Former Hashtags member Ryle Santiago was upfront talking about his family's financial struggles in a recent interview.
Talking to Jimboy Martin, also an ex-Hashtag, on his podcast on TikTok titled Gwapito Skincare, Ryle looked back on how the misfortune altered his views on life and money.
Ryle is the son of actress Sherilyn Reyes with former husband, Junjun Santago.
Read: Ryle Santiago finally reconciles with biological father Junjun Santiago
It was previously reported that Sherilyn got swindled in 2019 for millions of pesos in a business venture dealing with branded bags.
The COVID-19 pandemic the following year only worsened the financial strain on the family as showbiz-related work was stopped for health and safety reasons.
Compounding the problem was the shutdown of ABS-CBN, the broadcast network home to Ryle and his Hashtags group mates.
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Hashtags was the all-male group seen on the noontime variety show, It's Showtime.
Ryle told Jimboy, "Before nawala yung ABS [-CBN], na-swindle yung family ko.
"Na-swindle yung family ko ng sobrang laki and siyempre, bilang panganay, nag-offer akong tumulong.
"So yung savings ko, everything na pinagtrabahuhan ko magmula 14, 15 [years old] ako, binigay ko. Sinurrender ko lahat; kotse kong fully paid, binenta ko."
LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE
Ryle said that his family lost more than PHP37 million because of the scam.
He remarked, "But siyempre may mga utang pa with interests so way, way more, mga doble nun."
Continued Ryle, "Ngayon medyo patapos na rin kami but siyempre wala namang permante sa mundo so kailangan always vigilant.
"Kapag mawala 'to, kailangan may back-up tayo agad. Alam natin yung next steps natin."
Ryle knows this for sure.
In the midst of their financial problems, Ryle took on remote work for a company based in the United Kingdom to earn money.
Ryle, who once thought of quitting showbiz, had many life realizations during this time.
In hindsight, the experience, despite the hardships, was an eye-opener on how fleeting fame can be.
It also somehow allowed Ryle to live outside the showbiz bubble and do things most people would do to get by.
"Alam ko, naalala ko ikaw, ikaw din napag-isipan mo yan [what's life outside showbiz] habang nandun pa tayo [sa Hashtags].
"Lahat naman tayo napag-isipan natin na, 'What if iba yung buhay natin? What if naging regular tayong tao?'
"Kasi nung mainit yung Hashtags, mainit talaga. I mean, everywhere we went nung time na yun.
"Pero alam ko ikaw, magiging full-time sundalo ka dapat nung time na yun, e.
"Ako naman iniisip ko what would life be kung nine-to-five worker ako sa opisina.
"'Tapos, I guess, in some way or another, napatikim sa atin yun, e.
"Kasi, di ba, nag-reservice ka [Jimboy]? Ako, nag-office ako.
"N-realize ko yun, e. Sabi ko, 'S**t, si Jimboy natikman niya yung other side of life na gusto niya; natikman ko din.'"