Dannyka Manangan

Ashley Ortega recalls her drinking phase: ‘I just wanted to have my own world’

Article (news)

Peter Andrew Acierto

Push Team

<div><em>Content Warning: The following article contains discussions on alcoholism.</em></div><p>Kapuso actress Ashley Ortega revealed that she once had a drinking phase during her younger years. In a recent vlog with businesswoman Anna Magkawas earlier this week, the former <em>Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab </em>housemate shared that she is proud of what she went through as it allowed her to know herself more. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/neY-upsnFdA" title="Glow Up with Anna - Episode 11: Breaking the Ice with Ashley Ortega | Anna Magkawas" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>“There was a time that I was an alcoholic,” she revealed.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/3/31/ashley-ortega-reflects-on-pbb-stay-i-am-going-to-cherish-everything-1215"><strong>READ: Ashley Ortega reflects on ‘PBB’ stay: ‘I am going to cherish everything’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Ashley recalled having to sneak out to buy bottles of alcohol in a convenience store and hide it in her cabinet away from the sight of her mom–– which was proven unsuccessful as her mom saw it. </p><p>“May mga bottles ako na nakatago sa cabinet ko pero nahuli din ako. Actually, nahuli ako ng mommy ko–– doon talaga nagalit siya sa akin. ‘Sisirain mo yun buhay mo?’” she shared.</p><p>When asked what urged her to have a drinking phase in the past, the former PBB housemate expressed how it was a way to cope with what she was feeling then. Being in the entertainment industry for so long, the Kapuso star shared that she would always be given support roles in the past as compared to her contemporaries who were given lead roles already.</p><p>“I was aware of what I was doing pero pang cope ko lang yun–– just to forget my reality. Kumbaga, I just wanted to have my own world. That time, yung mga roles ko lang nun support lang eh. I’m still grateful for my roles kasi lahat naman ng roles na binibigay sa akin, I would always give justice to it,” she explained.</p><p>Ashley maintained that she wasn’t jealous of her other co-stars, but admitted that she wanted to have a lead role as well.   </p><p>“Sinasabi ko lang sa sarili ko na sana mag ka leading show na rin ako balang araw. Nastress din ako seeing them be like that. Yung mga tao sa paligid ko, they were trying to compare me to other people so nawala rin yung confidence ko,” she continued.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/7/27/how-ashley-ortega-and-shuvee-etrata-became-condo-housemates-1340"><strong>READ: How Ashley Ortega and Shuvee Etrata became condo housemates</strong></a></div><div> </div><p>Her drinking phase didn’t last long as she stopped excessively drinking after two months. Ashley then revealed that she still enjoys drinking, only this time, moderately. She then shared how it was her faith that made her realize what needed to be done. </p><p>“Doon rin ako naging close kay God actually. Kaya nawala rin ako sa phase na yun, it’s because I started praying, talking to God everyday. When I started praying everyday, mas umokay na rin yung life ko,” she said. </p><p>Ashley remained grateful that she had that phase and was able to overcome it. </p><p>“I’m so proud of Ashley seven years ago. I’m proud na napagdaanan niya yun and I’m proud na nalagpasan niya yun,” she ended. </p>