October 24 ------ Since working at the young age of 15, Herlene Budol has truly come a long way. Today, the beauty queen-turned-actress continues to harvest the fruits of her labor without forgetting to encourage others with her inspiring success story.
On "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," Herlene looked back on the days when she was still having a hard time making ends meet. In an interview with Jessica Soho, Herlene shared that she came from a broken family. "Feeling ko naman ho talagang hindi sila ho para sa isa't isa kasi na-gin bilog lang daw po 'yung papa ko kasi 'yung mama ko dati," she said. "Kumbaga nabuo lang daw po ako dahil sa alak, sabi. Triny daw po nilang magsama kaso hindi talaga ho." After all their family's problems, she said that she became "numb." It was only when her parents decided to separate that their situation got better. "Mas naging maganda po 'yung pagsasama namin nu'ng naging mas magkaibigan na lang po sila kumpara sa maging mag-jowa kasi pag naging mag-jowa 'yan, naku! May lilipad na naman na mga kaldero," the actress said. "Halos pinagba-badminton-an ako ng mama at papa ko. Kumbaga pasa-pasahan," she added.
Herlene said she had to start working at a young age. She used her small earnings to finish high school and college. "Maraming salamat din po talaga du'n sa mga teacher ko na umunawa sa akin na kapag pumapasok ako lasing ako," Herlene said, sharing that she worked at a bar. "'Pag pumapasok ako sa school, lasing po ako minsan nakakatulog po. 'Yun po 'yung mga panahon na umiinom ako ng alak nang hindi ko naman gusto," she said. "Nang-uuto po ako ng mga manginginom dun ta's halimbawa sha-shot din ako tapos magti-tip din sa akin."
Herlene admitted that she took advantage of her looks and would fake her resumes just to get a job. "Kunwari ano, 15 years old lang po ako ngayon pero nilalagay ko lang po 18. Pinapatulan ko po mga dati mga 100 isang araw po, 3,000 isang buwan para pang-allowance lang din po," she said. In a week, Herlene would have up to four jobs and even do extra. "Diskarte po talaga. Ayokong gugutumin 'yung sarili ko, Ms. Jessica. Tapos na ako sa part na ginugutom ko 'yung sarili ko nung elementary ako kasi tinitipid ko 'yung pera ko para may pangmaganda kong outfit ng Pasko," she said. Today, Herlene has her own house, a car, a condo unit, and an apartment for rent. "Nagpupundar lang ho. At saka meron na rin po akong mga hinuhulugang lupa dahil po sa 'Magandang Dilag,'" she said. "Parang kaniya-kaniyang oras lang po talaga. Hindi po natin masasabi 'yung panahon natin saka yung nakatadhana sa isang tao."
Source: gmanetwork.com
Comments