There's no stopping Filipino singer-actor-licensed pilot Ronnie Liang as he shared glimpses of his activities.
During an interview at Coffee Project in Quezon City on Dec. 14, Liang recalled how he got super busy as a frontliner during the pandemic.
"The first two years I served the public as an Army reservist. Naghahatid at sundo ako sa mga health worker sa drop-off points, nagpapakain din ako sa mga locally stranded individuals. I distribute food packs at ayuda," said Liang.
The pandemic also gave him the chance to record songs. And for the holidays, he has released cover versions of "Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko," "Sana Ngayong Pasko," and an OPM original entitled "Sa Paskong Darating," which he said was composed by a seafarer. All these songs are doing well on music streaming platforms.
Liang said he will release a full album with original songs in March 2022. It is a tribute to the Armed Forces of the Philippines where the songs were penned by the soldiers themselves. "Nagkaroon kasi ng songwriting contest sa AFP at nakapili kami ni Randy Santiago ng 16 songs. I rearranged it based on my vocal range and I also co-produced it."
Praise the Lord! Liang was never tested positive for COVID-19 at the time he helped authorities during the lockdown.
"God is good at hindi naman po ako nahawaan ng virus. Wala pang vaccine noon. Puro Vitamin C, tubig at dasal lang ako noon. Pero siyempre, natakot din ako," he said.
Liang, who popularized the song "Ngiti," appealed to the public to get vaccinated for protection.
"Sa mga kababayan natin na wala pang bakuna, huwag tayong matakot dahil dumaan ang vaccine sa research. Papalakasin nito ang resistensya natin laban sa COVID-19," he added. "Isipin naman po sana natin yung mga loved ones natin. Kung may vaccine na po tayo, less yung risk na magkakaroon tayo ng virus."
Now a second lieutenant of the Philippine Army Reservist, Liang said he is also completing his master's degree major in national security and administration at the Philippine Christian University. He is expected to graduate in July 2022.
Liang said that his goal is to finish his commercial pilot course at the Pilipinas Space and Aviation Academy, Inc. in one year. "Kung hindi lang nag pandemia, siguro noong 2020 tapos na ako. Nag-lockdown din kasi yung airport, control towers. So walang lumilipad more or less two years din. Pero lately sa Lingayen, doon ako nagte-training as pilot."
Asked about the fulfillment he gets as a reservist, Liang said: "Yung fulfillment na masaya yung mga tinutulungan mo, that for me is my reward. That's my incentive or benefit. At hindi ka nila nakakalimutan at pinaglalaban ka nila."
Liang also said he doesn't have plans to join politics, despite invitations from political parties.
"Marami ang nag-iimbita sa akin para tumakbo sa election pero parang it's not my forte. Gusto ko lang mag-serve na walang kapalit," he added.
Liang has finished three movies, but he will let the producers make the official announcement of these films.
When asked if he's interested in doing a Boy's Love (BL) movie, Liang said: "Hindi bagay sa akin ang BL kasi sundalo po tayo. Sumasaludo sa akin yung mga bata, so I need to be wholesome. So dapat maging magandang ehemplo ako."
Liang is currently one of the judges for the weekly reality singing program "Sing-Galing" on TV5. He told singing contestants never to give up on their dreams.
"When I hear the contestants during audition, nahihirapan daw sila. Ilang beses pa lang they give up. Sabi ko, when I do my comments, I auditioned more or less 300 times. But I did not stop and did not give u on my dreams. Now I'm here as one of your judges. In God's perfect time, God will grant your wishes," he added.
Liang is a product of the 2006 reality show "Pinoy Dream Academy" where he finished second runner-up. The rest is history.