Si Jairus Aquino ang gumaganap bilang nakababatang kapatid ni Diego Loyzaga sa Philippine adaptation ng Korean television series na Encounter na napapanood tuwing Sabado sa TV5.
Dahil sa coronavirus pandemic, matagal na nabakante si Jairus sa pag-arte sa harap ng kamera kaya nakaramdam siya ng paninibago, pero masaya ang kanyang mga karanasan nang makatrabaho niya sina Diego at Cristine Reyes, ang lead stars ng Encounter.
“It was nice working with them, hindi naman ako masyadong intimidated working with Diego since nakatrabaho ko na rin siya nang maraming beses.
“Si Miss Cristine was nice to me during the lock-in taping, pero nervous siyempre ako dahil parang addition ako sa cast.
“Medyo nabakante rin ako ng ilang months kaya medyo kinakapa ko ang sarili ko kung paano ko gagawin yung role ko, but overall, it was a good experience and a happy set," ang kuwento ni Jairus na nagbago ang takbo ng buhay buhat nang magkaroon ng coronavirus pandemic.
Nakaramdam din siya ng takot dahil nagkasakit ng COVID-19 si Sylvia Sanchez na malapit sa kanya at tinatrato niya bilang tunay na ina.
Pagbabalik-tanaw niya, “I think my unforgettable experience with this pandemic was being locked down sa bahay.
“Before pandemic, my daily routine was going to the gym, playing basketball and siyempre work, kaya ang laki ng adjustment ko.
“At first, hindi ko pa alam kung ano ang mga puwede ko gawin, but eventually I learned a lot of things to still keep me progressing and to keep me occupied.
“Noong magkasakit si Nanay Sylvia ng COVID-19 noong simula pa lang ng pandemic, nandoon ang fear ko at dobleng pag-iingat dahil kahit sino pala, puwedeng tamaan.
“Until now, doble ingat pa rin ako at very strict sa pag-maintain ng good health.”
Malaki ang pagpapahalaga ni Jairus sa kanyang kalusugan at ito ang dahilan kaya mula noong May 2021, naging aktibo uli siya sa pagpunta sa gym na pag-aari ni Gerald Anderson.
At para sa kapakanan ng mga kagaya niyang health buff, ibinahagi ni Jairus ang kanyang mga do’s and don’ts sa tuwing nasa gym siya.
“Ang do’s ko is if you’re not doing anything yet sa gym or somehow just resting, keep your mask on, maintain safe distance, always put alcohol from time to time and mas better if mag-wash talaga ng hands.
“Ang don’ts ko, yung paghawak sa face, especially sa eyes, mouth and nose... paghawak ng inner part ng clothing since you use it sometimes to wipe your face.
“If there’s an opportunity to take a shower right away, go for it. Ang overall is huwag lang maging kampante and everything will follow.
“If I’m doing everything to progress spiritually, mentally and emotionally, dapat hindi ako maiwan physically, and that’s also a big struggle ngayong pandemic.
“It’s been a year since we were locked in sa mga houses natin, kaya naisip ko na dapat may magbago sa akin physically as well and with my daily routine, so I continued what I started before pandemic.
“Also, if you surround yourself with people who have the same hunger and goals to be better and progress, mas mamu-motivate ka to work harder and be better.
“Like sa akin, whether basketball man or fitness, importante na people around you also motivate and push you to reach your goal or your full potential,” pangwakas niyang pahayag.