Student empowerment: Actress-gamer Myrtle Sarrosa’s latest advocacy

Myrtle Sarrosa

As a celebrity who inhabits both the television and digital spaces, actress-gamer Myrtle Sarrosa and her work is constantly exposed to the opinions of people on social media. Bashing and criticisms are inevitable. But through the years, she has grown to take them in stride.

“I read almost all the comments… What I have realized is that you shouldn’t get offended. What people think about you shouldn’t affect who you are. Because you, more than anyone else, know yourself best and who you really are,” she said in her recent contract renewal as the endorser of the sanitary napkin brand Sisters by Megasoft Hygienic Products.

“Their opinions shouldn’t change who you are—unless if it’s for the better. ‘Di naman mga bashers ang nagpakain o nagpa-aral sa ‘yo,” the 27-year-old Kapuso artist added, laughing.

This kind of composure online comes handy, especially now that many things in entertainment are expanding to—if not moving to—the digital world.

‘Search for the bright side’

At the onset of the pandemic, television projects were practically nonexistent. And so, Myrtle, like just about every other celebrity, had to look for opportunities elsewhere. Thankfully, content creation and game streaming were things she was already into even before they were the lucrative industries they are now.

“There was no work on television because of the strict protocols. Projects were hard to come by. But when there’s a storm or crisis you have to search for the bright side. And so I delved into the online and gaming spaces again,” she said.

True enough, the said fields flourished because people at home had nowhere else to go or nothing else to do. “Gaming, cosplaying really grew when things started going digital. Opportunities weren’t plentiful back then… But as businesses saw that digital media consumption was increasing, new opportunities started sprouting,” she said.

3.3M followers

Now, Myrtle’s Facebook—an online repository of her livestreams, new cosplay creations and other gaming-related content—has 3.3 million followers. She also does various sponsorships, commissioned work and collaborations with video game companies, and even entertainment companies like HBO Asia.

“Some gaming companies have consulted me on how they can better grow their games. And with the opportunities coming my way, I was able to provide jobs for those people interested in play-to-earn games,” Myrtle said. “When you’re early in a space, there are big chances of being rewarded.”

Myrtle has also put up her own “miniproduction company” that helps her produce digital content. “I’m thankful for the chance, because it’s also important to know how things work in front and behind the cameras,” she said.

With the recent decrease of COVID-19 cases and the easing of restrictions, things seem to be slowly returning to normal in show biz. And Myrtle couldn’t be more thrilled for the acting offers waiting for her. “My projects have been coming on after another as of late. I recently did ‘Wish Ko Lang’ and ‘Magpakailanman.’ I also host ‘iBilib’ (an infotainment show),” she said.

Myrtle was also part of the recently concluded afternoon soap “Nagbabagang Luha.”

“I’m excited to do more movies and explore other things,” she said. “So much has happened after [winning] ‘Pinoy Big Brother.’ I went back to school, I did different roles in film and television—from nice to fierce and recently, to contravida,” she said.

The actress has been a Sisters endorser for six years now. And part of her responsibility is going on school tours around the Philippines to interact and give talks to students.

“We had this concept of empowering students and encouraging them to study well, do their best in school. We show that we appreciate their hard work and talent,” she related.

Zoom classes

“And when we visit these schools, we provide them with equipment like computers, speakers, microphones and other necessities,” added Myrtle, who graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman with a degree in broadcast communications. She also served as a Sangguniang Kabataan president in her hometown in Iloilo when she was 15.

But because of the pandemic, Myrtle and the Sisters team had to make do with online activities and seminars. “We joined them in their Zoom classes. Even a simple hello really helps; at least there’s still connection,” she said.

Asked what kind of message she hopes to share with students—especially young girls—it’s to always go for their dreams. “Each of us has different talents and passions. We should continue pursuing our dreams,” she said. “There are so many things we want to accomplish. But sometimes our own fears hinder us from achieving our goals. Regret is more painful than failure.” INQ