Semi-retired si Derek Ramsay ngayon sa showbiz matapos nilang magkasundo ng GMA Network na i-terminate ang kanyang kontrata.
Mismong si Derek daw ang lumapit sa management ng network para makiusap.
“You know, after the pandemic [there were] a lot of realizations. First thing is, di ba, after lockdown, I was locked down by myself, my parents were in Tagaytay and I was home alone,” bungad ni Derek sa PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
“It made me realize [that] the world is changing so much and my parents were in their twilight years, and if I keep grinding myself and working so hard, I’m gonna lose out precious time with my family and I’ll never forgive myself when that day comes.”
Dagdag pa niya, “No money that you earn, no award, no project will replace the pain you will go through because you regret not spending time with those people that you love.
“So I was, like, 'What is it for you to be content?' Okay, I’ll lose millions but I should be content with my life. I’m so blessed.”
Aminado si Derek na malaking impluwensiya sa kanyang naging desisyon ang pagpapakasal sa aktres na si Ellen Adarna.
Iyon daw ang naging senyales na dapat muna siyang magdahan-dahan sa trabaho para mapaglaanan ng oras ang mga mahal niya sa buhay.
“I got married [and] I got blessed even more with a beautiful wife and I have my son [Austin], Elias, I have my stepson.
"So I was, like, ‘Wow! This is a sign. This is life.”
Si Elias ang anak ni Ellen sa ex-boyfriend nitong si John Lloyd Cruz.
Nakausap ng PEP.ph si Derek sa Wack Wack Golf and Country Club sa Mandaluyong nitong Lunes, October 17, 2022.
Isa si Derek sa celebrity guests na lumahok sa charity golf tournament na inorganisa ng aktres at dancer na si Samantha Lopez para i-celebrate ang kanyang birthday.
Beneficiary ng event, na tinawag na SamLo Cup, ang Kids for Jesus Foundation na matagal na ring sinusuportahan ni Samantha.
Kasama ni Derek na naglaro ang kanyang ama na si Derek Arthur Ramsay Sr.
MUTUAL DECISION
Proud si Derek sa naging accomplishments niya sa industriya at mami-miss din daw niya ang buhay showbiz.
Subalit nasa punto siya na gusto niyang piliin na lang ang proyektong ibabato sa kanya.
“It would have to take something very, very special for me to decide to do a project,” sambit ni Derek.
“Especially with the rules now, you have to take two months off, di ba? You’re in a bubble. It’s difficult for me na kakakasal lang to stay away from my family.”
Pareho raw sila ng saloobin ni Ellen at kapwa nila nais maghinay-hinay muna sa kanilang respective careers.
Kuwento ni Derek, “Matagal na ring ayaw na ni Ellen, e.
"Actually, yung bumalik siya ng Manila to do a sitcom [John en Ellen on TV5 in 2021], ginawa niya lang yun pampatay oras kasi she was giving John Lloyd a chance to spend time with his son.
"So, pamatay lang ng oras yun and that’s how we met each other."
FINANCIALLY STABLE
Hindi naman isyu kay Derek ang usapin sa pera dahil masinop daw siya pagdating sa lahat ng kanyang pinaghirapan.
“We’ve paid our dues, we worked hard. Nag-ipon naman ako, hindi ko winaldas yung pera na pumasok. Di ba, yung iba diyan labas agad? I invested it,” sabi ni Derek.
“I don’t have to be the richest person. You don’t judge your richness with money. It’s with love, it’s with family, and I have all that. I have to be content and I’m just content.”
Masaya si Derek dahil mas marami siyang oras na iginugugol ngayon sa pamilya, kasama na rito ang kanyang mga magulang.
“Again, my dad is 80 and he’s still playing [golf]. He’s really, really strong when I look at him. I’m so proud, it always puts a smile on my face,” nakangiting sabi ni Derek.
“But then, you also see na your parents are ageing and you get that, it’s hard to explain, e. I guess takot ka.
“You don’t want to think negative things but you can see that they aged so much and I don’t know how I’ll handle it when that day comes.
“That’s why I said I got to spend more time with them. So now I brought my dad.
“I could have invited anybody else. I could have invited my boys, my friends and all that, but no, I want to spend a day here with my dad.”
THANKFUL TO GMA-7
Grateful si Derek at naging maayos ang pag-uusap nila ng Kapuso network nang magpaalam siyang umalis sa poder nito.
“I had another year and a half,” sagot ni Derek nang tanungin kung ilang taon pa ang natitra sa kanyang kontrata.
Hindi raw ito ang unang beses na nag-usap sila ng Kapuso management para i-restructure ang kanilang deal.
“Well, nung tinamaan tayo ng pandemic, what we did was we suspended na lang the contract. Kasi, unfair din naman sa network, di ba, kung tatapusin ko yung buong kontrata,” ani Derek.
“Kung hindi namin na-suspend yung contract, e, di ubos siya dun sa pandemic, e, wala naman tayong ginagawa during the pandemic.
“Again, the great relationship that I had with GMA, we both decided to suspend [the contract] and then when they offered me my teleserye when things are getting back to normal, I got married and we still have that whole COVID scare, that we got to stay in a bubble. Parang hindi ko kaya.
"And slowly, that’s when I got my realization. So, I told GMA, 'I think we should sit down and talk about this,' and I let them know how I feel.
"And they said, 'Okay, we respect that,' and I was able to get out of my contract.”
Labis-labis daw ang pasasalamat ni Derek sa GMA Network sa pagiging maintindihin nito throughout his stay.
“I think if you show them that respect, then that respect will come back. I was honest to tell them that this is where my heart is telling me to go.
“Kung hindi nila maiintindihan yun, it would be hard to call the network Kapuso.”