Melissa stronger after going through a tough year
Like her strong character in the TV drama “Nasaan Ka Elisa,” Melissa Ricks says she is now braver in facing the new year since she has hurdled the challenges of 2011.
Melissa, who turns 22 on Monday, January 9, wishes for happiness and a better year.
“Sana 2012 will be a bigger and better year for me. Sana yung “Walang Hanggan” ay mag-hit like “Nasaan Ka Elisa.”Happiness din syempre,” Melissa said at the birthday party that fans organized for her last Sunday, January 8.
Melissa feels grateful to fans for their touching gesture. She added that she can relate to them since she also used to be a fan.
“I’m very thankful kasi syempre gusto kong mapalapit sa mga fans ko, as a friend. So kaya rin lagi akong nagre-reply sa kanila sa mga tweets,” Melissa said.
Melissa admitted last year was a challenging one because of her breakup with Jake Cuenca and her reinvention for “Nasaan Ka Elisa,” where she shed her sweet image and took on a more mature role.
Blessing in disguise
“Siguro blessing in disguise rin yung nangyari sa akin nung 2011. Hindi lang dahil kay Jake, dahil rin sa mga pagsubok na napagdaanan ko nung taon na yun. Pati yung reinvention ko sa sarili ko. It wasn’t easy,” she goes on.
Despite the obstacles, Melissa thinks 2011 was the year where she learned the most. It made her more responsible and stronger.
“I learned that I have to be responsible and to grow up. Marami akong pinagbago mula noon. At dahil doon, handa na akongharapin ang mundo this 2012,” she said.
How will she face the new year?
“You have to be stronger, braver. Hindi mo dapat hayaan namaapektuhan ka ng mga maliliit na bagay. You just learn to be happy and accept what you have,” she replied.
The worst and the best
Melissa thinks 2011 was one of the hardest but one of the best years for her.
“Nasaan Ka Elisa” did so much for me. Napakaganda ng palabas namin. It’s a big blessing and to show people na I’m an actress,” Melissa explains.
She feels grateful for the opportunity her home network, ABS-CBN has given her and is happy her fans accepted her sexier, risqué image, a far cry from her sweet, teeny-bopper portrayals.
“It was a role I never thought na tatanggapin sya. Kasi medyo risky sya at mahirap pero ABS-CBN gave me a chance to that role kahit marami naman na pwedeng gumawa ng role nayun, but they chose me,” she said.
After “Nasaan Ka Elisa,” Melissa is set to star in the new TV drama “Walang Hanggan,” together with Coco Martin, Julia Montes, Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta.
