Carmina Villarroel reflects on happiness amid the pandemic
During one of her Instagram live videos, Kapuso star Carmina Villarroel-Legaspi discussed the key findings of Selecta's report on happiness that was done last year, and the results are surprisingly delightful.
The ice cream brand reportedly conducted a study in 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to find out how the health crisis has changed people's outlook on happiness.
There were 12,500 people from 12 countries, including the Philippines, who participated in the said study.
Carmina, along with her guests, mental health advocate Dr. Gia Sison and stand-up comedian Red Ollero, were amazed at how the pandemic has shifted people's priorities and mindset.
Survey says that most people have been looking for happiness in the wrong places for the longest time.
However, during the pandemic, many have had a change of mind and heart.
The study found that 78 percent of respondents say that happiness and well-being should be prioritized over money.
Carmia Villarroel-Legapsi with Dr. Gia Sision and Red Ollero / Source: @mina_villarroel (IG)
Carmina reflected on these findings during the IG live video.
“…totoo naman minsan akala natin dito natin mahahanap 'yung happiness, eh mali pala.”
“Kasi dati 'di ba ang happiness nila 'I want to be successful. Gusto ko marami akong pera o marami akong shoes, bag.' Happiness na nila 'yon.
“Pero nung nangyari 'yung pandemic hanggang sa ngayon, parang naiba 'yung definition nila ng happiness, 'di ba?”
The 'Sarap, 'Di Ba?' host then shared what she believes to be the simplest yet most important things in life that bring true happiness.
“Ako, para sa'kin, personally, ang happiness talaga sa'kin 'yung being together, being with your family, to be able to touch them, kiss them, and hug them, 'di ba?
''Yun na 'yung mga simple things na na-take for granted natin for the past how many decades.”
She also added, “Mas importante 'yung health natin, 'yung kalusugan natin, Ang importante we are all okay mentally and physically, 'di ba?
“Kasi 'yung iba milyonarya nga, bilonarya nga, pero may sakit naman. So, aanhin mo 'yung marami mong pera kung hindi ka naman okay, 'di ba?
Carmina then talked about the silver lining in this pandemic, which is the much-needed reset that brought us back to the basics.
“'Di ba pre-COVID we were so busy with our work, na minsan wala na rin tayong panahon sa pamilya natin, sa mga kaibigan natin.
“Kasi masyadong fast-paced buhay natin eh. Hindi na natin naiintindi 'yung mga dapat nating intindihin.
“I guess siguro 'yung advantage na nangyari nitong pandemic na 'to (ay) parang nag-reality check tayo.
“Parang let's start from zero, 'di ba? Parang 'yung ano muna, the basic needs, 'yung mga basic muna tayo ha. Parang ginanun tayo eh.”
She also said that the lockdown has forced her to be productive at home and unlock new skills such as vlogging and cooking.
“Parang naging YouTuber ako bigla. Parang for the longest time inaano sa'kin ni Zoren, 'Why don't you make a YouTube channel?' For the longest time, hindi pa uso YouTube, ine-encourage na ako.
“Kung dati, with my super-duper busy life, hindi ko maiisip gumawa ng YouTube.
“And then bigla, especially nung last year, wala akong YouTube, bigla akong naging baker, palagi na kong nagluluto sa bahay, na-arrange ko na 'yung mga dapat kong i-arrange sa bahay.”
Find out about the other key findings in the happiness report and watch the fun, insightful and relatable conversation of Carmina, Red, and Dr. Gia in the IG live video below.
For more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.
Check out also the gallery below of Filipino celebrities who opened about their mental health struggles.