One of my Korean students has made it to the big time - ever since his stint in ABS - CBN''s Pinoy Big Brother, he's been a familiar, funny presence on TV.
Ryan during graduation with me and my other student, Nicole.
He was the type that scraped just enough to get by in class, but outside of the four classroom walls, he was a student council phenomenon. The kind, gracious, funny, charismatic president who was popular with Koreans and Filipinos and everybody in between. He endeared himself to everyone with his mix of incomprehensible English and atrocious Tagalog.
Last summer we watched as he skyrocketed from anonymity straight into the heart of most Filipino households with his unique, unaffected brand of comedy. It was all at once -- absurd, slapstick, endearing, clueless and comical.
Ryan Bang was the topic of many lunchtime conversations -- we felt a sort of ownership over him, and a mixture of a mother hen's protectiveness and pride. I for one, felt conflicted with the fact that pretty soon he would officially become public property.
Anyway he dropped by for a visit today, bringing his lunch to share with us.
He looked good. But he also looked tired. The thing was, that he was just soooo busy. Too busy to contact his old friends John and Chase. Too busy to do anything else besides taping and tours. Too busy smiling and accommodating people's requests to take pictures.
During a short break from all the students, teachers, secretaries and canteen vendors who asked for a photo op, he shared that sometimes he wished for his old life back.
What's the use of fame if you can't keep in touch with old friends or have the luxury of indulging in anti-social tendencies? What good is it if you don't even have time to peruse the dozens of websites devoted to you and Google your name just to see what other people are saying about you? I hope he figures out if this, in the end, is all worth it.
Ryan with me, Miss D, his Student Council Adviser and Miss Rolle, his class adviser.
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