Jon Lucas shares why he wanted to start working at 16 years old

Jon Lucas is among the stars who started working at an early age to help his family.

In an interview on “Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel,” the actor looked back at his younger days, saying that he felt that his parents were struggling at the time.

He added that for how many years, he, his parents, and his younger sibling shared only one bedroom.

His mom planned to go abroad to find a job, but Jon said, “Para sa akin ayoko, hindi ko po kayang malayo sa akin ‘yung nanay ko kasi nga hindi ako sanay na malayo siya sa akin. Kaya doon po ako nag isip na tatry ko mag audition.”

“Sabi ko try kong tumulong para ‘yung kapatid ko makapagpatuloy sa pag-aaral, kasi ‘yun ‘yung matalino po talaga eh, kaya ayaw ko naman na pati siya eh maisip niya or maramdaman niya na kakapusin tapos hindi siya makakapag-aral," he added.

He said that it wasn’t easy landing a project, so his mom had to push through with her plan.

“Medyo nalulungkot na ako, gabi-gabi, iyak lang ako nang iyak kasi nga nami-miss ko ang nanay ko,” he said.

“Tapos hanggang sa sinabi niya sa amin na December daw kapag hindi siya nakauwi ng December sa Pilipinas, pipirma na siya ng two years na contract. So ibig sabihin, kung sa two months nga gabi-gabi na akong umiiyak, paano pa 'yung sa two years na hindi ko talaga kayang malayo sa akin ‘yung mom ko po,” he added.

Eventually, Jon got accepted into one of the auditions he went to.

“Sabi ko, ‘Daddy baka puwedeng hiram ka muna sa kaibigan mo pambili ng ticket ni mommy na pauwiin natin dito,’” he said. “Tapos ayun, awa ng Diyos nakahiram po si daddy, tapos naipadala namin kay mommy. Awa ng Diyos, first ever taping day ko sa buong buhay ko, kasama ko na si mommy.”

In 2017, Jon married Shy Ferras. They have two kids, Brycen and Bria.

Jon currently stars in “Black Rider” with Ruru Madrid.

"Black Rider" airs weekdays on GMA Prime at 8 p.m. after "24 Oras." —Carby Basina/JCB, GMA Integrated News