Shuvee Etrata reflects on growing up in a large, poor family: ‘Bakit ba ginawa kaming siyam?’
Shuvee Etrata got real about her struggles growing up in a large and poor family, sharing how it also affected her views on relationships and building a family.
The Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab alum opened up about her family in Vice Ganda's vlog. As the eldest among nine siblings, she shared that her ultimate dream is to give them a house.
"Never kami nagkaroon ng sariling bahay magkakapatid...palaging bahay ng lola ko, or kung saan saan kami, palipat-lipat," she said.
Being the breadwinner, the 24-year-old actress spoke about the challenges she faced growing up in a "dysfunctional" family.
"My dad, wala po siyang work, and 'yung mom ko naman buntis lang nang buntis before," she shared. "'Yun 'yung parang naging hatred ko [kay mommy ko], kasi nung [tumanda na ako, napapatanong ako] 'Bakit ba kami ginawang siyam kung hindi pala nila kaya?' Lima pa lang kami non, hirap na kami e," she continued.
During her stay in the PBB House, Shuvee opened up about her struggles. At the time, Shuvee lamented that she didn't receive support from her parents when she moved to Manila. "Never po nila ako tinulungan kaya lumaki po 'yung galit ko sa kanila."
"Ni-isa pong kumusta, hindi nila ginawa sa akin, nag-cha-chat lang po kapag manghihingi ng pera, kaya naiinis po ako sa tatay ko," she added.
Her friend, Kapuso actress Ashley Ortega, also shared how she witnessed Shuvee take care of her family. "Nakikita ko talaga si Shuvee na lahat ng kinikita niya, binibigay niya sa kapatid niya. Siya halos lahat nagbibigay ng pera monthly," she said.
During their conversation, Vice Ganda said, "Dapat talaga mahiya 'yung mga magulang."
"Sa lipunan mas nire-require na 'yung mga anak mahiya sa kanilang mga magulang, pero dapat ang mga magulang may hiya din sa kanilang mga anak. Lalo na kung bata ka pa, wala ka pang kakayahang buhayin ang sarili mo, naka-angkla ka sa mga magulang po," the It's Showtime host said, stressing, "Naka-depende 'yung uri ng buhay mo sa uri ng buhay na ibibigay sayo ng mga magulang mo."
Views on relationships, having kids
Her responsibilities as a breadwinner didn't just impact Shuvee financially, but they also affected her perspective on parenthood.
"Sa totoo lang, ayoko ng magka-anak e. Ganun 'yung level ng trauma na binigay ng parents ko sa 'kin," the actress said. She added how she and her siblings wanted to get out of their house, which she described as "hell."
"Sabi nila hindi nabibili ng pera ang kasiyahan, pero para sa 'kin talaga, nabibili niya talaga, kasi ang hirap talaga ng buhay namin," Shuvee admitted.
"Lahat kaming magkakapatid goal talaga umalis ng bahay...Lahat gusto umalis sa bahay na 'yun. Mapoot, impyerno siya sa amin. Kasi kulang kami sa pera, kulang sa aruga ng magulang," she added.
Growing up with an abusive father also affected her views on relationships, saying that she's having a hard time trusting men.
"'Yung father ko talaga, abusive lalo pag nalalasing. Sinasaktan niya 'yung mom ko, and ako rin po nasasaktan," she shared. She added that seeing their situation drives her to work harder, as she wants to save her mom and siblings from that environment.
"Kung mahirap ang pinagdadaanan ko, mas mahirap yung pinagdadaanan ng nanay ko. Kaya hindi ko sila maiwan-iwan kasi ano ba naman yung pain ko sa pain na nararamdaman ng nanay ko," she said.
Despite all these, Shuvee shared that their situation is "getting better," saying that she had forgiven her dad while she was still inside the PBB house.
“Forgiving them is not for them pala, it’s for me," she told Vice. "Kasi po kung dala-dala ko yun, ang bigat."
She added that she loves her dad deeply but feels sadness for him, believing he has the potential to be a better father.
"Malaki pa rin po 'yung puso ko na mahalin sila kahit na nandun yung hate. Mas malaki pa rin po yung parte na mahal ko sila," she said.
Vice told her she wasn't obligated to support her family, but Shuvee maintained it was her personal choice to help her siblings secure the lives they deserved.
"I will still honor them (her parents) until my last breath, it's just that my siblings po, gusto kong ibigay sa kanila 'yung buhay na deserve nila. 'Yun 'yung fire ko na mas galingan," she said.
Shuvee is among the 20 housemates from the recent PBB edition. She was evicted with her duo, Kapamilya singer Klarisse de Guzman, in June.
She played roles in GMA TV series Hearts on Ice and the ongoing teleserye of Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre.
