Manila Bulletin

Ejay pays tribute to OFWs

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With the country still lacking jobs for its citizens, a good number of Pinoys continue to find work abroad.

REGINA MAE PARUNGAO

With the country still lacking jobs for its citizens, a good number of Pinoys continue to find work abroad. Collective­ly known as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), these men and women bravely take risks working in a strange land, hoping for a better future. Given their sacrifices, actor Ejay Falcon believes it is high time we do more than pay lip service to them.

“Hindi biro ang mawalay sa mga minamahal mo sa buhay,” “Pero tuloy sila sa sakripisyo bilang hindi naman nga maibigay ng ating gobyerno ’yung trabaho na kayang bumuhay sa pamilya nila.” Actually, he said. Ejay pays homage to OFWs through the indie-thriller “Magtanggol.” “Nung binasa ko ’yung nag-goosebumps talaga ako, para talaga sa mga kababayan nating ito. tumaas lalo ang respeto ko sa kanila dahil sa natutunan ko dito sa pelikula,” script, actually OFW, OFW he said. He hopes the film would open the eyes of even more people to the plight of OFWs.

“Binuksan ng pelikula ang mata ko. Sana ’yung makapanood ganun din. Sana makita at maramdaman din nila ’yung kinalalagy­an ng mga kung ano talaga ’yung nangyayari sa kanila,” he said.

“Magtanggol” is about a popular senator being groomed for the presidency. He will be thrusted into controvers­y following a spate of killings involving internatio­nal employers who hire OFWs. na kami naman na.” On Yam

Also in the cast of “Magtanggol” is Ejay’s ex-girlfriend Yam Concepcion.

The two had a five-month romance while working on the now-defunct series “Dugong Buhay.” “Wala naman naging problema, naman na kami matagal na,” din ang pelikula na magbigay daan para lalo naming maayos ’yung namin.” okay Ejay related. “Actually nakatulong totally least, okay

somehow. issues

Later in the interview, Ejay admitted there’s still a bit of awkwardnes­s between them. “Kaya nga hindi ko rin masabi na magkaibiga­n na kami pero na kami. Nakakapag-usap Ika nga may at closure Working with Paulo, Ritz

Ejay is also gearing up for a drama series dubbed “The Promise Of Forever” co-starring Paulo Avelino and Kapamilya newcomer Ritz Azul.

He revealed how he had to adjust working with the two. “Siyempre unang beses namin tatlo magkakatra­baho kami nung umpisa, lalo na ’yung talagang hindi pa kami more on challenge so nagkakaila­ngan first three days,

he said. komportabl­e,”

“Nakatulong ng malaki sa amin na ’yung isang eksena sa barko, parang kinulong kami. Doon kami nagkausapu­sap at nagkapalag­ayan (ng loob).” Ejay only has good words for both. “Mahusay silang katrabaho. Alam ko na may matututuna­n ako sa kanila,” he said.

Is he pressured to work alongside Paulo who already has a Gawad Urian Best Actor trophy in his collection, we asked. “Hindi naman, tinuturing ko na ’yung makasama ko siya. Iniisip ko na hindi ako puwede maging petiks lang dito. Dapat lahat ng eksena ko (ay) paghahanda­an ko.” (With report from Bhenj Agustin)

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 ??  ?? EJAY FALCON SCENE FROM ‘Magtanggol’
EJAY FALCON SCENE FROM ‘Magtanggol’

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