Eduard Bañez
MISS na miss na miss na ng dating Star Magic artist at news anchor na si Eduard Bañez ang Pilipinas lalo na ang masasarap na pagkaing Pinoy.
Wala pang final decision ang former MTV Asia host at Nickelodeon star kung kailan siya babalik sa bansa dahil marami pa siyang pinagkakaabalahan ngayon sa Amerika.
Pero nangako siya na sa muli niyang pag-uwi sa bansa ay marami siyang ihahandang sorpresa para sa kanyang Pinoy supporters, kabilang na riyan ang pagpo-produce ng concerts featuring international stars.
“Of course, nami-miss ko na ang Pilipinas. Iba kasi mag-welcome ang mga Pilipino.
“Nami-miss ko rin ang mga pagkaing Pinoy. Hindi ko ipagpapalit ang Filipino food. They give me comfort. Minsan nga, kapag kumakain ako ng Pinoy food here, it’s like a homecoming. It feels homey,” pahayag ni Eduard.
Isa sa mga plano nga ni Eduard kapag umuwi na siya sa Pilipinas ay ang ipag-produce ng concert ang mga international singers na sina Ed Sheeran at Sia.
“Naka-work ko na ang Team nina Ed Sheeran and Sia for my music video. They were very nice and welcoming. Sana matuloy ang pangarap kong concerts na ipro-produce ko.
“Filipinos love Ed Sheeran. I should bring him to the Philippines. He has that charm na gustung-gusto ng mga kabataan.
“He has great voice na kahit nga guitar lang ang gamitin niya. Sia naman is so powerful as a singer. Iba ‘yung power niya. And I love her songs,” sabi pa ng ka-batch nina Bela Padilla at Megan Young sa Star Magic.
Hanggang ngayon ay sariwa pa sa isip ni Eduard ang naranasang diskriminasyon sa Amerika bilang isang Filipino, lalo na noong unang mga buwan pa lamang niya roon kasama ang kanyang pamilya.
Grabe raw talaga ang Asian hate doon, kung saan ilang Filipino nang nagtatrabaho doon ang nabiktima, “’You don’t look like us.’ That’s what a man told me.
“But I’m happy that the Filipino community here is very strong. Laban lang,” ani Eduard.
“Asian hate here is very wide. I wanted to make an impact in the community by increasing visibility. Kasi dapat nilang makita yung value natin as a human. We are working so hard kaya sana yung respeto nandu’n.
“Kapag napapanood ko sa TV na ang daming nakaka-experience ng Asian hate, nalulungkot ako. We should treat people equally and gracefully,” sabi pa niya.
Sa ngayon, nagtatrabaho si Eduard bilang teacher sa Ralph Waldo Emerson Middle School sa Los Angeles, California. Physical education at sports ang itinuturo niya sa mga kabataang edad 13 to 15.
“There is something very special about being able to share your success with others and help to empower them.
“I applied online through the teachers’ union. I primarily teach health and physical education in the field and it’s very interesting. And I also drive students to their homes.
“I realized that education in the United States is different in culture than in other countries. Here, things are pretty open and simple to get started.
“But sometimes systematic bad education is not good with children. However, there is minefield of challenges you need to adhere to, lots of patience and ethics you have to keep an eye on.
“Breaking into such a competitive industry is not easy, but with hard work and talent, it can be an achievable goal. Though, your first important step in this direction is getting the training required for your desired job role,” aniya pa.
Lutong Pinoy gustong ipakilala ni Loren Legarda sa buong mundo