Nami-miss na ni Kathryn Bernardo ang bahay niya sa Cabanatuan, pero dahil sa trabaho at travel restrictions ay hindi na siya nakakauwi nitong nakaraang mga buwan. “Nitong past few months nung start ng lockdown, hindi na talaga ako nakakauwi kahit gustong-gusto kong umuwi at miss na miss ko na yung Cabanatuan at saka yung house namin. Medyo nakakalungkot lang pero blessed pa rin po dahil maraming work na dumarating. Si Papa na lang ang laging lumuluwas to meet us dito sa Manila dahil mabilis na ang byahe ngayon pauwi at papunta ng Nueva Ecija,” kuwento ni Kathryn na kasalukuyang busy sa taping ng rom-com nila ni Daniel Padilla para sa Kapamilya Channel.
Tulad ng maraming Pilipino ay nag-aalala rin si Kathryn sa kanyang kalusugan. Bukod pa dito ay ang pag-aalala sa mga kababayan niyang sa Nueva Ecija na apektado ng pandemya. “I know it’s difficult to be positive nowadays but we have to persevere for the sake of our loved ones. As I always say, ‘di naman po tayo bibigyan ng pagsubok na ‘di natin kayang lampasan. But we have to take care of our health, asset po natin yan sa panahong ito,” she says.
Bilang endorser ng mga brands ng San Miguel Corporation na tulad ng Magnolia Ice Cream, San Mig Coffee Crema White, at Nutrichunks, natutuwa siya na magtatayo na ang kumpanya ng Manila International Airport at economic zone sa katabing probinsya na Bulacan. Naniniwala siya na makakatulong ito sa ekonomiya ng bansa at maging sa Nueva Ecija. “Marami talagang nawalan ng work nitong pandemic. It breaks my heart to see people losing jobs and unable to provide for their families. If possible nga na magawa na yan agad so we can already attract businesses and give people jobs. A lot of people really need help right now. In our personal capacity, what we can do is to help the people around us as much as we can. But for the long-term, jobs po talaga ang kailangan,” seryosong wika ni Kathryn.
Maliban dito ay makakatulong rin ito sa mga negosyante at magsasaka na gumagawa ng pagkain at raw materials. “If you need to transport products quickly or perishable yung goods mo, big advantage yung magkaroon ng accessible na airport like the one sa Bulacan. I’m sure this is a positive sign for many businesses in Nueva Ecija and even as far as the north like Baguio, Pangasinan, and Ilocos. Mahirap isipin now because a lot of businesses are struggling, but when the time comes na matapos na yung pandemic, then the airport will be ready and we can start and help a lot of people recover.”
Aniya, mabubuksan rin ang Luzon, kabilang ang kanyang probinsya sa mga turista, lalung-lalong na sa mga taga-ibang bansa dahil mas madali nang makakabiyahe.
“From our house in Cabanatuan, it’s either we use Clark or go straight to NAIA to fly out. But in Manila, I always have to brave the traffic going to the airport and it is difficult pag naghahabol ng flight. We all experience this naman po, we have to be there hours before our flight,” kuwento pa niya.
“But with the new airport, there’s another better option. And from what I heard, it’s going to be really big, spacious and modern. If sanay ka sa big airports like in Japan, Korea and in Europe, it’s going to be that big and I’m proud to be part of the San Miguel family that is making this happen,” dagdag niya.
“Matagal na ‘yung San Miguel, and maganda ‘yung reputation niya so I’m sure like sa TPLEX sa amin sa Nueva Ecija and ‘yung iba pang projects nila ay maganda rin ‘yung quality ng work, like their products that I endorse. Hopefully, pag maagang matapos yung Bulakan airport at may time at pwede nang magbakasyon, makakasakay rin ako diyan. Just praying and hoping na matapos na po itong crisis para we can live our lives normally like we are used to,” aniya.
Sa gitna ng pademya, tuloy tuloy pa rin ang trabaho para kay Kathryn pero dobleng pag-iingat ang ginagawa nila lalo na ngayon na malapit nang ipalabas ang bagong serye nila ni Daniel.