Just ask 19-year-old actress Anna Larucea who only succeeded to stay on GMA-7’s “30 Days,”a reality-based TV show about inactive actors wanting a second wind on their respective showbiz careers, for only 15 days. Despite producing quite a performance that was impressed televiewers as gauged in her ratings, she suddenly was shown the way to a limousine ride. For the show that meant bye-bye. That episode bewildered “30 Days” followers who already tagged Anna as a sure winner since she was the youngest among the contestants and is really full of potential as an actress.

“Sobrang na-shock ako. That was a Thursday night and  after I watched my episode, I didn’t expect that Manay Lolit would say that about me. Nagmukmok ako sa house and I went to my room and humiga lang ako. Nakatakip lang yung pillow sa akin. I didn’t feel like talking to anyone. I felt so bad because it was the first time na  nasabihan ako ng ganun sa tanang buhay ko. Nagulat talaga ako!” Anna said.

After she was voted out of “30 Days,” Anna still couldn’t explain how. She doesn’t have a clue as to how each of them was rated and whether each rating would be reset or refreshed in every episode.
“Well, I did condition  myself about losing but it was just shocking. I felt that lahat ng performances ko were ok. Palagay ko sumablay lang doon sa interview ko last Thursday and that was the only negative thing I heard naman,” she lamented.

The comment she received was “hindi ka mukhang artista.”

For her this somehow disproved all her achievements in the past like Peque Gallaga and Regal Films’ casting her in movies like “Baby Love,”Batang X” and “Magic Kingdom,” Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan, ABS-CBN’s bigwig in Talent Center, hiring her for “Ang TV” and other ABS-CBN TV shows. Her last movie was Star Cinema’s “My First Romance” and she was also part of the soap opera “Hanggang Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan.”

“I was only  nine nang mag-artista. Ngayon pa of all times na sasabihan ako ng ganun. Sana noon pa. Bakit kailangan niyang sabihin yun; masakit na masakit pero may magagawa pa ba ako di ba so nagluksa na lang ako.”

But since she grew up in show business, Anna’s matured enough to accept that the show must go on despite the odds. Through her family and friends’ comforting words via text messages and phone calls, Anna was able to recuperate immediately from her heartache of losing in “30 Days.” For her, she’d rather be the one removed unexpectedly than someone who was removed because he or she was needed to be out!

“There are still third and fourth chances,” she said smiling. “This show was actually about us breaking into showbiz once again. It was only to let the people know and our fans that we are still here. And to people from the industry like producers and directors, to remember us baka may project sila and they are casting for any roles, nandito pa kami.”

Anna recalled that it was her mom who told her about “30 Days.”So through her manager Manny Valera, she got an appointment with the show’s producers and she went to GMA-7 for her auditions. She said that she was surprised that as the elevator doors opened at the 14th floor, she was immediately asked how she felt and what she expected. Luckily for her, she  passed all initial interviews and auditions.

She added that the show intimidated her because after she bonded with the 15 candidates on the first day of “30 Days,” five were already taken out on their second day only.

“Sobrang close kasi kaming lahat na  kahit isa isang nagtatanggalan we still maintain communication with each other.  When we don’t have any taping we get together. We always talk. Yun ang nakikita kong maganda kahit papaano na-establish ang friendship naming lahat I hope we will have a show na lahat kami magkakasama.”

“30 Days” was also a good training ground for Anna, she confessed. Ever since her womanhood, a lot of movie companies has offered her sexy movies to do which she all turned down because she was still in college and her school was strict on such matters. She doesn’t also want to be kicked out now that she is a graduating International Studies student.

“At least nang lumabas ang “30 Days,” this was my chance to prove na hindi lang bold ang pwede kong gawin. Televiewers saw na hindi lang bold ang pwede kong labasan. I can do other things. It was like a workshop with all those different challenges from different people from the industry.”

With regards to doing sexy roles, Anna explained that she is not closing her doors to it. Since she gave up showbiz for her studies, she would like to herself graduate before deciding on making bolder moves in her showbiz career. She was even offered the lead role of “Mekaniko ni Monica,” a film from the producers of “Batang Westside,” which interested her but had to decline because of her studies.

“It so happened that I’m not yet ready. Ayaw ko namang maisalang ng hilaw. I’m openminded like I even talk to the films’ writers and directors about their offers pero nag-aaral talaga ako. Kung hindi ko naman magagawa yun wag na lang masisira hindi lang ako kungdi production din.”

She also explained that her course, International Studies, is her interest.”It is a course on political aspects and diplomatic relationships. Naisip ko lang before, interested naman ako before sa politics. Tapos  ang hinahanap nila sa IS yung mahilig na magtanong, yung hindi nakokontento sa mga sinasabi, like people who analyze things before they  start accepting things. My personality is like that. Nagagamit mo talaga yung brain mo and we are  super trained in research!”

So did she missed showbiz during and after her stint with “30 Days?”

“Hindi na  ako sanay na wala akong ginagawa. We talked about it  that once you are in showbiz and umalis ka, you really look for it;kahit pagod na pagod ka worth it yung ginagawa mo and you really enjoy what you do.  Sobrang nakakamiss!”