EXCLUSIVE: Melissa Ricks on being a first-time mom: ‘Pag umiiyak siya naiiyak na rin ako’

After her acting comeback on Maalaala Mo Kaya last May 16, Melissa Ricks admitted she is excited to be a contestant on Kapamilya Deal or No Deal. Coincidentally Melissa's ex-boyfriend Paul Jake Castillo is also a celebrity contestant, but the 25-year-old actress says there is definitely no friction or awkwardness between them anymore.

In fact, during one of the rehearsals, Melissa's boyfriend Charles Togezaki and Paul Jake's girlfriend Kaye Abad were also there to accompany them in the same dressing room. “Wala naman kasi you know okay naman kami and it's been a year or a year and a half. Hindi ko alam matagal na. Ang weird nga kasi sa Deal or No Deal bunutan ng number tapos naging magkatabi pa kami. Wala naman, it's still the same naman,” she admitted.

As a new mom, Melissa is devoted to her almost four-month-old daughter and has even changed her Instagram profile to read “Proud Mommy of Kiera.” Working as a mom is a new challenge for Melissa. “Siyempre mahirap siya iwan. Nung first tapings namin ng Deal or No Deal iniwan ko siya sa bahay so ang hirap ng feeling. So ito yung first time na sinama ko siya. Kasi mabilis lang naman yung taping dito matapos. Kung ano naman yung mapapanalunan ko para naman kay Kiera din,” she explained.

Now that she is living on her own, Melissa admitted she has gone through a complete lifestyle change. “Talagang nag-iba talaga yung mundo ko. Everything I do revolves around the baby. Lahat ng decision ko, lahat ng gastos ko. Ibang iba na. Dati kasi for myself lang everything. Pag gusto ko lumabas, lalabas ako. Pag gusto ko mag-shopping, mag-sha-shopping ako. Ngayon everything parang hindi naman tagtipid pero I have to be responsible sa lahat ng galaw ko kasi ako rin nagbabayad ng bills ko. I don't live with my parents anymore. I live by myself so sobrang ibang mundo na,” she said.

This year was her first Mother's day experience as a mom as well. “Nung Mothers day naisip ko, 'Wow may extra holiday na ako (laughs)' masaya naman, okay naman. We just had dinner sa Rockwell and then we went straight home kasi nga maliit pa si baby. Hindi naman puwedeng ilabas pa masyado.”

With her relationship with boyfriend Charles Togezaki still going strong, will there be plans to go down the aisle soon now that baby Kiera is here? “Siguro in the future. Kasi ngayon sobrang laking responsibility at nakakangarag yung may baby talaga. Hindi mo alam kung gaano kahirap until you really have a baby. Akala mo madali, akala ko dati it was easy pero sobrang hirap. Pag umiiyak siya naiiyak na rin ako kasi ang hirap, I've never even held a baby before. I've never taken care of a baby nor changed a diaper so sobrang bago para sa akin. Siguro in the future, in God's time whatever his plan is for us, yun na lang ang aabangan namin,” she said.

Melissa admitted it was serendipitous that one of her closest friends in showbiz Helga Krapf also gave birth recently. The two have been spotted going on a mommy date with her babies at the mall recently. “Oo nga sabi ko, 'Ano ba yun (laughs)' kasi nauna ako manganak ng three months sa kanya. She asked me nung buntis siya kung paano ang ganito, paano ang ganyan. Tapos also pag umiiyak yung bata kasi dati iyakin yung baby nung first month so tinatanong niya kung anong ginagwa ko or how I gave birth so nakakatulong talaga yun. Even me I asked Ara Mina all the time, kinukuwento niya sa akin para prepared ako. Kasi it's such a difficult process and journey na you need guidance from other people,” she said.

With her return to acting, Melissa said she has no problems doing mommy roles especially now that she is a real mom. She also wants the challenge of playing the villain as well if given the chance. “I'm not choosy naman sa roles na ibibgay sa akin pero gusto ko talaga yung mga kontrabida roles, mga ganyan. Pero yung mga mommy roles okay lang din naman sa akin. Actually na-offer na pero iba ang nakakuha kasi one month pa lang ako nun. I enjoy doing kontrabida roles, yung kay Johanna sa Walang Hanggan was my favorite talaga. Sobrang hands down ako sa character na yun, gustong gusto ko talaga. Wala lang, masaya lang,” she said.