MANILA, Philippines?Having a house of her own gives actress-TV host Rica Peralejo a sense of peace and fulfillment.

?Rather than spend hard-earned cash on things that are not important, people in show biz should save up for a house or even a condo unit,? Rica told Living Stars during a visit to her two-level home in Quezon City.

Rica, host of the early morning Kapamilya show, ?Umagang Kay Ganda,? bought a house and lot beside her mom and siblings? units only two years ago.

?I paid for this at a time when I had no regular TV show. Pa-raket raket lang ako. Sometimes, I amaze myself. ?Di ko akalain nagawa ko ito,? she said during breaks in the photo session.

Rica designed the house herself. At its center, she placed a 12-seater wooden table in lieu of a sofa set. ?I don?t need a living area. Since my family and friends love eating, we always end up at the dining table anyway,? she explained.

What?s more interesting was that none of the 12 chairs match. ?I did this on purpose. I wanted my guests to feel comfortable. The idea was, you choose the chair that suits you best,? she added.

Rica said most of the antique pieces she owns now are from her grandma?s house in Bataan, including the grand piano and turntable on the ground floor, as well as the dressing table, chandelier and cupboard on the second floor.

On display are art pieces and other interesting knickknacks from relatives and friends. ?There are Oriental, Western and European pieces. They?re a little of everything. My purpose for doing this was to showcase all the stuff that people gave me,? she said.

To achieve the ?vintage? on the walls, floors and closet doors, Rica said she consulted books and magazines and had long discussions with her painters.

Rica said she spends most of her time in her spacious bathroom which has a vintage dressing table, bath tub and rain bath. ?Ang mahal pala ng mga bathroom pieces. I didn?t realize this until I started building this bathroom,? she said.

For this creative writing student of Ateneo de Manila, her bedroom is nothing but a room to sleep in. ?I used to put a lot of stuff in there, but I always had trouble sleeping,? she explained. Only recently, she made space for her collection of stuffed toys, her laptop and her books in her sleeping area.

But proud as she is of her own house, Rica said she does not consider raising a family here. ?For one, it doesn?t have a kitchen,? she pointed out. ?When we were renovating this, I had the kitchen wall torn down and turned the area into a patio. I always eat out, anyway. What?s important for me then was that I have a microwave, a ref and a coffee corner.?

Then there?s the stairway leading to the second floor. ?It has no railings. Gusto ko kasi noon free ang feeling. I regret it now because my friends who bring their kids along are always nervous when the youngsters climb the stairs,? she said.

Rica also considered the fact that the house is situated near her family?s. ?Knowing your mom is right next door is too much of a comfort,? she said. ?I?m afraid that will not help me and my partner. I don?t want to be running to my mom whenever I?m in need.?

(Email mcruz@inquirer.com.ph)