Maja Salvador wishes she had been able to finish her studies a decade ago.
At the time, the 32-year-old actress had been busy with her projects with ABS-CBN.
In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Maja reiterated the importance of education, both in career and life.
"Iba ang education, as in, iba," Maja said. She continued, "Sa life naman kasi, iba rin ang laban ng buhay, di ba? Pero iba pa rin ang may edukasyon. As in, pinaka-ano iyon, isang malaking achievement iyon."
Maja did try to continue her studies. In 2016, she enrolled in AMA Computer College's online program for Business Administration to help her prepare for the businesses she was planning.
But, Maja had to put her college studies on hold again.
Is she planning to continue her studies in the future?
Maja answered, "Kaya kung sa kaya, pero ako kasi iyong tao na gusto ko may nagsasabi sa akin kung tama o mali, iyong nasa harap ko, may teacher talaga, may professor talaga.
"Kasi ang hirap kapag online, iyong ikaw mismo iyong mag-aaral. Paano kung hindi ako familiar sa word na ito, magdi-dictionary pa ako?
"Paano kung kailangan ko pa ng mas malawak na eksplanasyon? So hirap na hirap ako dun, hanggang sa nag-give up ako.
"Siguro kung itutuloy ko, gusto ko iyong makakapag-attend ako, may professor, ganun."
MAJA ON SPECIAL COURSES WITH MR. M
Although Maja wasn't able to attend formal classes in college, she made sure to continue learning and improving herself.
As an actress, one of the things she had to improve on was her communication skills.
Maja initially wanted to take up a personality development program at John Robert Powers School. She eventually took up a few sessions of communication skills training with Star Magic's former head Johnny Manahan.
Maja recalled, "Parang siyempre, kada gagawin mo kasi, may consent, di ba? So parang nung nabasa iyon ni Mr. M, ‘Ah, ang mahal-mahal niyan! Ako na lang [magtuturo]. Isama mo si Kim [Chiu].’
"Parang gumanun siya sa handler ko. Siguro mga twice or thrice nangyari. Cute lang, super cute lang."
Asked how Mr. M is as a teacher, Maja fondly recalled, "Teacher po, iyong from the start talaga, ‘What is verb?’ Ganyan. As in ayon, parang joke-joke niya lang nung una ‘tapos after like… More on ano po, e, paano ka sa isang conversation, ganun.
"Or pag nasa event, paano mo sasagutin? Parang, ‘Oh, how are you? I watch your ganyan-ganyan…’ How will you answer? Parang ganun."
Maja said these personality development sessions happened around 2011. At the time, she was preparing to attend the 31st Hawaii International Film Festival.
"Parang hinanda niya din ako, nung Thelma po kasi… Si Thelma ay merong something sa Hawaii, ‘tapos parang hinahanda niya ako dun dahil kapag may questions, at least kung ano iyong mga sasabihin ko, iyong mga ganyan na, ‘It was a great experience doing this film,’ ganyan-ganyan, iyong ganun.
"Kasi Mr. M knows, I’m very open naman na I’m not confident po talaga kapag straight English, alam niyo po iyon?
"Alam niya iyon so parang siya, nagpapaka-Tatay, hinahanda niya, ‘O, kung tanungin ka ng ganito, you will answer ng ganito,’ mga ganun."
Now, Maja said her English speaking skills have "slightly" improved. She is also grateful that she is surrounded by people that make her practice and improve on her English communication skills.
Maja told PEP.ph, "Kakasama ko rin siguro kina Rambo [Nuñez], kina Ate [Mikki Gonzales]. The family of Rambo, di ba ano, hindi naman sobrang straight English but, di ba, kayang-kaya nila mag-English, di ba?"
Rambo is Maja's boyfriend. Meanwhile, Mikki is a former ABS-CBN Regional executive who recently became part of the management team of Maja's talent agency called Crown Artist Management.
Maha continued, "Ayon, nasasanay kahit papaano dahil sa kakakausap ko sa mga bata, ‘No, stop,’ mga ganyan. Simple lang pala.
"The more na mas may kakausap sa iyo ng English, mas masasanay, di ba? Mas magiging confident."
Toward the end, Maja quipped, "At saka kapag naka-shot na po ako, puwede na ako um-English."
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