On December 1, Bayani Agbayani admitted to having a retirement plan when the pandemic struck and when ABS-CBN’s shutdown started.
During our exclusive interview, Agbayani revealed that he prepared for the possibility of having fewer projects and that he planned to travel on a cruise ship with his wife.
“Kasi ako naman pinaghandaan ko na ang maaaring darating na tagtuyot sa buhay ko. Talagang noong marami akong trabaho, nag-ipon ako ng nag-ipon. Hindi ko nga alam na magkakaroon ng pandemic eh pero nakahanda na ako doon.
“May plano na kaming mag-asawa na mamamasyal kami sa buong mundo kasi malalaki na ‘yung mga anak namin, college na, it’s about time, 52 na ako. Sabi ko, ‘Mama, hangga’t bata pa tayo, mag-cruise-cruise na tayo.’ Ganon balak namin.”
However, Agbayani postponed their travel plans because he received a surge of showbiz projects amid the pandemic.
He also noted that the pandemic changed his mindset and priorities in life.
“Ang pera pwedeng manakaw, pwedeng mawala eh. Pero ang memories, hangga’t sa pagtanda mo na, hindi na mawawala ‘yun.”
Agbayani then shared the advocacies he’s promoting–the local products and the tourism sector.
“Sabi ko nga sa mga bata, unahin natin ‘yung Pilipinas. Kasi para ‘yung pera natin, umikot dito sa bansa natin. ‘Yun nga lagi–local first. Kahit sa pagbili ng damit, sa pagbili ng pagkain, sa pagnonood ng concerts, OPM muna tayo. Dapat umikot muna ‘yung pera natin sa bansa natin, huwag muna tayo mag-isip ng imported. Kung ano muna ‘yung nasa bansa natin. Kaya dito muna kami.”
As for his birthday, Agbayani plans to travel to Davao with his family.
“Punta kami sa Davao tapos magkwe-quail farm kami. Doon na rin ako magbi-birthday ko sa Davao. Alis kami ng [December] 25, balik kami ng January 4 ng Manila.”
During the pandemic and ABS-CBN shutdown, Agbayani joined the team of TV5’s noontime show, Lunch Out Loud, as one of the mainstay hosts.