2020 was quite the year for special guests on the Monster! We talked to some of the biggest names in local and international entertainment and picked up some amazing insights along the way about life, love, and much more. Here are some of the life lessons from Monster guests that we’re taking to heart!
“Don’t pressure yourself to overperform.” - Rhian Ramos
Rhian kept it short and simple with this advice she gave during her All Out interview. She recognized that the pandemic has brought about many challenges, working from home included. “You’re not gonna be perfect at working from home, especially not right away. You can build a system to help you – but all of these things we see on social media, they’re not as easy to put into practice as they seem,” she said. We know it’s been a couple of months since quarantine first started, but it’s always good to keep this in mind to avoid burning out!
Rhian Ramos Goes All Out - June 19, 2020
“I recognize the fact that I have to take care of my own circle first before I take care of other people.” - Gretchen Ho
Here’s your daily self-care reminder from Gretchen Ho! While it’s admirable to heed others’ call for help, we shouldn’t neglect our own needs and emotions in the process. Gretchen talked about this on All Out when explaining her plans to help more Filipinos in need: “I really plan to do a lot of things to help, moving forward. It’s not that I’m shutting off the world and building a fortress here, but I recognize the fact that I have to take care of my own circle first before I take care of other people. After this, marami pa akong pinaplano to serve and help our kapamilyas out there.”
Gretchen Ho Goes All Out - August 3, 2020
“I believe every struggle is legitimate. No struggle is small.” - Rico Blanco
Rico Blanco’s track This Too Shall Pass came at a perfect time. When Rico & Karla asked the singer where the inspiration for the song came from, he explained that while a lot of his songs just come from imagination, this one is ‘as real as it gets.’ Rico wrote it immersed in the situations that arose when the pandemic hit. “I could see stories of sorrow, of friends losing friends and family members. And then there are people like us – I believe every struggle is legitimate. No struggle is small. Whatever any person is going through, if they’re having a tough time, it’s as tough as they say it is. We can’t belittle anything.”
So, Monsters, remember that your feelings are valid! Just because you think others might have it worse than you, doesn’t mean you should belittle your struggle. This too shall pass!
Rico Blanco Goes All Out - May 6, 2020
“Whenever a bad thing appears, or a bad occasion comes, we should look for the good.” - Jose Mari Chan
The Philippines’ king of Christmas had lots of heartwarming stories and great advice to share during his All Out guesting! When talking about how the pandemic has affected him and those around him, Jose Mari Chan said, “For every bad situation, something good will come out of it.” This is how he encouraged his close circle to be that good, and to share what they have to Filipinos who are struggling. His wise words are just as uplifting as his music!
Jose Mari Chan Goes All Out - September 2, 2020
“World peace begins within, and each and every one of us can do it for ourselves, and for the people in our lives. So don’t give up hope. Just continue to look for the good within yourself.” - Jason Mraz
Speaking of looking for the good, Jason Mraz focused on this message during his All Out interview where he talked about his latest album, Look For The Good. He had the most uplifting message for people who might be struggling to see a silver lining during these tough times. We’ll let the full quote speak for itself:
“Start within. Look for the good in yourself. Then you can say something like, ‘I am hopeful, I am optimistic, I am strong, I am awesome.’ And what you’re doing is you’re transforming your experience on Earth. If we sit and say, ‘I am sad, I am sorry, I am lonely, I am empty,’ then we will perpetuate that loneliness. We will give an identity to that sadness. And you are not your sadness. You are not your pain. That’s just weather that’s existing and passing through you, right? Who you are is so much more divine and so much bigger. Just simply by transforming your language - ‘I am strong, I am healing, I am recovering, I am alive, I am well.’ We start to then shift our perspective, and the more we have that kind of practice and belief in ourselves, then suddenly one day we wake up and actually feel it. And the next step then is to go out in the world and see that beauty, and even see the suffering in others, and say ‘How can I help you?’ And if you can serve another person - you will see them, and you will feel them - and that person will breathe easier because you have lived. World peace begins within, and each and every one of us can do it for ourselves, and for the people in our lives. So don’t give up hope. Just continue to look for the good within yourself.”
Jason Mraz Goes All Out - June 12, 2020
“Maybe I didn’t win my battles today, but let’s see how it goes tomorrow, and I can keep trying.” - David Archuleta
Proving that he is and always has been crush ng bayan material, David Archuleta shared the uplifting message behind his song Ok All Right. “You just keep trying to get yourself out of the bad mood, and then after the end of the day, even though you feel kinda crummy, and a lot of bad things happened, it’s like, you know what? I’m still here, I’m alive, and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was gonna be.” Inspired by his own bad days, David told Rico and Karla he created the song to remind listeners that it’s totally fine to find yourself in a slump! “Maybe you have a day and it’s worse than you thought, but you know what, I can try again. Maybe I didn’t win my battles today, but let’s see how it goes tomorrow, and I can keep trying.”
David Archuleta Goes All Out - August 12, 2020
“I’d rather think of the good memories of what was and what actually happened, rather than dwell on what could have been.” - Lea Salonga
Filipinos are no stranger to the phenomenon of “The One That Got Away” (or as we like to call it, TOTGA), which is usually regarded as something sad – but musical legend Lea Salonga says, to hell with that thinking! When Chico asked on The Morning Rush if Lea has any ‘TOTGA’ projects she wishes she’d done, Lea responded, “I’d rather think of the good memories of what was and what actually happened, rather than dwell on what could have been. It just feels so wasteful of one’s energy, to kinda marinate in thoughts like that. I’d much rather think of kung ano na yung nangyari na maganda, that I got to be a part of.” She knows that missed opportunities are just a part of life, and it happens to everyone. Now, we’re trying our best to apply this mindset to the crushes that didn’t like us back…
The Morning Rush with Lea Salonga - May 21, 2020
“We get so lost trying to chase for things all the time, and then we forget to stop and realize how far we’ve gone already.” - Pia Wurtzbach
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach has a slightly different outlook when it comes to dwelling on the past: she often looks back, not to regret her decisions, but to appreciate how far she has come. “I always think about those things, even up to now, because it brings you back to now. Sometimes you get stuck in your own bubble, and nakakalimutan mo na, ‘Uy teka muna, ang dami ko na palang nagawa,’” Pia said when The Morning Rush asked if she thinks about what would’ve happened if she didn’t win the Miss U crown. “We get so lost trying to chase for things all the time, and then we forget to stop and realize how far we’ve gone already. Like we don’t look back and realize na ‘Ang dami ko na palang nagawa, ang layo na pala ng narating ko.’ Because you never stop to look back, you never realize it.” Give yourself credit for everything you’ve accomplished!
The Morning Rush with Pia Wurtzbach - April 29, 2020
“There will never be another me, in the same way that there will never be another you. We’re designed to be uniquely different from each other.” - Ebe Dancel
Many would love to know the secrets behind their idols’ success, and to follow in their footsteps so they can reach that level of prominence, too. But is that the best way to achieve one’s goals? On the Concert Series, Ebe Dancel gave this advice to aspiring songwriters: “Write from the heart. Don’t keep trying to write the next hit song, or don’t try to write like me. Because there will never be another me, in the same way that there will never be another you,” said the OPM hitmaker. “We’re designed to be uniquely different from each other. So write from your heart, write from your experience, write from where you are, and I think everything else will just follow.”
Ebe Dancel on the Concert Series - July 20, 2020
“You can’t truly love someone unless you have the foundation of respect.” - Catriona Gray
This queen has really nailed her Q&A skills! The Morning Rush asked Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray: Would you rather be loved or respected? She answered, “Respect is not necessarily in the traditional form of love, but I feel like to respect someone is the foundation on which you build love. You can’t truly love someone unless you have the foundation of respect, so you can’t have love without it.” Not only did she answer with such grace, but she makes a really great point!
The Morning Rush with Catriona Gray - April 30, 2020
As we get into the new year, we’re bringing these lessons with us! Which quote resonates with you the most?