Princess Punzalan Opens Up About Struggles, Sacrifice, & Starting Over in America
PRINCESS PUNZALAN – Once one of Philippine television’s most iconic contravidas, Princess Punzalan is now living a completely different life thousands of miles away from the spotlight.
From being one of the most feared contravidas on Philippine television to serving patients in one of the largest hospitals in America, Princess Punzalan has embraced a life far different from the one she once knew.
Now 57, the iconic actress works as a nurse at Los Angeles Medical Center, considered one of the biggest hospitals in the United States. The transition, she admits, has been a profound and challenging journey, one that demands not only physical endurance but emotional strength.
“Hindi ko nga inambisyon na mag-Amerika kasi ang akala ko talaga, sa buong buhay ko, hanggang tumanda na ako, sa Pilipinas ako,” Princess shared in an interview with broadcast journalist Luchi Cruz-Valdez on her YouTube channel.
Her move to the US was prompted by her American husband, Jason Field. “Sabi niya, mas marami daw siyang opportunity sa Amerika. So ako yung pumunta dito.”
For nearly 20 years now, Princess has lived in America with her husband and their only child. Though she initially wanted to pursue psychiatry, her husband felt she might be too old to start the lengthy program. Instead, she pursued nursing, completing the course in six years while relocating from state to state, and passing the board exam on her first attempt.
“Sa Pilipinas, pinagsisilbihan ako. Pagdating dito, ako ang nagsisilbi,” she said.
Her days begin before sunrise and often end after sunset. “Bago pa sumikat ang araw, nandon na ako sa trabaho. Uuwi ako palubog na ang araw, so busy talaga.
“’Tapos, siyempre, pagdating ng bahay, hindi naman puwedeng rest ka lang. Kikilos ka dahil wala kang uutusan (walang kasambahay),” ani Princess.
She added, “Mabuti na lang independent ako sa Pilipinas. Kahit kunyari absent yung helper o yung driver, I can function.
“Ang mahirap pa kunyari may full-time job ka, maghahatid ka ng bata sa eskuwela, manunundo ka ng bata, magluluto, magpaplantsa, maglalaba, lahat na. Paano mo gagawin lahat iyon?”
Princess revealed that her decision to become a nurse was deeply personal. Her mother, veteran actress and media personality Helen Vela, died of lymphoma on February 14, 1992, while her father, Orly Punzalan, passed away in January 2005.
“Ang naging problema ko, hindi ko naiintindihan kung ano ang nangyayari sa nanay ko.
“Hindi ko maikuwento sa mga kapatid ko, sa mga kamag-anak ko, sa mga kaibigan ano bang nangyayari sa nanay ko dahil hindi ko naiintindihan din,” she recalled.
Because of this, she made it her advocacy to educate families about their loved ones’ medical conditions.
“Susubukan ko yung my best para turuan, tulungan yung mga tao, yung pamilya kung ano bang totoong nangyayari, ano ba yung dapat nilang maintindihan bago sila gumawa ng desisyon,” she explained.
She also emphasized that nursing requires a strong stomach. “Hindi madali kasi minsan din, maraming mga bagay na kailangan mong gawin bilang nurse na hindi ginagawa ng normal na tao.
“Marami kang nakikita at mga naaamoy na mga bagay na hindi kaya ng ibang tao,” she said.
“Parang nasanay na ako sa gory na mga bagay, kunyari, nakakita ako ng utak na sumabog, mga taong namatay.”
For aspiring nurses in America, she offered this advice: “Maraming iba’t ibang klaseng personalities at kulutura ang haharapin, so racism is a big deal here.
“So kailangan bukas ang isipan mo para tanggapin ang ibat-ibang klaseng kultura at marunong ka dapat makisama sa iba’t ibang klaseng kultura.”
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