Philippine Showbiz Today
April 8 - 21, 2019
Jan. 22-Feb.7, 2015
5
Everyday struggle
JM de Guzman does not have
any qualms talking about his past.
It’s an open book he went into rehab
for substance abuse and, at the
press con of his new movie, “Last
Fool Show,” he was asked about
his opinion on the proposal of the
PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency) for local celebrities to take
the drug test.
“I think it’s a smart move for
the PDEA,” he says. “As actors,
we have a social responsibility to
set a good example to others. It’s
common knowledge I was in rehab
for three years. I was with addicts
and pushers. Ako, I’m thankful na
binigyan ako ng chance na makabalik
uli and now I also want to help others
na may pinagdaraanang gaya ng
pinagdaanan ko.”
JM had his rehab at the
Self Enhance for Life Foundation
(S.E.L.F.) “While I was there, I spent
33 days, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., just
facing the wall. I was not allowed
to communicate with others, basta
nakaharap lang ako sa wall. It was
there that I had a turning point in
my life, that I accepted that I need
to recover.”
He was released in July last
year and ABS-CBN got him to star
in “Araw Gabi” with Barbie Imperial.
He then made his first comeback
movie, “Kung Paano Siya Nawala,”
which didn’t do well at the box office.
Hopefully, “Last Fool Show” will be
received more warmly by viewers at
the theaters.
“I still fight every day,” JM says.
“It’s still a struggle and I try my best
not to show people that I still have
internal conflicts within me. But with
the Lord and a lot of helping me, I
know malalampasan ko all the other
trials that might come my way.”
JM should really be thankful
that despite what he went through
with his addiction, it didn’t ruin his
good looks at all but he now comes
out even better looking than before.
You won’t even suspect he was once
into drugs.
“Last Fool Show” is from Star
Cinema and ABS-CBN Films. (M.
Bautista, Malaya)