Maymay Entrata (left) and Enchong Dee
While she’s already in show biz and earning her own money from the various projects and endorsements coming her way, Maymay Entrata is still determined to finish her studies, “because education is one thing other people can’t take away from you.”
“Education is important. You will take it with you wherever you go and until you grow old. And the experience is something you can’t buy,” she told reporters at a press conference for the 20th anniversary of Knowledge Channel, which is launching a new lineup of shows to mark the milestone.
Prior to her stint in the reality game show “Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7,” Maymay was a college junior taking up technology communication management at Mindanao University of Science and Technology.
Although she had to put schooling on hold to focus on her career, the 22-year-old star is planning to get back to it through an online course.
The ABS-CBN talent described herself as an “average” student—but studious, nonetheless.
Her favorite subjects are social studies, arts and music. She also participates in extracurricular activities.
“My weakness is English; I find it hard. That’s why I chose it as a major,” she related.
Maymay is currently supporting the schooling of her younger sibling and three of her cousins. And she doesn’t mind if they end up graduating before she does.
Enchong Dee, on the other hand, has a degree in developmental studies from De La Salle University, where he was likewise a decorated varsity swimmer.
But learning, he said, doesn’t—and shouldn’t—stop. That’s why he recently took a special business course that covered, among other things, accounting, finance management and marketing.
“I don’t like wasting my time, so I seek opportunities to learn new things when I’m free. The world doesn’t have to revolve around show biz,” he said. “This is a personal initiative—something that would hopefully help me take care of myself and my family in the future.”
The 29-year-old actor, who also invests in restaurants, said he also got inspired when he met other people who were also into business.
Maymay will join Khalil Ramos in cohosting “Puno ng Buhay” (Mondays and Sundays at 3:30 p.m.)—an educational series about Philippine forests that’s designed for Grades 5 and 6 students of the K to 12 curriculum. Enchong will return for the new season of “Agricoolture” (Fridays and Saturdays at 3:30 p.m.), which aims to inform high school students about different business opportunities in the agriculture sector.
As someone who grew up on such shows as “Hiraya Manawari” and “Bayani,” Enchong said it’s a privilege to be part of a show that would help plant “seeds of knowledge” in young people’s minds. “We’re happy that we will get to grow up with them. The job is fun and isn’t tiring. And the best part is that we and the viewers get to learn together,” he said.
“I sometimes have trouble pronouncing the scientific terms, but luckily, Khalil helps me with that,” related Maymay, who—in line with her show’s theme—compared herself to a fruit-bearing tree. “As I grow older, more blessings come, and I learn new things.”
“I love that this isn’t purely show biz. I get to impart lessons, especially about taking care of nature,” she added.
Maymay and Enchong likewise urged young people to be more critical of the things they came across online and more responsible with how they used social media.
“It’s our responsibility to research or study what we see before deciding if we’re going to believe it or not,” he said.
“With all the bashing on social media, let’s choose to be positive than focusing on the negative, which will not do us any good, especially when it comes to fulfilling our dreams,” Maymay said.