Shaina on most challenging part of working in the ‘new normal’

Shaina Magdayao

For actress Shaina Magdayao, who is among the cast members of the long-running action-adventure series “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” the most challenging part about working in the “new normal” was going through the mandatory two-week quarantine before entering the lock-in set. “Just think of all the things you could still do during those two weeks if we weren’t in a pandemic. We’re all used to having rackets. Prepandemic, I would often juggle two or three projects at the same time,” Shaina recalled. “Back then, while doing ‘Ang Probinsyano,’ I was able to do a movie on the side and then go abroad for a vacation.”

The actress added: “The sad part is that, no, you can’t do that anymore. I remember how some crew members would tell me that they haven’t slept because they had ‘segue.’ They won’t be able to say that anymore these days since everyone is forced to stay in a bubble. That’s the reality these days,” she told Inquirer Entertainment. Shaina said Ystilo, a chain of salons she operates with her sisters, had also been gravely affected by the pandemic.

“We were among those that needed to close for a while because of quarantine protocols. Now, most of our branches are already open. Members of our staff are required to wear PPE,” she said. “In order for us to be allowed to operate again, we had to follow regulations. I honestly don’t mind. Ours wasn’t the only business that got affected, but everyone else’s around the world.”

She said her other business, Living Oils, had actually been “strengthened” by the pandemic, “since we don’t have an actual store and simply sell our products online. If you look at the trend, online stores really prospered.”

The 31-year-old added: “At the end of the day, you just have to look at the brighter side of life; find something good in every situation you are in and recognize that things happen for a reason. The situation may be bad, but try to keep the good in everything.” —Marinel Cruz INQ