“I’ll Still Honor Them”: Shuvee Etrata on Family and Forgiveness

Shuvee Etrata, a former Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition housemate, spoke with Vice Ganda about her experiences growing up as the eldest of nine in a poor, “dysfunctional” household. She shared how taking on the role of breadwinner at a young age shaped her perspective on love, trust, and parenting.

“Never kaming nagkaroon ng sariling bahay magkakapatid,” she said. They bounced from one home to another, always living with relatives. Her father didn’t hold a job, and her mother, according to Shuvee, was “buntis lang nang buntis.”

In the YouTube vlog, Shuvee described the environment she grew up in as unstable and emotionally difficult.

“‘Yun ‘yung parang naging hatred ko... ‘Bakit ba kami ginawang siyam kung hindi pala nila kaya?’ Lima pa lang kami noon, hirap na kami e,” she said.

Shuvee recalled leaving Cebu and moving to Manila without receiving support from her parents. “Never po nila ako tinulungan kaya lumaki po ‘yung galit ko sa kanila,” she said. 

“Ni-isa pong kumusta, hindi nila ginawa sa akin, nag-cha-chat lang po kapag manghihingi ng pera, kaya naiinis po ako sa tatay ko.”

Vice Ganda responded with concern. “Dapat talaga mahiya ‘yung mga magulang,” the host said, noting how society often expects children to always show hiya or respect to their parents, even when that respect is not reciprocated.

What Shuvee experienced as a child didn’t just influence how she works. It reshaped how she views the future. “Sa totoo lang, ayoko ng magka-anak e. Ganu’n ‘yung level ng trauma na binigay ng parents ko sa ‘kin,” she admitted.

Shuvee also shared that their home was a place she and her siblings wanted to leave. “Lahat kaming magkakapatid, goal talaga umalis ng bahay... Lahat gusto umalis sa bahay na ‘yun. Mapoot... Kasi kulang kami sa pera, kulang sa aruga ng magulang,” she revealed.

The actress also noted that these experiences have made it difficult for her to trust men. “Pagdating sa relationship, hirap po akong magtiwala.”

It’s not that the hurt is gone, or that the memory has softened. But forgiveness, for her, is a way to move forward without letting bitterness lead the way. “Malaki pa rin po ‘yung puso ko na mahalin sila kahit na nandun ‘yung hate. Mas malaki pa rin po ‘yung parte na mahal ko sila,” she said.

Vice told her that she’s not obligated to do this, and that she didn’t owe her parents her entire life. But Shuvee didn’t hesitate. “I will still honor them until my last breath,” she said. “It’s just that my siblings po, gusto kong ibigay sa kanila ‘yung buhay na deserve nila. ‘Yun ‘yung fire ko na mas galingan.”