Naging maagap si Darren Espanto, 18, kaya nakalipad pa siya patungong Canada bago lumala ang sitwasyon sa Pilipinas dahil sa COVID-19 crisis.
Lumaki si Darren sa Canada, at doon naka-based ang kanyang pamilya.
Matapos niyang maging first runner-up sa The Voice Kids noong 2014, sa Pilipinas na nanatili si Darren para maasikaso ang kanyang showbiz career.
Nitong March 2020, lumipad patungong Calgary, Canada si Darren para makapiling ang pamilya niya.
“Nung nag-announce na po si President Duterte na magkakaroon ng community lockdown sa Metro Manila, we decided to fly here muna.
“We booked our flight right away," paliwanag ni Darren sa MYX Philippines online video interview nitong Sabado, April 18.
Nagpaalam daw siya sa kanyang managers—ang kinabibilangang record label at sa Star Magic—para makapiling ang pamilya habang ipinapatupad ang enforced quarantine.
Nagpaalam din siya sa management ng ABS-CBN Sunday variety show na ASAP Natin ‘To, kung saan siya regular na napapanood.
“All of them said yes naman po," sabi ng singer.
“Pumayag naman po silang lahat, so my mom and I flew all the way here to Canada for the meantime.
"Tapos hindi namin in-expect na ganito katagal pala.”
DARREN TAKS ABOUT HIS PARENTS AS FRONTLINERS
Registered nurses sa Canada ang mga magulang ni Darren na sina Lyndon at Marinel Espanto.
Kasama rin nila sa Canada ang nakababatang kapatid ni Darren, si Lynelle.
Gaano ba kahirap na ang kanyang mga magulang ay frontliners ngayong may pandemic?
Sagot ni Darren, hindi naman sila nababahala dahil alam nila ang mga dapat gawin.
Pero mahigpit din ang kanilang pag-iingat.
Sabi niya, “A lot of people think that it’s scary na may frontliners na nasa bahay niyo, ganyan…
“But it’s really nothing to be scared of if you know what you have to do, the precautions...
“Kasi pag dumarating sila from work, sa garahe pa lang, they sanitize themselves.
“And also, diretso silang naliligo, so it’s something that they definitely had to get used to.
"But now, all of us, kahit pag naggo-groceries din, pagdating ng bahay, sina-sanitize muna namin din sa door pa lang.”
Kahit nakatira raw sila sa iisang bahay, mayroon silang social distancing bilang pag-iingat na rin.
“Kahit sa bahay lang kami, we still practice social distancing," paniniyak ni Darren.
“We’re not that close [physically], pero we still show our love for one another and nakikipagkulitan pa rin kami, ganun.”
Mahirap ba sa kanilang magkapatid na hindi nila nayayakap at nalalapitan ang kanilang mga magulang?
Saad ni Darren, “Ako talaga, hindi ako yung clingy type na anak, na ma-showy na ganun.
“Pero I’d say it’s difficult knowing that they’re risking their lives for us every day, not just my parents, all of the frontliners.
“Also for my sister not being able to be as clingy as she wants to be, is something that we all have to get used to, and it’s all for our own good naman.”
DARREN IN QUARANTINE
Naka-quarantine din daw sina Darren ngayon sa bahay nila sa Calgary, pero nagagawa pa rin niyang maging abala.
Sa kabila ng hindi madaling sitwasyon dahil frontliners ang mga magulang, nagpapasalamat pa rin si Darren na makasama sila.
“Since we’re all inside of the house, I’ve been doing a lot stuff, especially eating and cooking, and sleeping.
“It’s been a lot of fun.
“I get to spend my quarantine with my family in Canada, and it’s something I don’t usually get to do in the Philippines, especially because my family lives here and I live there.
“So for me, this is quality time to spend with my sister, especially who’s a lot more grown up now.”
Patuloy pa ring napapanood si Darren sa shows ng ABS-CBN, gaya ng ASAP Natin 'To kapag gumagawa sila ng mga virtual episode.