As controversy swirls around influencers flaunting unexplained wealth and government corruption continues to make headlines, actress Rhian Ramos speaks with confidence and zero fear.
“My finances come from a clean place, and I’m a very clean taxpayer as well,” she says. “Everything I have, though I don’t post often, if I ever share a photo and you see something… just know that came from 19 years of hard work. Everything I owe to the country, I give. I’ve never evaded a single tax in my life.”
Rhian started acting in 2006 and also appeared in commercials before branching into singing and now having her own business, Bas Bakes, among others. She’s one of the busiest actresses this year, seen on TV in “When In Manila” and “Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre” as well as on the big screen in “Sinagtala” and “Meg & Ryan.” Considering all this, her firm views on corruption are no surprise.
“I’m very emotionally affected. It’s infuriating,” she says of the recent controversies. “That’s also why I was hesitant when Sam [Versoza, her boyfriend] decided to run for office. I grew up in the Philippines where government and corruption are almost synonymous. So I was nervous.”
She doesn’t sugarcoat it.
“I’ve heard the word ‘corruption’ since I was a toddler. This conversation has been a long time coming. Hopefully, in our next elections, those coming in with bad intentions will find it harder to carry out their plans.”
Despite her frustration, Rhian still holds on to hope.
“I still believe Filipinos are a peaceful people. Of all races, I think we have the most reason to be angry. Every year we get flooded, every year we’re let down. But we haven’t resorted to riots. That says something. I hope we can keep moving forward without anyone getting physically hurt.”
Holding onto that hope and resilience, Rhian now looks forward to celebrating her own milestone.
“Aubrey Carampel mentioned that I’ll be celebrating my 20th anniversary next year. Tapos someone offered to produce a concert for me next year, and I thought — Wow! But also, why not?” she shares. “It’s going to take a lot of preparation. I’ll need to rehearse, dance, prepare outfits, and invite guests. That’s the power of believing in yourself, right? So, why not?”
The concert may be new territory, but Rhian has been quietly working toward it. For two years, she studied voice and drums at the Riccio Music Academy (RMA), originally to prepare for her film “Sinagtala.”
“I used to think singing was just about being able to hear yourself. And this is the Philippines, we all assume everyone’s a natural singer. But I’ve learned so much. Now I finally understand what vocal control means, and how to really play with my voice. I even used what I learned in ‘Encantadia’.”
Rhian will be one of the performers in “That’s Amore: A Night at the Movies,” RMA’s upcoming recital on November 9 at 5 p.m. at the Aliw Theater. Her friend and housemate, beauty queen Michelle Dee, will also be featured in the program. She’s absolutely thrilled to know that she’s a soprano. Asked who sings better between her and Michelle, Rhian replies: “Ako!”
“But really, we have different voices. I like songs with a little rap, while Michelle shines in songs with big belting moments, like in her song “Reyna.” She really has a powerful voice.”
Rhian’s also no stranger to recording. She already has several tracks on Spotify.
“I’ve written and recorded my own songs. There’s ‘You,’ which was made for a video game, and Body Crashes, which I wrote myself. I think I have three songs on Spotify. So in that sense… talo ko si Michelle!” she laughs.
