Bianca Umali on her late parents: They're my guardian angels

Bianca Umali has opened up on how she coped with losing her parents at a young age.

In an episode of "Surprise Guest With Pia Arcangel," the Sparkle actress said she did not realize the gravity of her situation at first.

She lost her mom to breast cancer when she was five, while her dad passed away because of a heart attack when she was 10 years old.

"I think the only thing that was keeping me strong was the thought of my mommy and daddy guiding me," Bianca said.

"I always thought of them as my guardian angels—na palagi silang nasa shoulders ko, that they always have my back, that they are always protecting me even na hindi ko sila nakikita," she added.

She also gave credit to her grandmother, who took her in and raised her after she lost her mom and dad.

"I knew that I owe everything to her because if she didn't take me in, hindi ko alam kung saan ako ate pupulutin," said the "Legal Wives" star.

She said she lived with her lola along with several of her cousins. They learned to do house chores such as cooking and cleaning, which prepared her to be independent.

Bianca then moved out when she was 16 years old, as she was concerned about her work schedule affecting her lola's rest.

"Si Mama Vicky ang ugali kasi niya she doesn't sleep or she doesn't get to rest unless kumpleto lahat ng mga apo niya sa bahay niya," she said.

"Ako bilang being in our industry na very unpredictable 'yung working hours... Ako walang tulog, siya rin hindi siya matutulog, so that is one of my tipping points siguro na I thought na I don't want to do that to her naman."

No matter where she is, however, she still has all of her lola's teachings with her, just as the thought of her parents continue to give her strength.

"It can be hard or it can be scary kapag mag-isa ka, pero ang pinanghahawakan ko ever since nung bata pa ako na mantra is, always remind myself that this too shall pass," Bianca said.

"Kaya mo pinagdadaanan 'yan kasi mayroong gustong ituro sa 'yo," she added. "At kapag narealize mo kung ano 'yung lesson na 'yun, ma-re-realize mo na worth it pala 'yung hirap at 'yung sakit na pinagdaanan mo."

—MGP, GMA News