Having been part of Philippine show business for nearly two decades, Rhian Ramos could well be considered a familiar face – someone who will be there forever like many of the talented actors around. But behind her steady rise, the Kapuso actress admits there was a time she was ready to walk away from the industry entirely.

‘I almost quit’

During her contract renewal with GMA Network last week, Rhian opened up about the challenges of staying in one industry for so long.

“There was a time that I almost quit,” she confessed. “When you do any job for a long time, there’s a point where it becomes a love-hate relationship. May mga times na inspired ka naturally kasi magaganda ‘yung role or whatever, pero may mga times din na parang napapagod ka and gusto mo gumawa ng something bago (There are times when you are naturally inspired because the role is good or whatever, but there are times when you get tired of it and wish to do something new).”

It wasn’t burnout alone that made her reconsider her path — it was also the emotional toll of public life. “Nauso din ang bashing, ‘di ba (Bashing became a thing, right)? When so many people are looking at you and they have negative things to say, they could really break your heart and rip you to pieces with their words.”

Considering a different life

In that period of doubt, Rhian seriously thought about stepping into business. “I felt like my value would be different there. More on business, where I could still contribute but in a different way,” she explained.

Still, her deep-rooted connection with GMA kept her anchored. “Literally wala akong kahit isang adult experience na hindi ako Kapuso (I literally have no adult experience where I wasn’t a Kapuso),” she said. “All of the officers of the network are my family, and this network has even seen me at my worst. It’s such an honor to promise that I’m going to give them nothing but my best from now on.”

Dreaming of a ‘wifey’ project

While she thrives in fantasy dramas, Rhian has her eyes on a new dream role: a Girls’ Love (GL) series alongside her best friend and housemate, Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee.

“I would love to work with Michelle in a GL,” she shared. “In real life we call each other wifey. When we get home, it’s ‘Honey, I’m home.’ My comfort and trust with her are absolute. She knows all my secrets. I think that kind of trust will translate on TV.”

Rhian has prior GL experience, having starred opposite Glaiza de Castro in the groundbreaking The Rich Man’s Daughter in 2015. She and Glaiza will soon reunite for the film I Fell, It’s Fine.

Changing her mind about marriage

For years, Rhian didn’t believe in marriage, shaped by her parents’ separation. “I thought nothing really lasts forever. As a child, I justified that belief over and over,” she admitted.

But meeting her boyfriend, businessman Sam Verzosa, shifted her perspective. “Now, every day I learn something new about him. I’m never bored because he’s unlike anyone I’ve met. Sometimes I see him as someone more mature who can teach me things; sometimes as a little baby I want to take care of. It’s never the same.”

Describing their relationship as “a very equal partnership,” she added, “He’s given me so much respect and trust. I’ve become a better, more mature person — more patient. I can see myself really taking care of this partnership and doing life with this person.”

From contemplating a life beyond the limelight to embracing her craft, friendships, and love, Rhian Ramos enters this new chapter with the same mix of elegance, grit, and sincerity that has defined her career — only now, with a renewed passion for both her work and her personal life.