Actress-television host Ruby Rodriguez finally broke her silence on leaving the popular noontime show "Eat Bulaga" as she decided to stay in the US with her family.
"With Bossing and Poleng (Vic Sotto and Paulene Luna), alam na nila I'm planning to go to the US and work. The others do not. Kasi nga may 'Bulaga' pa noong March. Noong nakausap ko si Boss hindi pa ako nagpa-file ng leave. Verbal pa lang ang agreement namin. I will file pa lang in March," said Ruby, when she asked about how she left "Eat Bulaga," during a Zoom conference with the entertainment press on Monday, May 31. (With Bossing and Poleng, they knew about my plan. 'Eat Bulaga' was still airing in March. When I talked to the Boss, I haven't filed my leave. Our agreement was only verbal. I will file in March).
Ruby said: "Some people asked me if I was kicked out of the show, or if I was dropped from the show like a hot potato. I have asked permission from them to take a leave of absence. Mr. Tony Tuviera (producer of the show) told me that I would always have a home in 'Eat Bulaga.' So when 'Bulaga' decided to go on-air again, I don't know their decision. It's management's decision, and we always respect that. That's why I always tell them only the management can answer the question (if I am still part of 'Eat Bulaga' or not)."
When asked if she was hurt when "Bulaga" resumed without her during the pandemic, Ruby answered: "I am thinking of the right word. Is it hurt or disappointed? I've been with them for 31 years. Wala bang pagpapahalaga? But who knows? I am not closing any doors."
Ruby has admitted that she misses her Dabarkads in the longest-running noontime show on Philippine television.
These days, Ruby is being managed by Viva Films. "I started with Viva, and it's like going back to your roots. I am very honored to be part of Viva Talent Agency once again."
Ruby, 55, said that she can always go back to the Philippines to shoot if there's a good project. But the actress revealed she and her family have migrated to the US for more than 10 years now.
"Sometimes you will notice I am not in 'Eat Bulaga.' I need to exit because of my status. So I've been going back and forth to the US. We've migrated to the US for a long time," she said.
Ruby said she lamented she was not able to bid goodbye to her "Bulaga" family properly. Even if she was invited to return to the noontime program that time, she would still fly to the US, she added.
Beyond "Bulaga," Ruby said she needed to stay longer in the US because she has to take care of her son AJ who has special needs.
'My husband and kids have been citizens here for over 10 years. Hindi lang po ako nagpe-permanent stay. Hindi ko ito ikinahihiya and I am very proud of it, my son is a special student. Meron pa siyang rare na auto-immune disease na ang tinitira ay ang kidneys. It is very rare. (I haven't decided on the status of my residency here. I am not ashamed that I have a son who is a special student. He has rare auto-immune disease which hits the kidney).
"We're trying to avoid that he gets a kidney transplant because he's too young to get that. Family first and it's my son. Kaya ako nagta-trabaho para sa mga anak ko lalung-lalo na sa kanya para kay AJ. (My son needs me here. That's why I work hard for my kids, especially for AJ).
Ruby said that her husband Mark stood as "mom and dad" for AJ while she was away. She also said that she and her husband are helping each other to make both ends meet.
"Paano naman kami mabubuhay kung hindi ako magwo-work? Alam naman natin na mahirap ang buhay dito. And we don't want to be spoon-fed by our siblings here. Hindi naman puwede. Ako kasi nauna. Ang asawa ko ang nagwork sa Philippines to provide for our son. Pagdating niya dito, nagwork na rin sya. So dalawa kami nagtulungan. (How are we going to survive if I will not work? We all know that life is difficult in the US. I cannot allow my siblings to spoon-feed us all the time. I came here first. My husband worked in the Philippines to provide for our son. When he came to the US, he also worked here. So we help each other).
"Unti-unti namin ginawa ito hindi po bigla. Matagal ng naka-plano ito. Dapat po kasi last year pa ito. I had a meeting with GMA for 'Owe My Love' and I told them that I am leaving. (We planned about this a long time ago. I was supposed to leave last year).
Currently, Ruby said she is enjoying her life as an ordinary person in Los Angeles, California where she works at the Philippine Consulate General.
"I went through the proper channels for everyone to know. I was not appointed. I applied. I submitted my curriculum vitae. I gave all the requirements that were asked. I took the tests and when I passed, the results were given to the consulate. It just so happened may vacancy sila for local hire," she said. Before she became a star, Ruby worked as a teacher and an employee of a multinational company.