from left (clockwise): Rita Daniela, Ken Chan, Julie Anne San Jose and Rayver Cruz
Out of sight, out of mind.
With work opportunities in show biz still limited because of pandemic-related restrictions, more and more celebrities have been venturing into the digital space—not only to earn money, but, more importantly, to maintain their visibility.
“I started a YouTube vlog and other social media platforms, where I can livestream and perform. I did this because I feel like people forget quite easily. Saglit ka lang ‘di makita, makakalimutan ka na,” Rita Daniela told the Inquirer in a recent video conference for Season 3 of the GMA 7 talent search “The Clash.”
“You have to show them that you’re still working,” stressed Rita, who serves as a backstage host, together with onscreen partner, Ken Chan.
She wasn’t as active on social media at the beginning of the lockdown, because she was admittedly still in denial.
“At first, I didn’t want to accept that this is how things would go. ‘Saglit lang ‘to,’ I told myself. Who would have thought that it (the quarantine) would last this long? Ilang kembot na lang, Pasko na. But one day, I just woke up to the reality that this is how life will be indefinitely. We have to adjust,” she related.
Rayver Cruz, on the other hand, has been churning out viral clips on TikTok. Because audiences have become reliant on social media for entertainment, now more than ever, it only makes sense for celebrities like him to be there.
“Social media is a big part of work nowadays. And it’s good because I’m able to showcase my talent and provide entertainment in my own way. We’re lucky to have a following, so there’s continuous buzz. Some people would tell me, ‘I have seen you do this,’” said Rayver, who shares main hosting duties with Julie Anne San Jose.
There will be negative reactions, the actor-dancer pointed out, but that’s par for the course. “Everyone’s fixated on social media and not everyone will say something good about you,” he said. “But if you’re consistent [with your content], people will always watch you.”
Luckily for Rita, Rayver, Ken and Julie Anne, they need not solely rely on social media now. They realize that not everyone has this privilege, so they hope to make the most out of this opportunity.
“I’m blessed and happy that we’re given this chance in the middle of a pandemic. I’d like to thank GMA 7 because I know they’re always looking for outlets to give us work. We’re holding onto that trust. We will do our jobs well,” Ken said. “But of course, there are others who are yet to be given opportunities. A part of us still feels for our colleagues who can’t work yet.”
Julie Anne considers the project a blessing from God. “We’re giving it back to the Lord, because He’s the reason we’re in this show,” she said.
While the four Kapuso celebrities grew up being told by their elder show biz colleagues to save their earnings, it was only in the past couple of months that they truly realized the importance of properly managing their finances.
“I was bad at saving when I was younger, but I learned along the way. And being friends with Ken helped because he’s good at it—determining what to spend and what to set aside. Nahawa ako,” Rita said. “I have also become interested in investing and doing business, because it’s nice to see that all your hard work is going somewhere.”
Ken has made it a point not to buy anything unnecessary.
“I have always been frugal and more so now. We have to be wise with how we spend our money. I just buy what’s needed. I don’t scrimp on food, but material things—gadgets, clothes, etc. … hindi ako maluho,” he said, adding that he doesn’t mind when people notice that he has worn an item of clothing more than once.
And next year, Ken hopes to push through with his business endeavors. “I’m planning to put up an optical store, as well as a health and wellness clinic,” he said. “Something like this can happen again in the future, so it’s always good to have a safety net.”
One of Rayver’s realizations is that we should never take anything for granted.
“I’ve been taught to save and invest, because you never know what will happen. And you realize that, especially now that it’s very hard to move around,” he said. “So, for all of us here who have work, we have to make the most of it.”
Like Ken, it’s always needs over wants for Julie Anne. The pandemic also had the singer-actress thinking about her future. “
“Now, I have more time to think about my goals and what I really want in life,” she related. “You also get to appreciate the time you spend with your loved ones. There are some things I couldn’t do before that I am doing now. Time is something you can’t buy.”