Former Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition housemate Shuvee Etrata opened up about her life growing up in a family struggling with poverty.
In her interview with Karen Davila posted on YouTube last October 30, the “Island Ate ng Cebu” shared that she was once a beneficiary of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, a national program that gives cash aid to poor families to help improve their health, nutrition, and education.
READ: Shuvee Etrata gets candid about difficult upbringing: 'Bakit kami ginawang siyam?'
“Mahirap talaga [ang buhay namin noon.] Isa ako sa mga pinapakain ng gobyerno, 4Ps. As in talaga, isa ako sa mga pumupunta [sa payout]. Binabayaran kami ng gobyerno. Kasi nga walang trabaho yung parents ko tapos marami po kaming magkakapatid,” she recalled.
She spoke of the family’s struggles, including having to prioritize meals whenever there was little money to spend, often buying canned goods and groceries as soon as possible.
Shuvee described the difficult moments when her family had to borrow money just to have food on the table. She also recounted the responsibilities she carried as a child: “Siguro yung pinakamahirap sa feeling ko na naranasan ko, yung kailangan ko mangutang para makakain kami.”
“Growing up, ako yung 5 a.m. gumigising para plantsahin lahat ng damit ng kapatid ko. Tapos magluluto [para] sa kanila. Ako lahat ‘yun. Yung burden sa akin growing up ay [to] make sure na makapag-aral sila ng maayos at makakain sila,” she recalled.
According to the actress, her parents were employed in the past, however they still experienced their lowest points when they struggled to make ends meet: “They started naman na meron talaga silang trabaho. My mother, billing sa hospital, tapos yung dad ko time by time nagkakaroon ng raket sa basketball. Malaki bigayan sa kanila. Nag-OFW pa yung daddy ko.”
While Shuvee remembered periods of instability and scarcity, but she did not want to discredit her parents’ efforts. “Ayaw ko na hindi i-credit yung pinaghirapan nila kasi growing up, kahit na mahirap, meron din times na masagana kami kasi they were working. It's just that hirap lang yung daddy ko sa stability.”
After growing poor, Shuvee has now found hope as she takes on her journey toward healing and financial independence. “Sabi nga po nila, healing is not linear. Ngayon ang nangyayari sakin, nasa peak nga kami ngayon na I'm able to provide. It's not unbearable anymore,” she said.
READ: Shuvee Etrata on the bashing she’s receiving: ‘Parang pinagtutulungan ako ng lahat’
She recalled how, three years ago, she was already a breadwinner earning only ₱20,000 a month. Most of it went to support her family, leaving her with very little left. “Parang 3,500 lang naiiwan [sa’kin] pero napapadala ko pa sa kanila. Magcu-cup noodles na lang ako mapadala ko lang sa kanila,” she admitted.
Shuvee emphasized the gap between public perception and reality for young actors, noting that appearances of a lavish lifestyle often mask early struggles. She recounted attending free workshops offered by GMA just to have a meal, demonstrating the sacrifices she made for her craft.
READ: Shuvee Etrata on her life being redirected: ‘I’m bound for greater purpose’
“Pero nung nagsisimula talaga, meron talagang time na hindi ako makakain. May workshop na libre sa GMA, pupuntahan ko para makakain ako. Ako matitiis ko naman yung sikmura ko, kaya ko naman tiisin [kahit] one week. May workshop naman ako, sisipagan ko na lang sa workshop.”
Looking forward, the actress shared her dream for her family and siblings, a life free from poverty and uncertainty.
“Gusto ko po, hindi na sila lumaking mahirap. Ayoko po na gumising sila na hindi nila alam kung anong kakainin. Ayokong maranasan nilang pupunta silang school, wala silang pambayad sa exam,” she said.
—By Alyana Cabuhat De Guzman