Why Enchong is blessed

Enchong Dee is one young actor I’ve always admired for having a positive attitude. He is talented, he’s very generous and giving, especially to his family, which is why he has been tremendously blessed with good projects and excellent career breaks.

This year was an exceptionally good year for Enchong, who had a movie hit in The Reunion and is now working on another movie intended for the Metro Manila Film Festival. It will be his first time to have an entry in the festival, and he’s excited about that and being part of the traditional parade, riding on a float and attending the awards night, whether he wins an award or not.

Enchong also recently returned from a US tour with his fellow Star Magic artists, and he happily shares that their Las Vegas show was very well-received by audiences. It was the most well-attended Teleserye Bida tour, which made the producers very happy. Enchong also celebrated his 24th birthday while on tour in the US, and had the chance to watch a live broadcast of Ellen, the talk show of Ellen de Generes, who is his ultimate idol. There is a video of the episode circulating on the Internet which shows how Ellen passed by their group in the audience and exchanged hi-fives with Enchong. It was one of the best things to happen to him this year.

Unfortunately for Enchong, there are no pictures of that moment, because they weren’t allowed to take cameras into the studio. But he’ll always have the memories of that day.

Enchong was able to get tickets through a friend. There were four tickets initially, which were for him, Jason Abalos, Rayver Cruz and Enchong’s handler, Monch Novales, who was with them on the tour. When the others found out, they wanted to go, too.“Nag-invite-invite na, then it ended up na 11 na kaming pumunta,” laughs Enchong. They were seated near each other, just one row apart, but the original four were closer to the stage.

It was a surreal moment for Enchong. He turned to Rayver, and told him the feeling was like he (Rayver) had come face-to-face with his idol Derek Rose of the Chicago Bulls NBA team.“Sabi ko sa kanya, isipin mo, niyakap ka ni Derek Rose, kinamayan ka niya, gan’un ang pakiramdam ko.”

He came away from that encounter determined to be a better person. One of the reasons he became a big fan of Ellen was because he could feel how kind-hearted she is. “For someone to say, ‘Be kind to one another’ after every episode na ginagawa niya, ibig sabihin he really wants the world to be a better place,” says Enchong.“Kaya sabi ko, after n’ung Ellen encounter ko, I’ll be a better person, lalo na sa lahat ng sumusuporta sa akin. Kasi isipin mo, may mga tao na once in a lifetime ka lang nila makikita — and at that certain moment, gusto mong iparamdam sa kanila ang good memories ang maalala nila. Para kahit di ka na nila makita ulit, maganda ang pabaon mo sa kanila.”

Part of wanting to make the world a better place is sharing his blessings with other people. He’s having a building built somewhere in Quezon City, and when completed, it will have commercial units on the ground floor and residential units above that — and it won’t only be for him, but for their whole family. Enchong and his family are also spending Christmas out of the country, after the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) opening parade. Some of his fans are also planning a charity event to celebrate his birthday. Soon, he’ll also be starting a movie opposite Eugene Domingo.

Speaking of fans, Enchong also makes sure that he reaches out to them as much as he can, by answering their comments on Instagram. “One comment or reply sa kanila does so much (for them),” he says.

So if there are people who still wish him ill, or say not-so-good things about him, Enchong says he’ll simply turn a deaf ear.“Ang hirap magreklamo kasi blessing lahat ang nangyayari,” he says. Even with all the sacrifices he’s had to make — going home at night dead-tired, being sick, not having time to spend with his family or friends — he can’t find it in himself to complain.“Ang dami-daming binibigay ng Diyos. Nakakahiya magreklamo at nakakahiya magdamot dahil sa lahat ng natatanggap mo.”

In all this, in all the blessings he’s received, Enchong has realized one thing. He just tries to be a better person every time, whether the situation is good or bad. “Everything that happens comes from the Lord. Siguro (kung bad), at first hindi mo maiintindihan, pero along the way, saka mo malalaman kung bakit, and I look at everything as a blessing.”