"I was a child, but I already have to act and think and carry problems like an adult." Ito ang pahayag ni Rica Peralejo kaugnay sa kaniyang karanasan na sa edad na 12 ay kinailangan nang magtrabaho para sa pamilya. Pero wala raw siyang sama ng loob.
Sa podcast na "Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel," ibinahagi ni Rica na nagdesisyon siyang magtrabaho sa murang edad nang mawala ang negosyong fishery ng kaniyang ama dahil sa pagsabog noon ng Mount Pinatubo. Hanggang sa siya na ang sumusuporta sa kaniyang pamilya.
“What did I know back then, diba? Parang growing up in the industry got me so lost talaga,” sabi ni Rica.
"It had that big effect on me. First of all that I had to start early in life, like no one should be carrying that much of a load at 12 years old. And you don't know that when you're 12. You're just like doing stuff," dagdag ng actress-TV host.
Dahil dito, masasabi niyang iba ang kaniyang naging kabataan kumpara sa iba.
"It was a very difficult kind of life. Hindi naman ako normal na bata na nag-e-eskuwela lang, tapos sinasabi ng magulang na ganito. Ibang iba 'yung buhay ko. I think that kind of life aggravated wherever I was in life," ani Rica.
"I was a child, but I already have to act and think and carry problems like an adult," saad niya.
Sa kabila nito, wala siyang sama ng loob sa kaniyang pamilya, bagama't aminado siyang nakulangan siya sa mga natanggap na payo tungkol sa kaniyang sitwasyon noon.
"I don't take it against my mother, my family. Gano'n talaga tayong mga Pilipino. Pero siguro kasi na-overlook lang diyan ay, bata pa ako eh. Hindi rin naman ako as if na walkthrough na 'O alam mo dapat hindi mo kinakarga ang ganiyan kabigat na bagay ha.' If only somebody just sat down and explained to me that this is really what is happening, that it could have probably been better," paliwanag ng aktres.-- FRJ, GMA Integrated News
