John gets his act together again

John Regala is a changed man. He shows up early in tapings, even if it happens to be in far-off Batangas, where Bakekang once had its shoot. He showed up early at the presscon of Ligalig, CM Films’ Metro Filmfest entry, where he plays Sunshine Cruz’s weird marine soldier-brother.

John is a far cry from who he was in 1998, when producers banned him from their projects because drugs and other vices made him too hot to handle.

"I’ve learned my lesson," says John. "My (forced) vacation from showbiz taught me humility."

It also taught him to be much stronger. No storm, he says, can pull him down anymore. He will get up on his feet, no matter what. After all, he’s been through hell, and come out of it, alive.

For starters, John has become health-conscious. Lay out a mouth-watering feast of pork barbecue, ham and other cholesterol-packed food on the table and he won’t touch it with a 10-foot pole. He knows he has to discipline himself to keep his uric acid level from shooting up dangerously.

"Thank goodness I don’t have high blood," he reveals. But it’s better to be safe than sorry.

John now subscribes to a no-rice-no-meat diet with lots of walking for exercise. Instead of using the car, he walks to wherever he must go.

He has sought solace in religion, too. After his aunt introduced him to Iglesia ni Kristo in 1992, John’s faith has grown by leaps and bounds.

He may not quote Bible verses left and right, but John assures you he turns to the Holy Book for guidance all the time. This is one of the reasons why his long absence from the business has not made him bitter.

"The Bible taught me that everything happens for a reason. Every downfall has a purpose," he explains. So even if his (temporary) absence from the business had a purpose: to teach him a lesson he won’t ever forget.

One of them is the value of family. His half-Filipino, half-Japanese wife Vicky and his children never turned their backs on him even when he hit rock bottom. The mere thought of their love sustained him through the dark eyes.

No way will he let them down, John told himself. He also stopped bitter thoughts right in their tracks, knowing they won’t get him anywhere.

"If I get bitter, I lose. I must show my detractors how wrong they are about me," he says.

Their father’s phenomenal ability to bounce back has inspired John’s sons, John Gilbert, 15 and Hideaki John, 14 (by Vicky) to follow in his footsteps (another one, John Paul Kieffer, is in Arizona with his mom). John’s not stopping them, and even supports his sons’ modeling career.

John is slated to leave for a six-month singing stint in Japan soon.

"That’s another offshoot of my hibernation," he smiles. "When I had no showbiz offers, I poured all my frustrations in the karaoke."

What better way to cope than to turn to drugs and other forms of vice?

Thanks to the karaoke, John developed his hitherto hidden singing talent. Now, he performs classics from Matt Munro, Engelbert Humperdinck, Rico J. Puno, Marco Sison and others when he’s abroad.

That’s very John Regala. He can be down, but not out. He will find a way, and keep his dignity intact.

"I never approached anybody for help when I was down. I started a small poultry business instead. And I relied on my savings all the time," he recalls.

Now, he’s ready to take on any character role once more, like the one he is doing for Cesar Montano’s CM Films. John is also ready to work again with the most meticulous directors, like Cesar, whom most everyone in the Ligalig cast, especially Celia Rodriguez (a sponsor in his wedding to Sunshine), calls a perfectionist.

No wonder John can look anyone in the eye and hold his head high. He may have plunged to the lowest abyss. But he’s back in harness once more. He may not be shuttling from one movie set to another like the good old days, but people still see him on TV and in the movies.

It doesn’t matter, though. John has learned to adjust. Besides, the range of character roles open for a talent like him is sky’s the limit.

Perhaps he can direct someday?

John smiles, as if saying, "I’ll think about it."

If others, much younger than him in the business, and with less experience to boot can do it, why can’t he?