A Job Well Done
Article By JASER A. MARASIGAN
Photos by JERICO MONTEMAYOR
Styled by JP DICHE and PIERRE NARCE
Grooming by RHINA MONTEMAYOR
Clothes from FOLDED AND HUNG
Twice in a row, TV host Robi Domingo has been deprived of precious graduation moments.
He missed his high school graduation from the Ateneo High School
because at that time, he was inside the Pinoy Big Brother House. He
finished second place in the PBB Teen Edition Plus in 2008.
Four years later, on the day he clinched a degree in Bachelor of
Science in Health Sciences from the Ateneo de Manila University, Robi
had to rush off to a hosting commitment.
“I had to leave right after the graduation. I didn’t even get to
savor my graduation. We didn’t have the time to take pictures. The only
pictures I had were when I went up the stage to get my diploma and a
family picture,” says Robi.
But no regrets there, Robi qualifies. And why should there be? Since
PBB, it has all been one blessing after another for him. After appearing
in various shows, he is now a regular in the Sunday variety show
“ASAP”, and a MYX VJ.
STUDIES FIRST
Robi admits to struggling during those four years when he was doing
both work and college. He came to a point that he was contemplating on
quitting showbiz.
“I remember when I was doing ‘Boystown’, I didn’t go home for
five days. Because I had summer school then, I take my shower, breakfast
and everything else in Ateneo and go straight to taping. No sleep at
all. Coffee was my best friend,” he recalls.
Still, he considers those times to be the best years of his life.
“I really don’t know how I did it. People would often ask me,
what’s your secret? I would always tell them, more than the talent fees
or the popularity, showbiz has given me this sense of responsibility and
maturity. It also taught me to value life,” explains Robi.
By far, he says, having successfully balanced college life and
showbiz is his biggest accomplishment. He had been a consistent dean’s
lister too. His parents Roberto and Mary Ann, who are both doctors, and
younger brother Maro, kept him motivated all throughout.
“They were really responsible for everything. My mom was
responsible for pushing me to audition for PBB when I was in high
school. My mom was kinda a frustrated actress. Pinasa na lang niya sa
akin ‘yung dream niya. While my dad told me, only a few can do such, so I
should savor the moment, that it is once-in-a-lifetime,” remembers
Robi.
MED SCHOOL IS A SOLID DECISION
At 22, Robi is certainly living life to the fullest, even if he has
decided to put on hold his medical studies for a year to seize the good
opportunities that have been coming his way. He is at present hosting
“Pinoy Big Brother Uber 2012” on ABS-CBN.
“My parents are very supportive of my showbiz career. They’re
actually the ones who told me to take the year off. But pursuing med
school is already a solid decision. My dad advised lang to rest at least
for a year. Sabi niya, na-experience na raw niya kasi lahat ng
pagdadaanan ko going into med school, like 28 hours of studying
straight, so for now, I should enjoy life muna habang bata pa ako,”
relates Robi.
Although he is still undecided what to specialize in, Robi would want
to advocate free health care services, just like his parents do.
“What’s frustrating is the lack of access to health care. Filipinos
die because they don’t have access to medical needs or treatments. In
most cases, money comes first before the health of the patient. Most
people here don’t have the means to pay. Unlike in other countries,
whatever happens, they prioritize health more than anything. I think it
is my mission to help the society in terms of giving them what is due
through their medical needs,” says the future doctor.
His stint as a teen housemate also taught him a lot of lifelong lessons.
“After every task, may lesson. At first mahirap, like ‘yung task na
we have to transfer rice grains from the sacks to brown paper bags using
only chopsticks,” recalls Robi.
The PBB experience also made him realize the importance of family.
“When I was inside the house, what I missed terribly was the bond
of the family. You won’t really get to appreciate them when you are
with them everyday, but when you’re away from them, you actually long
for them,” he says.
Now that Robi has a lot more free time in his hands, he is raring to
do the things he missed doing when he was juggling school and work.
“I would take this gap year to travel. I would really want to
explore some Asian countries, cruise with my family. Spend more time
with the dogs. It has always been my childhood dream to play the flute
so I might just try to learn to play it. Or simply bum around the house
and play video games,” he says with a laugh.
Special thanks to Manila Bulletin Students and Campuses
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