Showbiz Chika

Melissa Ricks unleashes her wild side to play the daughter with a questionable reputation in the upcoming mystery-suspense teleserye Nasaan Ka Elisa? The show is an adaptation of a Chilean telenovela that had also been a hit in several countries including Venezuela, Georgia, Spain, Croatia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, Mexico, Lithuania, Poland, Iran, and Romania. During the press conference of Nasaan Ka Elisa?, Melissa was asked if she is like her character, the missing Elisa, who acts as the perfect daughter but also keeps a wild side. “I’m far from perfect but I try to be a good daughter to my parents. I would say I’m a better daughter now, but siguro parents”

The 21-year-old actress was at first hesitant to admit that she also had a rebellious past. “Slightly lang naman, ha ha ha! Tapos na ‘yun,” she answered. Was love the reason behind that rebellious stage in her life? “Maraming dahilan. Siyempre kapag teenager ka marami kang pinagdadaanan. Hindi lang puro love life. Meron din sa family, friendships.”

Rumor has it that Melissa began having issues with her parents when she got into a relationship with hunky actor Jake Cuenca. Two years ago, she was reported to have stormed out of the house after having a heated argument with her mother about Jake. But Melissa clarified, “Hindi layas ‘yun. Sleepover lang naman, ha ha ha! Hoy! Hindi naman kina Jake! Kina Kitkat ako nakitulog. One night lang naman. Umuwi na ako kinabukasan. Nagpasundo ako sa kotse ko. Daddy ko ang naghatid sa akin dun.”

She didn’t deny though that her mother at first didn’t approve of Jake courting her. But Melissa was touched with how the actor persevered in winning the trust of her parents. “Well, she’s just being a mother. Siyempre natatakot lang siya kung ano ang mangyayari sa akin. Ako ang bunso and I’m a girl. Pero noon pa ‘yun. Napakita naman ni Jake na malinis ang intensyon niya. Okay na sila ng mommy ko. My mom is in the US right now kaya hindi sila masyadong nagkikita. Pero dati nagtetext sila. Kinausap ni Jake ang mom ko several times before.”

Melissa went on to confess that even she herself had doubts about Jake’s intentions, but her worries were later proven wrong. “Ayoko talaga sa kanya nung una kasi ang tingin ko sa kanya mayabang, presko. Pero he proved me wrong when I gave him the chance. Ipinakita niyang mabuti siyang tao. He tried the hardest. Mabait talaga siyang tao. Mahirap i-explain pero isa siya sa pinakatotoong tao na nakilala ko. Gusto ko siyang makasama. Marami na siyang naturong magagandang bagay sa akin.”

Now together for almost two years, Melissa and Jake still insist in their interviews that they are still in the dating stage. Not contented with ambiguous answers, reporters asked Melissa to define clearly what kind of relationship she and Jake have at the moment. “Ayaw naming lagyan ng label. Ang hirap kasi sa showbiz maraming nakikialam, naninira. I would say exclusive na kami sa isa’t isa. Wala nang iba. Nagpapaalamanan na kami sa isa’t isa. ‘Yun na ‘yun, ha ha ha!”

Still the actress begged that the media respect her and Jake’s decision not to talk too much about their relationship. The only thing she assured the public is that so far she is happy with the man whom she described as her guide to the right path. “Masayang masaya ako na alam kong may taong nagke-care sa akin, inaalagaan ako at mahal ako. Siya ang first love ko. I’m thankful that he came at the right time. Hindi nung magkasama kami sa Penduko kasi we were both young then. We make the right decisions and we support each other. Binabantayan niya ako at talaga igina-guide niya ako to the right path.”

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