MANILA, Philippines — Joey de Leon (photo) promptly apologized for his remarks about depression in last Thursday’s Juan For All/All For Juan segment of Eat, Bulaga!
Among those who reacted to Joey’s remarks was Health Sec. Paulyn Ubial who said that depression should not be taken lightly.
“In the medical profession,” said Ubial in an ambush interview, “there is a scientific basis to diagnosis of depression,” adding “the DOH goal is to make sure that when a person is starting to have the ideation of loneliness or isolation, there are healthcare providers who will be available to help them.”
However, Ubial refused to hold Joey accountable for belittling depression but she underscored the need for everyone to be responsible so that they would not put a person in peril.
Here’s Joey’s full apology:
Naging mababaw lang at magaan ang pagtanggap ng inyong lingkod sa salitang ‘yan…’Yon kasi ang paniniwala ko, na ang stress at depression halos magkapantay lamang…Humihingi po ako ng paumanhin sa mga napaitan sa sinabi ko at humihingi ako ng pang-unawa.
According to Joey, he was scolded by his children and his wife Eileen who told him that there are people close to them who are actually suffering from depression. Joey added that he was hopeful that his mistake would “open the door for a better understanding of depression.”