Roxanne Guinoo on getting pregnant at 23 and giving up her career to focus on motherhood
Former actress Roxanne Guinoo looked back on her first pregnancy that happened at the peak of her showbiz career.
In a recent interview with Toni Gonzaga, the local actress recalled getting pregnant at the age of 23 when she was at the most successful point of her entertainment career.
"Hindi ako nagdalawang-isip doon—na i-abort or anything. Talagang willing akong harapin," she said. "From being na andoon ka sa peak and being independent, hindi siya naging madali sa akin."
Roxanne, now 38, said she didn't get scared the moment she knew she was expecting her first child with her partner, politician Elton Yap in her early 20s. "Tutuloy ko po. 'Di ako natakot. Para sa anak, gagawin mo syempre lahat. Nag-decide ako na i-focus ko talaga 'yung oras ko—'yung magkakaroon ako ng feeling na kampante ako na lalaki mga anak ko na kahit wala presensiya ko diyan, makakapagdesisyon ng tama mga anak ko," she recalled.
The couple welcomed their first child Reine in September 2010. They tied the knot a year later and welcomed another kid named Reilly.
She later quit showbiz—a decision that she and her husband made for their little ones. "Sabi ko nga kay Elton, 'Kaya mo namang mag-provide, 'di ba? So, ito muna, 'yung pagpapalaki, 'yung tutok, ibibigay ko sa mga anak ko.' Nag-agree naman kami dun. Meet halfway kami."
"Kasi ayokong ma-miss 'yung taon na nandoon ako. 'Yung formative years, very important diba? Na zero to 10 nandiyan ka. Kasi 'pag nandiyan 'yung ugali at wala ka, 'yung presence mo, wala na, 'di mo na mabe-break yun," she said.
"Parang gusto ko na ibibigay ko ang lahat para sa anak ko, sa pagpapalaki, oras at panahon," she added.
Roxanne was part of ABS-CBN reality show Star Circle Teen Quest in 2004. She moved to GMA-7 in 2012 and later decided to step out of the limelight to focus on her family.
She has a stepdaughter named Sophie, Elton's child with his former partner Joanne Villablanca.