“We have to stop waiting for the change to happen, we have to start making the change,” says Bianca
Sparkle artists and real-life couple Bianca Umali and Ruru Madrid are taking part in yet another advocacy-themed project for GMA-7.
They are part of the four 30-second commercials by GMA-7 and Nestle Philippines’ partnership titled “Kalikasanovela,” an entertaining video communicating the importance of 3Rs—reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic waste.
Each commercial intends to inspire consumers to embrace their role as stewards of the planet Earth.
During its recent media conference, FreebieMNL asked Bianca and Ruru about doing these types of projects for their home network.
Bianca has been part of several advocacy-themed and groundbreaking teledramas of GMA-7: “Sahaya” and “Legal Wives.”
Admittedly, she feels the pressure of holding such big responsibility, but at the same time, she feels flattered that she’s being trusted by the network.
She says, “It makes me feel pressured kasi yung trust na ibinibigay sa ‘yo is such a huge responsibility. But then, sa quote nga na lagi nating naririnig, ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’
“Yun talaga yung feeling, and to be trusted nang ganun kasobra, it makes me want to do more, it makes me want to take action more kasi it means they see that people do see me, people do hear me.
“And what better way to use the platform and the trust they give to me than share the influence and transfer the knowledge and the awareness that I have especially to the next generation.”
Bianca is starring in the episode titled “Katok.”
Meanwhile, Ruru is thankful that he’s able to do the primetime series “Lolong,” because the project opened up the doors for him to do more advocacy projects on TV.
Ruru also credits Bianca for teaching him better ways how to help save Mother Earth.
He narrates, “Sa totoo lang, sobrang nakakatuwa. To be honest, it all started when I did ‘Lolong.’ For a very long time, hindi ako aware or wala akong masyadong idea when it comes to papaano ba yung tamang pangangalaga sa kalikasan.
“Pero si Bianca yung nagturo sa akin noon, like, even sa mga simplest things like for example, saan itatapon yung ganitong basura.
“So, ako naman, ina-apply ko lang lahat ng mga tinuturo niya sa akin and at the same time, when I did ‘Lolong,’ nagkaroon ako ng idea sa nangyayari sa kalikasan natin.
“Ang dami nang mga endangered animals, like, yung nangyayari sa global warming, sa mundo natin, ang dami nang nagiging problema.
“Lahat ito, kailangan na natin masimulan ngayon pa lang, na kailangan natin pangalagaan. Para ito sa mga susunod pang henerasyon and kung kami, bilang mga artista, bilang mga aktor, ayaw namin na yun lang yung nagagawa namin.
“Gusto naming gamitin yung platforms namin na makapag-spread ng awareness sa pangangalaga sa kalikasan.”
Ruru headlines the kalikasanovela “Ibaon.”
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Bianca adds that she is grateful to GMA for tapping them to be part of this collaboration-for-a-cause with Nestle Philippines.
Bianca adds, “Masarap kasi sa puso na nakikita namin na yung efforts namin, hindi napupunta sa wala. That’s why being part of this collaboration, ang laking pasasalamnat namin kasi ang laking platform niya to help our voices become louder.
“I like the pressure of being influential and the responsibility kasi it gives us the opportunity not just as a kuya and an ate to the people we love, we’re given the opportunity to be an ate and a kuya to the whole world.
“It feels so good and tulad nga ng sinabi ni Ruru, I just want to emphasize na we have to stop waiting for the change to happen, we have to start making the change.”
Aside from Bianca and Ruru, also part of the project are Sanya Lopez and the love team of Sofia Pablo and Allen Ansay.
GMA on producing advocacy projects
Meanwhile, GMA Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier-Cruz is proud to share how intentional GMA-7 is in producing such advocacy projects.
She explains, “It’s the will, kapag meron kang parang political will to do something, gagawin mo.
“Ang public affairs team ng GMA is constantly producing programs na parating merong lessons, di ba? Ang ‘Lolong,’ kakatapos lang. With the entertainment group, we have ‘Amazing Earth.’
“So, we always give the audience not just entertainment but also information which is crucial to everyday living. We constantly do that.
“We align it with the advocacies of the network, merong health, merong education, merong environment. So, from those things, our producers, both entertainment and public affairs, they constantly pitch and they constantly research and present topics which are beneficial and could give valuable lessons in the whole world and not just in the Philippines.”
READ ALSO: Yassi Pressman, Ruru Madrid Team Up For VIVA-GMA Collaboration
Banner Art Paulo Correa
