Julio Diaz (Image courtesy of Aster Amoyo)

After spending more than three years in prison due to drug-related charges in 2018, Julio Diaz swears he’ll never revert to old, bad habits.

He says he’s trying to become a changed man by being faithful to God and making up for lost time both in his personal and professional life. The award-winning veteran actor recently spoke to TicTalk with Aster Amoyo and with Moviegoer on two separate occasions.

On Aster’s widely followed channel, Julio said he recently gifted his only child, Anna Karissa, by ex-wife Maricel, with a brand-new car.

“I know I have missed out on a lot of opportunities with my daughter, who grew up during my dark years,” the veteran actor said.

He is grateful that he has maintained friendly relations with Maricel, daughter to actress Marita Zobel. Fact is, his ex-wife and mother-in-law visited him in Bulacan jail during his incarceration.

“And I’m very thankful to them for that,” he said.

Julio is among the 20 featured actors in the current season of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo. He’s just as grateful to good friends Coco Martin and Brillante Mendoza, who opened breaks for him as soon as he was released from prison. He  played a supporting role in Brillante’s recent film, Apag.

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Julio rose to become a major actor in the 1980s and 90s through roles that showcased his versatility and immense talent. Among his memorable films are The Flor Contemplacion Story with Nora Aunor, Paano Tatakasan ang Bukas with Dina Bonnevie, Sakay with Tetchie Agbayani, Serbis with Gina Pareno.

In 2016, he faced a major health challenge when he underwent surgery for aneurysm.

“God gave me my second life. I am not about to waste this new phase in my life.”

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Here are excerpts from our recent conversation with Julio, in his own words:

JD: Kung kailan nagkaedad ako, napagtanto ko na ang daming nasayang na oras, lalo noong kabataan ko nang bigyan ako ng pagkakataon ng Diyos na maging artista at kinilala ng sambayanan. Hindi biro ang dumating na oportunidad sa akin, naging madamot akong pagbigyan ang kagustuhan ng nasa Itaas. Kasuklam-suklam  ang aminin ko na napayabang akong inako, na kaya ko, na kaya ako papalaot sa rurok ng katanyagan ay dahil ito ay nakatalaga sa kapalaran ko, na walang pagpapa- salamat o pagkilala sa maylikha ng lahat sa mundong ito.

LESSON LEARNED: Kung noon pala, may pagkilala na ako sa Diyos, baka kasing katulad ko rin ang kapalaran ni Coco Martin. I truly believe that Coco's supremacy is a blessed one. It’s a divine gesture of the Lord.

Sa personal kong pagkatao, akala ko ang mabuhay nang mag-isa sa buhay (soltero)  ay masayang buhay kasi walang makikialam, walang magsisita.

As time goes by, pagnagkaka-edad na pala, palungkot nang palungkot ang nasa paligid ko. Hindi normal. May mga anak ako, pero hindi ko sila kilala o kinilala.

Meron akong masasabing anak pero malayo kaming nagtatanawan  lang. Maibibigay ko man ilang kahilingan nitong anak ko, kulang pa dahil ang emotional bonding  namin hindi tugma sa panahon. Dapat andodoon sana ako noong  toddler era nila. Heto, papatanda na unti-unti, habang lumilipas ang panahon, nawawala na ang dating sigla, dagdagan pa konti pang panahon kukulubot at isang araw baka hindi na ako makatayong mag-isa. Saan ko hahanapin ang tutulong sa aking tumayo?  Katanungang pagsisisi. Sana maalala rin nila ako.

Bakit pinarating sa pang-unawa ko ang mga katagang himala sa mga panahong muntik ko nang ikasawi ng buhay? Sa sakit kong aneurysm  pinatotohanan ng Diyos na may himala, pero tila nagalit Siya at nalungkot nang muli kong binalikan ang bisyong magbibigay sa buhay ko ng kahihiyan sa mga mata Niya,  sa madlang tao at lipunan. Heto ngayon, sa muli binibigyan pa ako ng Diyos ng isa pang pagkakataon upang mamuhay ng positibo at pangakong marangal na tatanggapin ko nang maluwag sa kalooban ko kung ito man ang huling biyaya o himala bago man ako lubusang mawala sa mundong ito. Ito'y isang kahilingan at dasal na rin. Nawa'y mapagbigyan ako.