VR Relosa looks back on sleeping under MRT stations, earning ₱3,000/month before showbiz

VR Relosa reflects on homelessness before achieving his showbiz dreams.

Actor VR Relosa marked his birthday by looking back at a time when survival came before showbiz.

In a Facebook post, Relosa recalled that exactly 10 years ago, on Sept. 4, 2016, he was working as a waiter in a small restaurant in Taguig, pulling 10-hour shifts for just ₱3,000 a month.

He was only 17.

Relosa said those years were among the hardest of his life. He remembered sleeping under MRT stations and inside McDonald’s branches, walking for two hours because he had no fare, and surviving on bread because it was often all he could afford.

But even then, he was already looking for a way out.

Relosa said he was excited about turning 18 because it meant he could finally apply for better-paying jobs. On the eve of his birthday, he lined up at a call center and nearly got turned away because he was still technically a minor.

“Kuya ilang oras na lang po 18 na ko. Pag natapos yung final interview, legal age na po ako,” he recalled telling the guard.

He ended up welcoming his birthday while waiting in line.

That call center stint did not last long. Relosa eventually tried joining boy groups, became a solo artist, performed in malls, and even mounted a birthday concert before eventually finding his way back to what he called his first love: acting.

Relosa would later become known for his roles in VMX films including “Rita,” “Pihit,” “Paluwagan,” “Maharot,” “Tampipi,” “Langoy,” and “Palitan 2.”

In recent years, however, he has been steadily expanding his range into independent cinema, theater, and more dramatic roles.

In 2026, he starred in the short film “Hoy, Hoy, Ingat!” and made his musical theater debut in “Sa Apolonio Samson, Si Apolonio Samson.”

He is also part of the 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival through “Starfish,” an official student short film entry directed by John Clite Apolinar and written by Adelbert Abrigonda.

In the film, Relosa plays Boyet, a former Manila macho dancer who returns to his province after losing his job. He stars alongside Nour Hooshmand and Floyd Tena.

“Starfish” will screen during CinePanalo from Sept. 23 to Oct. 4, 2026.

Relosa is also part of the psychological horror film “Andoy,” alongside Cedrick Juan, Jennica Garcia, Albie Casiño, Paolo Gumabao, Angelica Lao, and Aya Fernandez.

Looking back, Relosa said the point of his birthday post was simply to acknowledge how far he had come.

“Proud na proud ako sa sarili ko,” he wrote, adding that life can sometimes make people feel as though they are not moving forward.

“Pero pag lumingon ka pala at nilayuan mo ang tingin mo, malayo na din pala ang narating mo.”

His message ended simply: “Wag nating susukuan ang mga pangarap natin.”

For Relosa, the road from a ₱3,000-a-month waiter to a working actor was anything but straight.

But after a decade of side quests, setbacks, and second chances, he finally has a career worth looking back on.

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