It was the love of reading that brought actress Rita Avila and her husband, television director FM Reyes, together 15 years ago. Now it is Rita’s writing that continues to enrich their marriage.
On July 21, Rita will launch “Si Erik Tutpik at Si Ana Taba”, a children’s book about bullying based on the couple’s childhood experiences.
“Naisip ko sa maraming pag-uusap namin ng asawa ko ‘yung kabataan namin, kung ano kami noon,” the actress shares.
“Siya payatot, ako naman sobrang chubby. Na naging biktima rin pala kami at one point in time ng bullying. ‘Yung na-ostracize. Na hindi rin nakaligtas sa mga pintas at panunukso. Na madalas, leaves a scar sa pagkatao natin. Kaya I came up with this,” she says.
“Si Erik Tutpik at si Ana Taba” is already Rita’s second output as an author. The first was the inspirational book “8 Ways to Comfort with Grace” (“8 Paraan ng Pakikidalamhati”), which she wrote to cope with the loss of their son.
After Rita and her husband tied the knot in 2003, she suffered a miscarriage two years later. When finally they were blessed with a son in November 2006, the boy, whom they named Elia Jesu, died after three weeks due to a congenital heart defect.
Rita was devastated, but she didn’t let the loss break her spirit. She turned to writing and eventually found a voice for the the longings of her heart through her first book.
She also found emotional therapy with three dolls whom she “adopted”. Mimay and Popoy, who are twins, and Pony kept her company during the darkest hours of her life.
“Bibili kami ng gift para sa pamangkin ni Erik when we saw the dolls. Sabi niya, ibibili niya raw for me. And sa akin, naging therapy ko talaga. Parang bumalik lang ‘yung pagiging bata ko dahil sa pangungulila ko sa ‘anghel’ ko, parang sila ‘yung nagparamdam sa akin na there’s so much to look forward to and enjoy in life,” she recounts.
News of the actress spending a lot of time with her dolls, even taking them with her on her trips abroad, was not viewed with compassion and understanding by some showbiz writers. A few even questioned her sanity, but Rita was unfazed.
“With the support of my husband, our family and well-meaning friends, nabuhay naman ako ng maayos. At nagtuluy-tuloy lang ang buhay ko with my ‘kids’,” she says, matter-of-factly.
She feels she has recaptured her childlike innocence through her “children”, and it is in this spirit that she wrote “Si Erik Tutpik at si Ana Taba”. The book will be launched on July 21, 3 p.m. at the Alberione Hall, Society of St. Paul, San Antonio Village, Makati.
Rita is proud of the introduction written by screenwriter and novelist Ricky Lee. “Ang sabi niya, simple, nakakatuwa, malaman. ‘Yun ang pag-describe niya sa libro. Maraming aral ang mga napapanahong mensahe. Na para sa lahat – bata at matanda ng ating panahon,” she shares.
Her husband is supposed to be the writer in the family, but it is Rita, a Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate of UST, who now has two books to her credit.
Rita was last seen in the hit ABS-CBN soap “Walang Hanggan” where her character was recently killed off in a plane crash — to the dismay of many fans.
The truth of the matter is Rita had to leave the show for health reasons.
“Noon pa, I was advised na by our doctor na kailangan ko ring magpahinga. Nakaka-stress din ang araw-araw na mag-soap. Actually, February pa lang nagpaalam na ako.
“It’s something about my bone. Dito sa may parteng batok hanggang sa spine. Madalas siya sumakit at parang tumitigas. Sabi ng ilang relatives ko, prone raw kami sa ganitong klase ng sakit. Dahil may mga lola na kami na naoperahan na sa ganito. Kaya when I had it checked, nagpa-X-ray ako, it’s been going on na pala for seven years. Kumbaga naging chronic na parang nasanay na ako. And kung hindi pa pala ito naipa-check talagang tuluy-tuloy na ang deterioration.”
These days, Rita undergoes therapy with a chiropractor at least twice a week while rumors fly that her character on “Walang Hanggan” would rise from the dead.
“Ang alam ko nga, gusto nila akong ibalik at lagyan ng twist ‘yung pagkamatay ko. Ako lang ang hindi maka-oo,” she says.
She vows to work again in due time. But only after her doctors and her doting husband have given her the all-clear.
source: interaksyon.com
