Melissa Ricks quits showbiz, finds new inspiration in vlogging

Melissa Ricks shows support for friend Gretchen Fullido amid sexual harassment case

by Ruel J. Mendoza

Published Oct 6, 2018

Former ABS-CBN actress Melissa Ricks reveals why she turned her back on showbiz and shares how she discovered her passion in producing and creating vlogs

Tatlong taon na palang hindi aktibo sa paglabas sa telebisyon ang Kapamilya star na si Melissa Ricks.

Huling napanood si Melissa sa teleseryeng Honesto noong 2013 at sa huling guesting niya sa Maalaala Mo Kaya noon pang 2015.

Produkto si Melissa ng kauna-unahang reality artista-search ng ABS-CBN na Star Circle Quest noong 2004 kunsaan ang winner ay si Hero Angeles. Umabot si Melissa sa Top 5.

Ang iba pang mga ka-batch ni Melissa ay sina Sandara Park, Joross Gamboa, Roxanne Guinoo, Michelle Madrigal, Joseph Bitangcol, Neri Naig, Raphael Martinez at Errol Abalayan.

Kabilang sa mga pinagbidahang teleserye ni Melissa ay ang Kambal Sa Uma, Tanging Yaman at Nasaan Si Elisa?

Nakasama rin si Melissa sa mga teleseryeng Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko, Iisa Pa Lamang, Rounin, Princess Sarah, Noah at Walang Hanggan.

Isang single parent si Melissa sa kanyang daughter na si Keira at dumaan pala ito sa matinding depression na nag-ugat sa maraming emotional at physical problems.

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Ang paggawa ng vlogs ang pinagkakaabalahan ni Melissa ngayon.

Noong nakaraang September 10 and 13 ay pinost ng 28-year old actress sa kanyang Instagram account ang pagkakasama at pagtapos niya sa isang crash course in video production via YouTube NextUp Camp.

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Tomorrow is day 4 of Youtube's Next Up Manila. Four days of learning, meeting new people and most of all having fun???? Blessed to have been chosen to be one of the 12 lucky Youtube Creators here in the Philippines for this oppurtunity... Thank you to all my subscribers and to everyone that enjoy and support my videos, kahit kung anu anu lang ginagawa ko hahaha never expected my Vlogging would get me here, i was doing it for fun!!!! Thank you! Wish me luck on my video shoot 2mrw! Hope it goes well! @ytcreators @youtube #YTNextUP #YTNextUPMNL #Youtube #vlogging #MommyVlogger ????

A post shared by Melissa Ricks (@mellyricks09) on Sep 10, 2018 at 7:45am PDT

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Wooot here we are!!! Youtube's Next Up Class of 2018!! It was an amazing experience to be chosen to be one of the 12 creators that got to experience all of this!! I really feel so blessed and honored to be part of this group. I was amazed on how extremely talented all these Creators are and glad to have shared the last 5 days with them.. Thank you to all out mentors and the whole @youtube team ?? @ytcreators #YTNextUp we are YT Next Up Graduates!! Wooohooooo!!!! #Youtube #YoutubePopUpSpaceMNL #vlogging couldnt have done this without you @thirdeeduran I labahooo thank you!! •thank you @ecuunjieng @suzen.low @moeinaki @blakesarion ???? and shout out to Brand on Demand thank you! •••••••••••• @leshaliton @amytalaboc @beverlycumla @_janinekris @elleuydecor @benedict_cua @kitharaofficial @jsminas @stephenflores_irl @carlyncabel @instajjaamm

A post shared by Melissa Ricks (@mellyricks09) on Sep 13, 2018 at 2:48am PDT

Sa isang IG post din ay makikitang umiiyak si Melissa sa last day ng YT NextUP Camp.

Sa isang mahabang mensahe on IG, kinuwento ni Melissa kung ano ang mga naging dahilan ng kanyang pagtalikod sa showbiz at kung ano na ang mga plano niya para sa kinabukasan niya at sa kanyang anak.

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Uh-oh ito nanaman! The crying series. ???????? the truth is the past couple of years have been tough for me. Then #YTNextUp came along. Prior to this I said no to every tv guesting or work offered to me or even events to attend, I turn them all down, because I just couldn't do it, but this I applied for haha (thanks @brattynellah) I wasn't expecting to be picked at all, but I was.. I was afraid to go, was thinking of reasons not to go and get out of it, I was getting anxiety before and during the 5 days I was there, but I pushed through with it. I thought to my self, God wanted me to be there and he chose me amongst so many who wanted to participate. These photos were taken the last day, when we showed everyone our Final videos for the camp. What my co-creators said to me made me cry.. because i felt appreciated. For so long I have been doubting myself, constantly putting myself down, making myself small But they saw me differently. They knew who I was, or what I did before all this, but that didn't matter, they saw me for who I am, they said I was an inspiration, someone that was strong and that I was real, I was helping alot of single moms and parents, bringing light to every situation, along with my daughter in Vlogs that we did. I made other people happy in my own little way. That really affected me because actually the truth is I have been battling for so long to keep strong, trying to keep everything together, and knowing that I could touch alot of people meant alot to me, so I became an emotional wreck during the comments!! Hahaha ?? YES I'm a single mom, YES i gained alot of weight, YES I'm not active in showbiz anymore, YES I have made mistakes and YES im still battling my demons but that doesn't define me. Not being okay is OK. Lets not let depression, anxiety, anger and hate get the best of us. Lets push through. God put us in each situation for a reason and I thank all these people who made me realize that and Made this journey fun!! Cheers to New friends. New memories. New Vlogs? Hahahaha Thank you guys?? ????: @darcphotographe

A post shared by Melissa Ricks (@mellyricks09) on Sep 15, 2018 at 5:17am PDT

Kahit hindi na aktibo si Melissa sa pag-aartista, in touch pa rin ito sa kanyang mga naging kaibigan sa showbiz, partikular na sa news reporter na si Gretchen Fullido na kelan lang ay nagsampa ng sexual harassment case sa ilang news executives ng ABS-CBN.

Pinost ni Melissa ang isang photo nila ni Gretchen na nasa beach sila at heto ang kanyang mensahe ng pagsuporta para sa kanyang kaibigan:

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Strong. Brave. Kind. Stood with me in difficult times and I will stand by her. It takes a lot of strength and courage to stand up for your rights, and you did. proud of you. My heart and prayers...???? lm Here for you. "God is with her, she will not fall"???????? #IStandWithGretchen

A post shared by Melissa Ricks (@mellyricks09) on Oct 5, 2018 at 8:29am PDT