INUSISA namin si David Archuleta kung paano siya nag-celebrate ng Valentine’s Day dito sa Pilipinas at kung meron ba siyang nakasamang someone special nu’ng araw na ‘yon.

Sabi niya sa amin sa presscon ng kanyang all-OPM album na Forever­more, nag-work siya nu’ng Pebrero 14, pero feeling niya ay special ‘yung mga taong nakasama niya that day.

Nagkaroon siya ng photo shoot at music vide­o shoot nu’ng Araw ng mga Puso, tapos nu’ng kinagabihan ay dumiretso siya ng Smart Araneta Coliseum para mag-guest sa concert nina Regine Velasquez at Ogie Alcasid.

Kinanta niya roon ang Nandito Ako.

“That was my Valentine’s Day experience, but it was really special. I got to spend time with the people that I’ve worked with that felt like family.

So, it was great to spend the day with them.

“In between takes while we were doing the video, we were doing karaoke, which is awesome! Ha! Ha! Ha! So, that was fun.

“And then, getting to perform as a special guest at Regine and Ogie’s concert, it was very special.

“I have so much respect for them. I look up to them so much and not just because of how ta­lented they are, how good the people they are, but they’re just very loving people and I have much respect for both of them,” bulalas ni David.

So, all-work pala ang V-Day niya?

“It didn’t feel like work, really. I mean, well… I kept busy, it was a busy day.”

Walang siyang nakapiling na special someone?

“Not really. I called my mom, if that counts. I wished her a Happy Va­lentine’s Day, even though it wasn’t Valentine’s yet over there (in the US) after the concert.

“So, yeah. That’s the only special someone I called. Ha! Ha! Ha!” tawa ng 21-anyos na American pop singer.

***

More than a month na sa ‘Pinas ang American Idol 7 runner-up.

Ayon kay David, ito na ang pinakamatagal niyang in-stay outside of the US para sa isang project.
Three weeks straight ang inilaan niya para sa miniserye niya sa TV5 na Nandito Ako.

Nag-extend siya rito dahil kung anu-anong projects at offers ang nagdatingan sa kanya.

“Everything happens really fast here, really quickly, but it’s been fun. It’s been exciting.

“This is quite a unique experience, staying this long away from home. But I will definitely come back,” sey ni David.

Na-enjoy niya ang every single project na ginawa niya habang nandito siya.

Ang most memorable para sa kanya ay ang miniserye dahil ‘yun ang pinakamatagal niyang ginawa at kakaibang experience ito for him.

Aniya, lahat ng mga nakasama at nakatrabaho niya lalo na sa Nandito Ako ay sinikap siyang maging feel at home, kaya na-enjoy niya ang stay niya rito.

***

Pag-uwi ni David sa kanyang hometown sa Salt Lake City, Utah ay meron siyang isang buwan bago niya simulan ang panibagong yugto ng kanyang buhay.

He will go on a 2-year mission para sa The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, na ayon sa kanya ay gagawin niya to serve God and to serve the people.

“It’s a very difficult, challenging experience. It’s not an easy one. It’s not a comfortable lifestyle.

But that’s how you grow so much from it. It was something that I needed to do,” seryosong pakli ng binata.

Ani David, naging mahirap para sa kanya ang pagdedesisyon dahil malalayo siya sa mga mahal niya, tulad ng kanyang pamilya at sa kanyang musical career. Pero gagawin niya ito para sa Diyos.

For the last 4 years, he’s been working hard para marating ‘yung kung nasaan man siya ngayon, kaya napakahirap sa kanyang basta iwan na lang ang lahat ng ito.

“I don’t know what’s gonna happen after 2 years. I don’t know if I’m gonna have to start from scratch again. But I trust God. I trusted Him so far and He hasn’t let me down.

“I don’t wanna let Him down. Because this decision is for him. He will provide a way when I get back, like He once has,” ang sambit ng very religious na young singer.

Wala raw siyang means of communication ‘pag nagsimula na siya ng kanyang mission. Ayaw i-reveal ni David kung saan siya exactly pupunta dahil mukhang bawal sabihin ‘yon.

Sabi niya, mami-miss niya ang mga taong nakasama at nakatrabaho niya rito sa ‘Pinas kaya nakakalungkot na mag-goodbye sa kanila.

Nangako siyang babalik muli sa bansa.

Samantala, ngayong hapon sa TriNoma Activity Center ay pormal na ilu-launch si David Archuleta bilang newest endorser ng Bench.