Lessons from the pandemic: Ritz Azul, Epy Quizon and Adrian Alandy

From left: Ritz Azul, Epy Quizon and Adrian Alandy during the press conference for TV5’s new show “Wanted: Ang Serye” on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2020. Images: (Screenshots from the TV5 Facebook account)

MANILA, Philippines — For the past 10 months since the Philippines has been under quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most people have learned life lessons that they will forever remember.

For Adrian Alandy, it’s the importance of using face masks and face shields as part of the new normal.

“Sometimes you’re used to not wearing face masks and face shields and you forget about it, it’s like a big responsibility,” Alan said in Filipino during the press conference of TV 5’s newest show, “Wanted: Ang Serye,” on Tuesday.

“One thing that really changed for me is that I should always bring a face mask and face shield,” he added.

Veteran actor Epy Quizon, meanwhile, learned the value of keeping relationships.

“During the pandemic, I’ve had more time talking to my mommy, my kids. I’ve had more time to talk to my loved ones,” Quizon said.

Quizon also shared that he had come to value his conversations with his loved ones and gained more time to pray.

“The conversations we have, they’re no longer in passing, [as they were] when you’re really busy. Now, our conversations have more depth,” he said.

And for Ritz Azul, the pandemic has taught her to slow down.

“I have learned how to slow down, considering that life seemed to move so fast before the pandemic. It’s as if you’re about to sleep now, but you’re already thinking about your schedule for tomorrow,” she said.

All three actors are set to be featured in “Wanted: Ang Serye,” a dramatization of the controversial stories of Raffy Tulfo’s public service program “Wanted Sa Radyo.”

Quizon and Azul will be co-stars in one episode, where Quizon will play transgender Exur and Azul will be Exur’s lesbian partner Joana.

Exur and Joana’s story became a hot topic back in 2020 as Joana turned to Tulfo for help. According to Joana, she suffered physical abuse at the hands of Exur.

Alandy, meanwhile, will be featured in another episode of “Wanted: Ang Serye.”

Tulfo said that, at first, the show’s team usually picked up “Wanted Sa Radyo” segments that had gone viral.

“But later on, we said that not everything that are trending or viral have that kind of story [that can be featured]. There are stories that are really for TV only or for radio only. So we chose those from which viewer could pick up some lessons,” Tulfo said.

“Wanted: Ang Serye” airs every Saturday at 9 p.m. on TV5.

[atm]