Actress Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio expressed heartbreak as she announced plans to leave the Philippines, citing an unfair system that continues to disadvantage ordinary Filipinos.
In a series of Threads posts on Oct. 24, Peralejo said that although she had long entertained the possibility of moving abroad, the country’s present circumstances had given her a stronger sense of urgency to leave.
“I have never felt the real urgency to leave the Philippines until now. I always entertained the thought but it never escalated to an urgency. Ngayon talaga ayoko na,” she wrote.
Peralejo said she had begun preparing for a possible departure, saying the disrespect and unfair treatment she had observed had become difficult to bear emotionally.
“I am making plans kasi ‘yung bastusan is so painful to me. I am so heartbroken for many of my kababayans na tapat at lumalaban ng patas pero hindi patas eh. Hindi talaga. Hindi na nga madali, hindi pa tapat,” she added.
Her frustration comes amid mounting economic and governance challenges in the Philippines, including the weakening peso, rising inflation, increasing hunger and ongoing investigations into government corruption.
On Oct. 27, the Philippine peso plunged to a record closing low of ₱64.17 against the U.S. dollar. Meanwhile, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that inflation accelerated to 7.2% in September from 6.1% in August, driven partly by higher food, transportation and utility costs.
Hunger also worsened, with an SWS survey conducted Sept. 21-27 finding that 22.6% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the preceding three months, up from 20.3% in June.
These economic difficulties have unfolded alongside investigations into alleged irregularities in multibillion-peso flood control projects, with corruption cases filed against public officials and private individuals.
She also expressed mixed emotions toward Filipinos who had successfully moved abroad, admitting that she felt slightly envious while remaining happy for those who found opportunities elsewhere.
Peralejo said she hoped more Filipinos would have the option to leave, saying that nobody deserved to live under an unfair system.
