WHILE some celebrities have pursued other interests and hobbies (baking, cooking, painting, making TikTok videos, or posting self-help/do-it-yourself projects online) during the quarantine, others have decided to give physical and financial assistance to foundations, nonprofits and organizations geared for the less fortunate and front-liners.
Wendell Ramos, though, has gone a different route. The Kapuso actor recently finished his training to become a firefighter in the Philippines.
In an article in The Inquirer recently, the “Prima Donnas” star said he is encouraging people to add training and becoming a firefighter to their bucket list as a way to help citizens during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Wendell became a certified firefighter after undergoing his training with a non-governmental organization named “Ang Bumbero ng Pilipinas,” whose aim is to unite and provide the latest information and updates to firefighter groups in the Philippines.
The actor says he did not go into the training as a ploy to get people to talk about him. He has other reasons.
“To be honest po, hindi ko po talaga ginawa ‘to para, alam niyo ‘yun, mapag-usapan lang po… I’m doing this to encourage lang po (To be honest, I did not do this just to be talked about… I’m doing this to encourage others),” he was quoted as saying in the article.
“Ang pagbubumbero kasi hindi lang sa pagpatay ng apoy and hindi lang ho sa pag-rescue ‘no, pero ‘yung paglilinis, which is ‘yun ‘yung very important sa panahon po ngayon.
Paglilinis ng kalsada, pagsu-supply po ng tubig, ‘yun po ‘yung maganda ngayon (Firefighting is not only about putting out fires and rescuing. It also entails cleaning, which is very important in these times. Cleaning the streets and giving water supply are especially appropriate these days),” he further stated.
“Kaya sa tingin ko po, itong nagawa kong ‘to ay talagang tamang-tama lang po at hilig ko rin ho talaga simula nung bata ako eh (So for me, I think what I did is very appropriate and this is something I have really wanted since I was a child),” Ramos added.
In a Facebook post, Wendell said that the experience truly humbled him and that it is an honor to train and become a certified firefighter. He also gave a shout-out and a salute to the nation’s firefighters, but also said that he needs to learn and experience more.
Congratulations to Wendell!
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2018 Miss Universe winner Catriona Gray and actor Sam Milby have been busy helping the less unfortunate families in Tondo in partnership with a charity group, it was recently revealed in a Philippine Star article.
| File Photo from Philstar.com
It was last May that the two revealed that they are in a relationship.
Instagram posts from Sam and Catriona showed the work they are doing to help ease the situation for some of the needy families in Manila.
While Sam thanked Catriona for letting him know about the outreach project for Young Focus and a video showing him helping distribute rice to families in his post, Catriona talked about her #PassTheKindness campaign which she launched last June in her post.
Gray, who was the fourth Filipina to win the Miss Universe title, wrote in her post:
“Sharing with you some amazing individuals who have been working to spread kindness throughout the community to help them overcome these challenging times. Sharing these because I want to show, that it doesn’t matter how big or small an act, it can still make a difference for someone today.”
Catriona added, “I’m encouraging you to share your good works or nominate someone using the #PassTheKindness hashtag in hopes to inspire the people around you! I’ll be featuring submissions on my platforms to help spread positivity!”
In these times of trouble, isolation and worry, it’s very nice that we have people who are trying to spread a message of hope and positivity, while also encouraging others to be charitable and kind to their fellowmen.
