The forced quarantine has given Derek Ramsay, 43, and Austin, 16, more father-and-son time.
The Kapuso hunk actor admits this is a major adjustment for them both.
After all, his son did not grow up with him but with his estranged wife, Mary Christine Jolly, in Dubai.
Now that Derek and Austin are, almost by serendipity, stuck with each other in one home, the actor-athlete is taking the opportunity to teach his teenager some valuable life lessons.
Derek says in an interview with DZRH on April 12, Sunday, “Ini-explain ko nga sa kanya what really is going on. Sixteen years old na siya.
“What I’m trying to teach him is you realize how lucky you are. Ikaw nandito ka, you have food, you have your roof over your head.
“May mga tao diyan na naghihirap. Kaya dinidisiplina ko siya."
Lesson #1: HUWAG MAGING SPOILED
“Minsan kasi nagiging spoiled na gusto niya laging nakabukas iyong aircon. Sabi ko, 'You have to conserve energy. We don’t know what’s going to happen. We don’t know how long this will take, di ba?'”
LESSON #2: HELP OTHER PEOPLE
“Kapag nagalit siya sa akin, I cite examples. Sabi ko, there are people out there who are hungry, living on the streets. Sabi ko, 'We should be helping these people, rather than playing computer games.'
“Nakikinig naman siya at nari-realize niya kung gaano kahirap ang mga pinagdadaanan ng mga kababayan natin ngayon."
LESSON #3: Have an attitude of gratitude
“My son naman, hindi kasi siya lumaki sa akin. Pero ang ini-instill ko talaga sa kanya is be thankful that you are blessed, that you have a roof over your head.
“At the same time don’t ever forget na we should always help people who are fighting for their life every single day.
“Iyan ang kailangan mong matutunan, na tumulong ka. Huwag ka lang mag-Tiktok diyan, o mag-ano. Kailangan mong matutunan iyan.”
DEREK ON QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILY DURING COVID-19
Derek does not see his family and communicates with them only via video call these days. But he actually feels closer now to his parents, siblings, and even his nieces and nephews.
Says he, “Hindi ko naman nakakalimutan iyong pamilya ko, pero iyong mga conversations namin ba [noon], it’s not quality conversations.
“Ngayon dito ka sa bahay… pag nagkausap kami kahit video call lang, sobrang quality conversation ang nangyayari.
“It’s more intimate, emotional, and we learn a lot of things pala kahit na magkasama na kami for how many years, buong buhay ko magkasama kami.
“I’m learning from my parents, from my sister, from my brother, from their children.”
DEREK RAMSAY: MAKING A DIFFERENCE
The actor also makes sure that even as he observes the quarantine period, he actively provides help where and when he can.
Recently, he sent food to the children living in a charitable institution near his home in Muntinlupa.
Last April 12, Derek joined the Dunkin Donuts team—Derek is an endorser—to bring merienda to frontliners.
“Nagpunta ako sa dalawang hospital today para mamigay po ng mga donuts sa mga frontliners, para mag-break muna sila sa napaka-stressful na ginagawa nila," he says.
“Sila talaga ang mga tunay na heroes natin ngayon. Di ba sinasabi nila, hindi pala ang mga aktor, mga athlete, mga politicians, o mga sikat ang mga tunay na hero?
“Sila ang nahaharap sa danger. Ang mga frontliners ang nandun sa harap, sila ang nag-aalaga."
Derek is extremely proud of all frontliners and salutes their sacrifice.
Humbled by it all, he says, “Madali lang mag-donate, madali lang ganito, to find it in your heart na mag-donate.
"Pero ang ginagawa ng mga frontliners natin, whether ano ka, doctors, nurses, security guards, delivery man.
"Imagine mo araw-araw binubuwis mo iyong buhay mo—risking na magkasakit ka, risking na pag-uwi mo sa bahay mahawaan mo ang pamilya mo.”
Recounting his experience in the company of frontliners, he says he felt like a kid blessed to be around his heroes.
“Ibang klase iyong nararamdaman mo, na I was in the presence of the frontliners, na hindi ko ma-describe, na para akong bata na nakita ko iyong pinaka-idol ko nung kabataan ko.
“Ganun iyong feeling ko na, wow, I’m blessed to be in the presence of these people na naka-mask pero nakikita mo iyong mga ngiti pa rin nila.
“They’re still high-spirited kahit na sobrang stressful ang ginagawa nila. Sa mga frontliners—talaga maraming, maraming salamat.”