MIXED feelings.

Host Carmina Villaroel said she went on a roller-coaster ride of emotions when she met fellow victims and survivors of storms ?Ondoy? and ?Pepeng? for the award-winning QTV reality show ?Day Off.?

?I felt for them because I was also a victim of Ondoy,? she explained. ?At the same time, I was amazed by the rescuers. Even though it wasn?t their job, they went out of their way to help others. It just goes to show how compassionate Filipinos are.?

She and husband Zoren Legazpi and twins Maverick and Cassandra had to evacuate their flooded home in Maybunga, Pasig, two months ago. ?The twins had to go on a rubber boat, while our van had to negotiate thigh-high floodwaters.?

Pre-holiday treat
To celebrate the show?s fourth anniversary, Carmina and co-host Pekto gathered four storm victims and heroes and their families for a pre-holiday treat in an amusement park and resort.

?I?m very inquisitive,? she said. ?So I asked a lot of questions about their experiences.?

She discovered that the victims didn?t allow themselves to feel depressed and traumatized. ?They readily moved forward. Even though they lost their homes, they remained positive because no one in their families was seriously hurt and killed.?

Instead of comforting the victims, Carmina found herself being ?comforted? by their stories of strength and survival. ?We had fun and we later learned to joke about our sad experiences. In spite of the tragedy, they were upbeat.?

Ondoy has taught her a lot?lessons that are relevant not only in this season of glad tidings, but all year round.

?I was in a daze that whole day. I realize that, in times of crises, you need to be alert and decisive? especially if you have small kids depending on you,? she noted. ?Sadly, presence of mind was something I lacked. Fortunately, Zoren was there.?

The disaster also made her realize that one should not get attached to material things. ?When a calamity hits, you won?t be spared. It doesn?t matter whether you?re a celebrity or not, whether you?re rich or poor.?

The house is currently undergoing repairs, Carmina reported. ?It needs to be repainted. Some doors and kitchen cabinets need to be replaced. People say that you can easily earn the money to buy the material things you?ve lost. True, it?s hard on the pocket...but it?s more important that my entire family is safe.?

Doing ?Day Off? is also a lesson in humility, she admitted.

She has tried all sorts of jobs on the show?from butcher to public school teacher, from janitress to plumber.

?It?s humbling to meet real hardworking people and to see them enjoying their first trips to the salon or spa. These are things that we take for granted, but for them they?re a big deal. I learn a lot from them.?

The three-part anniversary special of ?Day Off? is being shown three Saturdays this month (first part aired Dec. 5) in its new time slot 6:15 p.m.
E-mail: bayanisandiego@hotmail.com.