After three days of not having any contact with his relatives in Super Typhoon Yolanda-ravaged Tacloban, Daniel Padilla was only too happy to learn that his grandmother and other relatives had been located and were safe.
“Oo pero ngayon okay na. Susunduin na sila ni mama at on the way na sila pabalik ng aming bahay,” Daniel shared during an interview with the press after the fashion show organized by SM Accessories where he, along with Julia Barretto, Enrique Gil, and Kathryn Bernardo were launched as the new teen royalties style ambassadors on Tuesday at the Megatent in Libis.
According to Daniel, those three days that they had no way of knowing whether their grandma or their other relatives were safe had been agonizing. “Oo naman siyempre kamag-anak mo ‘yun eh at tsaka bago sa ‘yo ‘yung mga nangyayaring ganon eh. Ako naman siyempre sobrang panic rin ako,” he confessed, but he quickly added, “Pero pray lang ng pray at nasa isip ko na talagang walang sukuan.”
Thankfully though, they were finally able to reach his lola. “Pinuntahan na ng tito ko na doon rin nakatira na okay, tapos okay na.”
With the monstrous Super Typhoon Yolanda (International name: Haiyan) leaving behind a huge path of death and destruction in the Visayas region, stars quickly mobilized their resources and came up with their own unique ways of raising funds to aid the storm’s victims.
While some are auctioning their used items or selling them in garage sales, others are making use of their talents to take part in various kinds of fundraising concerts, Daniel shared that they are quietly doing their part to help in their own home.
“Oo sa bahay ko ngayon merong relief donation, doon na lang kami sa bahay gumagawa. Kailangan talaga ‘yung tulong eh tapos siyempre kababayan eh. Lahat naman tayo dito magkakapamilya,” underscored the 18-year-old star.
What does he think is the greatest lesson that the Filipinos can take from Yolanda’s wrath? “Siguro ‘yung pagiging [positibo] at walang sukuan at ‘yung [pag]kapit sa Diyos,” Daniel swiftly replied.
As one of the most idolized teens of today, Daniel said that being young is not an excuse not to help. “Wala naman sa edad eh. Walang tanda-tanda pagdating sa pagtulong, lahat tayo pare-pareho lang depende lang ‘yon kung paano ka tutulong,” he said.
According to earlier reports, Daniel said that he will personally visit Leyte soon and organize a concert for the benefit of the typhoon victims.
