Rhea shares life lessons from Tunay na Buhay

Asking Rhea Santos on who among the personalities she interviewed for Tunay na Buhay strike her the most is like asking a parent to choose her favorite among her kids.

“Ang hirap!” the Kapuso broadcast journalist and host blurted out during an interview, explaining, “It’s really hard because all their stories are heartwarming and inspiring.”

For the past five years, the GMA public affairs program has featured hundreds of lives — taking its viewers to various journeys of hope, courage and determination; with the objective of providing real inspiration at the end of every episode.

Rhea takes pride in hosting the show. “I love Tunay na Buhay because I get to interview prominent personalities and ordinary people deeper,” she said. The program allows her to be in touch with reality, helping the public realize that a lot of celebrities are actually humans like us.

Her years in broadcast media may have given Rhea the advantage, allowing her to cut into other people’s defenses for them to open up their life. In fact, most of her interviewees end up wondering what made them share something they don’t really tell other people.

Rhea, who is also seen every morning as part of the Unang Hirit barkada, believes it’s a gift. “Ever since, I’m a sensitive person,” she shared. “When I conduct interviews, I make sure that I give them my full attention, 100 percent. It’s important for me to listen because that’s where I’ll get my follow-up questions. That’s where the real story begins when you start listening and they start talking.”

 Motherhood has helped her become a good interviewer, too. “They always say we should be child-like, no pretentions,” the mother of two boys said.

Still, Rhea admits being vulnerable to getting moved by the stories they feature, citing some recent episodes that made her cry.

One involved a person suffering from X-linked Dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP) — a rare genetic movement disorder. “He came from a poor family but studied really hard to get his family out of poverty. But all his dreams were taken away from him when he had this XDP that apparently one can catch exclusively from Panay,” she shared. “Another is a 40-year-old man who’s very passionate about finishing school. He is now in grade one in Laoag.”

She also admits getting starstruck when she interviewed John Regala. “I got surprised when he got into drugs. But now, he is a changed man and is full of wisdom.”

Rhea with Alden Richards, who is one of her favorite interviews. —Photo from Rhea Santos’ Instagram account

Rhea thinks though that Alden Richards remains one of her most unforgettable interviews to date. Tunay na Buhay featured the life of Alden even before the Kapuso actor became the other half of the phenomenal love team AlDub. “It’s unforgettable because he’s very down to earth,” Rhea shared. “And he is still the same person: A gentleman who respects women.”

She hopes that she can interview the other half of AlDub on the show. “(I want) Maine Mendoza because I had the opportunity to do the primer of Imagine You and Me. And the viewers are also requesting for Maine.”

Featuring Eat, Bulaga’s Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon is also on her wish list. Of course, having President Rodrigo Duterte will be remarkable, too.

With her husband and kids

But if she had her way, Rhea would love to sit down with NBA star Stephen Curry and wife Ayesha. “I’m a Warriors fan and I would love to interview the couple,” she gushed. Other non-Filipino personalities she wishes to feature in the show are Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan and American journalist Anderson Cooper.

Rhea is grateful that the Kapuso Network has trusted her with two wonderful programs, Tunay na Buhay and Unang Hirit — shows that she can manage well so that she has ample time for her family.

It’s the value of family that tops Rhea’s lessons from the many years of doing Tunay na Buhay. “Kahit anong hard work ang gawin mo, kung wala kang uuwian at taong magmamahal sa iyo, para saan pa? Most people whom I interviewed they really survived because of the love of their family,” she said.

Tunay na Buhay also reminds us of the value of hard work. “Whatever is given to you, you treasure it. Don’t take it for granted. Consider it as a blessing,” she advised.

In the end, what Tunay na Buhay gives the viewers is more than just the stories of famous personalities. What the program has been doing all along is inspiring us to become better people in this world.

“’Ano ang aral ng iyong Tunay na Buhay?’ Your legacy — that’s the heart of your life, she ended.