Enchong Dee on inspiring kids and staying afloat

CEBU, Philippines — After achieving one of his long-time endorsement goals, Enchong Dee not only plans to work hard for himself and his family, he also wants to strengthen his advocacy on health and wellness, and financial preparedness.

The 29-year-old actor, a former competitive swimmer and member of the national swimming team, started his job as wellness ambassador for SunLife Financial with a swimming lesson for kids alongside young star Iñigo Pascual and national swimming team athletes. Held at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Enchong spared some time from his Ironman 70.3 training to share his knowledge in swimming and teach water safety to kids through the GoWell Go Swim session.

“I want to help people. The power of change is so relevant. One post, they can be inspired or you can crush someone’s dreams,” Enchong said upon being announced as an official SunLife ambassador.

 The Bicol native competed in the swimming category under the SunLife tri-team during the recent Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championships, where he was second off the water, beating his personal record of 31:04 with 28:12.

In an interview with The Freeman, Enchong looked back on his swimming career, what spurred him to create his swimming advocacy, his social media habits, and how he manages to stay afloat in a sea of faces in the showbiz industry.

 Was it your first time teaching kids how to swim?

No. It’s probably my eighth or ninth time. Kasi I have this program, it’s called Handog Palangoy ni Enchong.

 What made you come up with Handog Palangoy ni Enchong?

I have this coach when I was a competitive swimmer pa. He would tell me: ‘Chong, turo tayo. You have that influence, that power to encourage people and teach kids how to swim.’ And lagi akong may rason. Until one day, I was in London, I got a text that he passed away. Sabi ko, I want to do something for him. That was three years ago. Noong una, ayaw ko ilagay yung pangalan ko. But like I said, it will encourage people to join if they know someone is going to be there for them, which is me, a former competitive swimmer. It started three years ago. It’s more of giving kids, especially indigent kids and kids with autism, basic swimming lessons and water safety. Ginawa ko siya almost seven cities around the Philippines. Pero ang kaya ng budget ko is yung naaabot ng sasakyan—like Dagupan, Pateros, Batangas, Lipa, Laguna. Always kong sinasabi na ang Pilipinas napapalibutan ng tubig, but we don’t have the curriculum kung saan tuturuan tayo na lumangoy. Parang hindi nag ma-match. Kesa naman magreklamo ako nang magreklamo, I decided to do something about it.

 What fulfillment does teaching indigent kids give you?

I remember, when I was a kid, I would get inspired kapag merong national swimmer who would do their talks sa city namin. When I do my Handog Palangoy, I go to the swim team sa city and talk, and then after we teach kids—less fortunate kids, kids with autism—and then we give them snacks, and afterwards we give them gifts. Just to remind them that someone cares for them. It’s not really about the fulfilment, it really comes from reminding them that someone thought of them.

 You talked about inspiration and the power of change. Was there someone or something that inspired you so much?

Bicolano ako. I grew up in Naga, and I train in Naga City. I remember one day they brought Akiko Thomson sa Naga City for a talk. Imagine the effort of going to Manila, and then Naga just to do a talk. Of course for her at the time it was probably just a schedule, it was probably just a talk—but for me it was such an inspiring moment. I said, you know what, let’s do this. Let’s represent this country. There are news about the Philippines in every angle mostly bad, but if you have kids my age and younger than me who could represent the country in a brighter light then let’s do it. I’ll train properly, I’ll train hard. Inspire people. And just do it for the country.

 Were there kids from Handog Palangoy who went on to compete?

I remember sa Tanauan, Batangas. I was there two years ako. Meron doon, dalawang bata na sabi nila gusto nilang magpatuloy. We went there after a year, and they were part of the Tanauan Bantangas swimming team already. Dalawang bata yun. Palagi kong sinasabi na hindi mo alam kung ano ang mabibigay sa iyo ng sport. When I was kid, I was asthma-free after swimming, and then my education was free because of my scholarship that the city gave me because of the sport.

 What other things do you plan to do for your health and wellness thrust?

I know on October 14, we’re doing an aquathlon. It’s swim and run. I think mas confident ako doon. I feel like bike would be my least because I don’t own a racing bike. I’m excited for that. As for other things, who knows? I wish they could support me in the international marathons. And I really want to partner Handog Palangoy with SunLife’s GoWell program because right now, I’m only using my budget. If we’re going to collaborate, imagine how many cities we’ll be able to go to. I want to go to Ormoc, Samar…It saddens me na kapag may catastrophe or typhoon, laging casualty is bata. And I can’t accept that. It’s really heartbreaking. It should be part of our educational system. Napapalibutan tayo ng tubig, let’s not take that for granted. We have fire prevention month and other things but we don’t have anything para sa kung ano ang nasa harapan natin, primary problems natin.

 How did you get into swimming?

It was really my parents. I was six. Literally, tinapon ako sa tubig. And I enjoyed it. After a while, I stepped up and did competitions.

 And you quit because of showbiz?

That’s one. Number two, I graduated already. And the reality of Filipino athletes, the moment we graduate, the compensation from the government… I don’t want to put it out as if I’m complaining. Ang career ng sportsman sa atin is only until education. But I never really retired. I’m always there for my swimming friends and coaches.

 What were the highlights of your stint competing in the Sea Games and the Asian Games?

You know what’s funny? All of those are highlights of my swimming career. But ang most memorable was the time when I would compete locally. And then see my friends, and compete with each other. But after the competition we would gather, catch up, and talk about anything except swimming. It’s the camaraderie and friendship. Yun yung nabi-build. And I was able to carry that internationally. So now I have friends in India, Malaysia, Australia…

 Did you have to decline projects to prepare for this year’s Ironman?

Yeah. I had to change some things na pwede ko naman ma-reschedule after all this. I think ‘ASAP’ was one of them. I really had to set time aside, kasi sa experience ko last year I only had four training days. After the race, I can barely put a shirt on. Ang hirap. So sabi ko, this year, I need at the very least 10 days. I want to feel that pain already para bukas I won’t feel it anymore. Well I still feel it, but not as much.

 Do you have any more sports and fitness goals?

I would really want to try a full-on Ironman triathlon. At the same time, try international marathons. I think it’s really cool and not everyone can and does it. Swim? There are competitions that would sometimes invite and if the schedule fits, I would go but not as competitive as before. I still win from time to time.

 What are your dream swimming destinations?

I really want to swim sa Pasig River. Pinroject na namin to with Miss Gina Lopez. It’s a project with DENR and at the same time the LGUs surrounding Pasig River. I want to show people that we can swim there again. It was a project six, seven years ago na until now hindi pa rin natatapos kasi lilinisin, marurumihan, lilinisin, marurumihan. May nakatira kasi sa side ng river. But you can’t blame them. That’s the only thing they have, that’s the only thing they can afford. Hindi maiiwasan. Dream ko talaga. Kasi kung pakikinggan natin yung lolo and lola natin who lived in Manila, dati nakakapaglangoy ka pa sa Pasig, dati may nahuhuli ka pang isda sa Pasig. Kapag pumupunta tayo sa ibang bansa, nalalanguyan yung river nila, bakit sa atin hindi na?

 How about your goals as an actor?

I actually went to a meeting with Star Cinema. It’s good that they’re collaborators now. They asked me, ‘Okay, we have this story but we won’t develop it unless you’re 100 percent game.’ And I said, let’s do it. Let’s develop it. I’m an actor. Let’s explore that area. After ‘Blood Sisters,’ I’m going to do a movie.

 You recently came up with a book “Basta Trip Mo.” How did that come about?

Let’s be honest. Nowadays, no one really reads the physical books. We’re in a time where newspapers are dying, the music industry is dying, we’re transforming into digital…but we’re not cutting as much trees anymore. But we have to remind the younger generation that YouTube is not the only entertainment. There are books, health and wellness, other things to put your time in. Ang nangyayari kasi ngayon, everyone’s just on their iPads and iPhones and what have you. I think that’s the way of ABS-CBN Publishing to bring back reading books and why they asked us to be part of that. I gracefully said yes because gusto ko rin ma-share yung travelling ko. I did that and also incorporated stories everytime I travel. May tendency kasi ako to forget, kaya nilagay ko yung stories, nandoon sila Bea, Maja, Kim, Rayver, Gerald… I wrote everything to encourage others to travel with friends, by themselves, or with their family.

 You spoke about the power of one post. Are there social media habits of your fellow celebrities that you think needs to change?

Speaking for myself—let’s not focus on the petty things. There are more important things, more important issues like the country, like helping people, like health. We have the tendency to just post nonsense, and we have a tendency to react on things that are not really important. If I could encourage them be more involved in our social issues…But again, you can’t help to post those kinds of things once in a while. I mean I would post about food but that’s not the only thing I would post.

 With new faces and talents constantly coming in, how do you keep up and stay relevant?

I think number one, you really have to be good at what you’re doing. I always tell the younger ones, if you’re good, you’re good. You have to always remember what you’re here for. If you’re here as an actor, then be an actor. Research, study. If you’re a singer, you don’t slack around. You don’t play around because you’re here for work, and not just for fun. Yun lang. And then you have to focus on yourself. If I start looking at all the younger people coming in, baka mapraning ako. Hindi ko na alam kung anong sunod kong gagawin.