; fellow Artist Center talents Abigail Cruz, Stef Henares, Arci Munoz, and Rhea Nakpil. Rhian is not sure if Judy Ann Santos can spare her time.
What's the motif of her debut party?
"Dahil yung La Lola, ibig sabihin sa akin nun transformation—from a man to a woman—ganun din yung debut ko; from a young girl growing up to a woman. So, transformation talaga siya. Gusto ko, yung color motif ng La Lola, yun din yung color motif ng birthday ko—black, red, and white."
How many gowns will she be wearing?
"Ngayon na mas formal na siya, it's two [gown] changes for the first half and the second half of the party, ‘tapos the clothes will be provided by Sabella [a clothing brand she endorses]. Richard Papa will be personally making it."
How many guests is she expecting?
"Hindi ko binilang, e, nag-list lang ako ng names. ‘Tapos tinulungan din ako ng Artist Center. Siyempre, alam mo kung sino yung mga friends mo at kung sino ang gusto mong pumunta, pero mahirap na alalahanin yun sa isang moment kung kailan mo ginagawa yung list."
Aside from her party at Manila Pen, Rhian will be having other celebrations as well.
"Makakailang party din ako this year," she says. "Siguro babawi ako this year sa ilang years na hindi ako nag-celebrate ng birthday. So, this year, makakaisa ako sa Child's House [which houses cancer patients], kasi last year dun ako nag-birthday. So, gusto kong bumalik do'n kasi last year sinabihan ako ng mga bata, ‘Ate Rhian, next year balik ka ha?' So, nag-promise na ako."
Rhian will also have a party to be sponsored by B Club, a shoe brand she endorses, and "a small get-together sa bahay with my school friends."
"PETER-PAN SYNDROME." What does she think will the changes be now that she's 18?
"Kasi naniniwala ako na yung maturity level mo, hindi minsan sumasabay sa age. ‘Pag 18 years old ka na, yung katawan mo nag-e-age, pero sa mind ko, parang every day naman kailangang mag-advance, hindi lang dapat sa mga birthday tumatanda."
What's her birthday wish?
"Siguro sumabay yung isip ko sa katawan ko at mag-mature!" she says with a laugh. "Hindi, kasi ako, medyo may fear ako of growing up. Gusto kong mawala ‘yon, I want to be able to just jump into it... Idol ko si Peter Pan, e. Gusto ko yung idea na forever kang bata. Forever ka lang nag-e-enjoy. Forever kang innocent... Ayokong minamadali yung aging process. Ayokong mag-rush into being an adult.
"I'm sure magandang maging adult. Pero kasi once na naging adult ka, hindi mo na puwedeng balikan yung [childhood or teenage days], so gusto ko I'll take my time muna. Ini-enjoy ko lang habang nandito."
What are the aspects in her life that have not yet fully developed?
"Siguro ang hindi pinaka-developed sa akin, yung sa puso, yung emotional. Siguro kasama na dun yung lack of male bonding. Kasi my dad is based abroad and he's been that way all my life, so parang I don't know how to handle it."
Rhian's British father, Mr. Gareth Howell, is currently in Dubai, U.A.E., where he works as as a sales manager of an international company that manufactures industrial goods. "Semento, wood, floor, tiles, mga ganun," enumerates Rhian.
Rhian says that her father will be at her debut party with his new Thai wife.
"Oo talaga, pinilit ko siya. Wala siyang choice. Sabi ko, he has to be there," says the young actress.
Rhian has been saying that she hasn't had a boyfriend yet. Now that she's 18, is she ready to accept suitors?
"Now that I'm 18, puwede na akong ligawan," Rhian says with a smile.