Family comes first

Family always comes first for Donita Rose. When she found out she was pregnant shortly after she married Singapore-based Eric Villarama, she bid her showbiz commitments a temporary goodbye. Never mind if it meant junking juicy offers and leading an anonymous life in Singapore.

Now that son JP (Joshua Paul) is two and a half years old, Donita’s attitude has not changed at all. When taping for the cooking show Mobile Kusina took her away from her husband and son for months and gave her only three days in a month to spend time with them, Donita called it quits.

"I told them that as much as I love what I’m doing, I have to leave (the show). I must set my priority," recalls Donita.

Instead of crying over her lost hosting job, Donita went down on her knees and prayed.

"I trust that You will give me something that will pay the bills," she asked God.

Lo and behold! In less than two months, executives of UniversiTV (UNTV, which airs on Channel 33 over free TV, Channel 32 on Destiny Cable and Channel 5 on Sky and Home Cable) called Donita up.

The offer was too good to resist: a hosting stint on U-Turn (Saturdays, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Tuesdays, 8 to 9 p.m.), a show about young people who made a u-turn for the better?

Donita didn’t even think twice. She said yes right away.

"I need an outlet for something inspiring. I want to make an impact in this country," she explains.

Creating an impact, in this case, means interviewing former young drug addicts and juvenile delinquents who have turned over a new leaf.

U-Turn’s makeup artist Peter Araza, for instance, used to be hooked on drugs. Now, he serves in his local church.

Illac Diaz was the typical rich, spoiled kid. Today, he’s a social entrepreneur.

The vice president of a big media company used to be a drug addict.

"The interviews make me cry," Donita admits.

Now, she has all the more reason to apply for dual citizenship.

"I could have opted to live in the US. But I didn’t," she relates.

Besides, U-Turn is easier on her schedule. It requires Donita to be in the country for two weeks so she can tape four episodes. Then, she can go home.

"That’s the kind of schedule my husband has been dreaming of. And I’m honoring it," the dutiful wife beams.

The new show also serves another purpose: for Donita to save enough money for another child whom she and her husband plan to have one and a half years from now.

"I don’t want to ask money from my husband," she explains.

But two children are the most she plans to have. More than two, and Donita fears she’ll have no more time to enjoy life with her husband.

Donita is taking a cue from her mother in this regard.

"She told me having three siblings is a joy, but being the mother of four is hard," relates Donita.

Having less children also means Donita can buy the little things her heart desires. She’ll enjoy more financial independence and bring more joy to the marriage.

The family, after all, is what Donita has valued most, since Day One.