Even after spending considerable time in a rehabilitation center due to drug use, JM de Guzman does not falter in attending monthly sessions with his support group.
JM de Guzman
“Meron po kaming monthly requirement to attend therapy sessions nu’ng mga peers ko sa loob kasama 'yung family namin para tuloy-tuloy 'yung support,” he shared at the media huddle for his latest TV show, “Precious Hearts Romances: Araw Gabi” where he plays Adrian, CEO of the Olividar Group of Companies.
He shared the reason for having a support group.
“Kailangan maging humble enough pa rin ako to always seek help. Kasi recovery is a life-long struggle or fight. Kapag tumigil ako humingi ng tulong or ng support, doon ako puwedeng madapa po ulit.”
Admitting he went through a difficult struggle, JM said, “Yung gabing darating, parang hindi naman po mapipigilan ‘yun sa tao, di ba? Pero ngayon po, dahil sa pinagdaanan ko, mas scaled na ‘yung coping skills ko para ma-manage ko na ang sarili ko sa oras ng dilim. May support group po ako na hindi binibitawan.”
JM shared he will be done with rehab by July.
"After nu’n, papalitan ang group namin as graduate group. Ngayon kasi nasa after-care group ako,” he said.
Getting yet another chance in show business, JM feels he should not expect things anymore.
“Actually 'yung expectations ko nga po, tinanggal ko na. Nung time na pinayagan ako ng rehab to reintegrate and make amends sa ABS, pumunta po ako dito kasama 'yung counselor ko. Wala po akong in-expect na kahit ano. Nagulat nga po ako na meron pa po silang plano for me. Sobra ko pong na-appreciate,” he said.
“Ang initial feeling ko po, siyempre, sobrang kabado, pero ngayon mas nangingibabaw po ‘yung nao-overwhelm ako ng saya. Sobrang grateful lang po talaga ako."
Indeed, he has become more appreciative of everyone and everything.
“Sobra ko pong naa-appreciate and every second kina-count ko siya para ma-remind ako na huwag mapunta sa ulo ko, pahalagahan ko, at laging pasalamatan.”
For more than two and a half years, JM was bereft of project. When he attended the first taping of his teleserye, he m felt apprehensive.
“Normal pa rin na ‘yung kaba nandoon. ‘Yung pagiging tentative sa mga ginagawa ko,” he said.
The actor shared he got two offers from ABS-CBN – a movie and a soap opera.
“May in-offer pong isang movie pero hindi pa po ako pinapayagan na gumawa nang sabay. Pinag-usapan po namin kung ano ang uunahin."
Barbie Imperial who plays his love interest in the soap opera noticed how unapproachable he was during taping.
‘Di ba ano, ‘yung character ko super ano (mysterious). So kapag nasa set ako ay tina-try kong in character na ako,” JM explained.
He admitted using a body double in some scenes especially those that required him to display his butt.
Naysayers
As for bashers who continue to malign him on social media, the actor just shrugs it off.
“Meron po (na bashers) pero minsan tinatawanan ko na lang. Ubos na po ang energy ko sa work so parang wala na akong time sumagot. Okay lang po sa akin,” he said.
He also cleared that ex-girlfriend Jessy Mendiola is not what drove him to the edge all over again.
“Hindi ko puwedeng sisihin doon, eh, kasi lahat naman ng tao ay nagdadaan sa problema. Sinisisi ko lang siguro ito sa naging choice na ginawa ko."