Rhea Santos: Philippines will always have a place in my heart

Rhea Santos is set on keeping a piece of the Philippines with her once she and her family move to Canada.

The television host, who signed off Unang Hirit Friday after 19 years on air, said she and her husband will still instill Pinoy values in their two sons.

"Philippines will always have a place in my heart. Ang usapan namin, pagdating dun, Tagalog sa bahay," Rhea said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV on Friday.

"Lahat ng values ng Pinoy yun ang ituturo namin sa mga anak namin ... Pinoy pa rin kami," she added.

Rhea is going to Canada to take up Broadcast and Online Journalism at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Her family will be making the move with her.

Whether they will return to the Philippines after the two-year course is up in the air, but Rhea said she wants to explore the options and opportunities they would have there.

Still, Rhea said she received messages questioning her decision and warning her of the hardships in making a new life in another country.

"I got messages na, 'Bakit mo iiwan yung ginagawa mo dito, ang hirap hirap ng buhay sa ibang bansa.' Hindi biro," she said.

But she added that she is no stranger to hard work.

"Pinalaki kami ng magulang namin na marunong sa buhay. Exposed kami sa household chores, kaya 'pag sinasabi ng tao, 'Ano ba yan, tatanda ka, lolosyang ka na.' Sa totoo lang I'm embracing the change dahil hindi naman bago sa amin yung nagtatrabaho sa bahay," she said.

Rhea said she is also open to trying new things as she completes her second degree. She also sees this as her chance to try the things she was never able to do.

"I'm excited to do the things I've been wanting to do. Gusto ko pong maging barista. I want to work in fashion, puwede rin. O kaya school administration assistant," she said. — Jessica Bartolome/RSJ, GMA News