Kiray, John Arcilla, online stars share glimmers of hope from 2020
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What happens behind the scenes? When cameras aren’t rolling, what stories do celebrities tell when they aren’t playing for a role?
When the lights are off, comedienne Kiray is just like us, too. In her Instagram post, she recalls her humble beginnings and how she bounced back from struggles.
“Binabalikan ko ‘yung mga panahon na nagsisimula pa lang ako sa industriya—‘yung panahon na sumali ako sa contest noong three-years-old pa lang ako,” she recalled.
“‘Yung naipon naming premyo ko, pinambayad namin sa nirerentahan naming paupahang kuwarto noon. Ngayon, may sarili na kaming bahay. Hindi madali ang pinagdaanan ko pero hindi ako sumuko at nagpatuloy ako,” she said.
“‘Yung maliliit na panalo, pag inipon ninyo, puwedeng maging isang malaking tagumpay.”
Just like Kiray, our favorite celebrities and social media personalities have inspiring stories to tell. Some remind us that while struggles are a part of life they are not the totality of what life entails.
Rodel Flordeliz
Rodel Flordeliz has been a plantito for as long as he can remember. He used to spend time planting vegetables in the garden as a little kid. So, it comes as no surprise if these green bundles of joy stood as his anchor when the situation became dark and stormy.
“Plants reminded me that there is hope in the toughest times,” he said.
While in quarantine, he decided to share his happiness by launching a plant shop and plant-focused social media page, @mrpottph.
John Arcilla
Who would forget the iconic Heneral Luna played by multi-awarded actor John Arcilla? The role wasn’t handed to Arcilla on a silver platter. At a young age, he dedicated himself to theater before landing his very first TV commercial, a huge stepping-stone toward his success in the television and film industry.
“Tuwing lalabas ako sa entablado, sinasabi kong para ito sa mga Pilipino. I wish I can touch somebody’s heart or heal broken souls,” he recalled.
After 30 years, Arcilla continues to work hard amid the pandemic. His story now inspires aspiring actors while his roles have been a source of laughter and encouragement during this difficult time.
“Continue to take care of yourself. Your roots will keep you grounded at tutubo ang pinaghirapan mo,” he shared.
Sharlene San Pedro
Celebrities are also getting more creative and are cultivating other fields of interest since production and filming became limited during the pandemic. Take Sharlene San Pedro, for instance, who was warmly welcomed by the Facebook gaming community. Sharlene’s vlogging and gaming page now has over 900,000 followers.
“Hindi ko inexpect na magiging ganito ka-warm ‘yung welcome ninyo sa amin. I can say that this is one of my success stories this quarantine,” she said.
Badet Siazon
The wonder mom behind the blog www.themisischronicles.com senses a fellow wise mom when she sees one.
She shared a story of her neighbor, whose husband lost his job in March, at the height of the lockdown. But the queen of the household didn’t give up without giving a good fight. According to Badet, her neighbor started selling all sorts of pastries in their village.
After many positive reviews, her neighbor received orders outside their community.
Marlann Flores
Just like Sharlene, Marlann has dedicated her extra time during the lockdown for the things she loves. This is how she created her Vegan Banana Nut Crumble muffins.
“Lagi akong kumakain ngayong quarantine. Paano ko siya gagawing productive, nakaka-enjoy, pleasurable and at the same time, hindi unhealthy for me. Paano ko siya makakaain everytime na magke-crave ako,” she said.
“Naisip ko, ‘Why not create desserts? We all love desserts. Nakakarelax siya on a stressful day lalo na dahil may pandemic.”
She researched and combined three of her most favorite recipes. Though she failed a couple of times before finally baking her best batch, she says the experience was worth it as it reminded her of her loved ones.
“Do something that you really enjoy. Kahit mag-fail ka, at least nag-enjoy ka. And even if you fail, just continue because, in the end, you’ll gain a skill,” she capped.
Celebrity or not, we all have roles to play and unique stories to tell. And now that we’ve all been through one of the toughest times in history, what role are you going to play, and what story are you going to tell?
Editor’s Note: BrandedUp is designed to provide you with insightful, inspiring and educational content created by PhilSTAR L!fe in collaboration with brands like Globe.
