JM De Guzman Is Back
‘Everyone deserves chances para mapakita na you can improve and better yourself, the chance to prove na kaya mong bumangon at kaya mong lumaban. May hope naman sa lahat ng tao.’
MANILA, Philippines — There is a definite charm to JM De Guzman. It is quiet and sincere, not at all cocky or sure of itself, but one that looks soulfully into your eyes before it cracks into a heart-stopping grin. To see him now, still so fresh-faced and confidently responding to difficult questions about his very recent past — it’s hard to believe that he was once steeped in a truly alarming brand of darkness.
In 2009, 21-year-old De Guzman found himself in director Roni Velasco’s Cinemalaya entry, Last Supper No. 3. De Guzman played Andoy Pamatid, a bumbling assistant to Joey Paras’ Wilson Nanawa, and an inciting character who set off a chain of real-life events that would escalate in both comedic and almost unbelievable ways. He was a delight to watch, and studio executives took notice. He was cast, in succession, in several teleseryes within the Precious Hearts franchise, while gaining repute in the independent film circuit. In 2011, he gained critical acclaim for his role as Gabriel Maglayon in the reboot of the Rico Yan classic, Mula Sa Puso.
Shortly after, De Guzman’s rise culminated in booking the title role of the serye Angelito: Batang Ama. The series, running from November 2011 to April the following year, was so successful that a sequel was conceptualized upon its ending, entitled Angelito: Ang Bagong Yugto. It would begin airing in July of 2012. However, De Guzman had been displaying what everyone refers to as “erratic behavior,” to the point that the network could no longer ignore it. The character Angelito was written off with a gunshot, and De Guzman’s pending projects were suddenly reshuffled to more “reliable” actors.
It had become clear to both colleagues and fans that De Guzman had a problem with substance abuse. In 2013, he underwent a rehabilitation program that would leave him on hiatus from show business for 17 months. His return to work was brief, even though former directors and industry friends were thrilled to have talent like his back in their reserves. In 2015, he would star in the box office smash That Thing Called Tadhana, a Cinema One original by director Antoinette Jadaone, which widened his already loyal and raring fan base. However, just as De Guzman was slated to portray the lead role in the Dan Villegas-helmed 2015 MMFF entry Walang Forever, news of De Guzman’s recurring “erratic behavior” led the film’s producers to cast Jericho Rosales instead.
At this point, De Guzman had pulled a full 2007 Britney: shaving his head and leaving puzzling captions on his Instagram posts. He would once again enter rehab, this time for a hiatus that would last for two years.
The Comeback
“’Yung process ng comeback, mas mahirap ng second time, kasi ’yung malaman mo na pangalawang beses na, tapos sunog nanaman yung bridges, tas ’yung tiwala, wala na. ’Yung respeto, wala na, kahit sa sarili ko parang, i-ahon ko lang ’yung sarili ko, parang ang hirap na. Kaya rin ako tumagal doon sa loob, binuild up ko… paano ko mamahalin ’yung sarili ko ulit, paano ko irerespeto ’yung sarili ko ulit,” says a soft-spoken and reflective De Guzman. He says he feels that his prior accomplishments, because they were achieved while high, are somewhat tainted, and there was an impetus to start from scratch. “Lahat ng ginawa ko before, sa mga achievements ko before, inisip ko dahil doon sa ginawa kong pagda-drugs or whatever. Parang, ah, so drugs lang ’yung gumawa noon, hindi ako ’yun? Nasaan ako doon? So zero lahat.”
With Araw Gabi taking off and excited fans constantly sounding off on social media, it seems that De Guzman is back on the inevitable uphill path destined for one with his talent and passion.
But despite his disdain, the networks, his peers and his fans couldn’t overlook his talent. De Guzman said he went to meet with ABS-CBN and Star Magic simply to apologize for his past behavior and for causing so much trouble, but found himself in the arms of a loving and supporting family ready with opportunities to give him the new beginning he was craving. He currently stars in Precious Hearts Romance Presents: Araw Gabi opposite Barbie Imperial, where he is reunited with former Angelito director Theodore Boborol. “Ito ’yung nasa isip ko nung nasa rehab ako: sana magkaroon ulit ako ng soap, para mapakita ko ulit na kaya ko pa and makakapag-deliver ako. ’Yung mga roles na offbeat, gusto ko pa rin siyang gawin pero hindi siya priority sa ngayon. Pero gusto ko pa rin, gusto ko pa rin ’yung challenging roles ng mga psychopath,” De Guzman breaks into an excited smile. He is, however, still in awe of his own luck, as he says, “Hanggang ngayon, feeling ko hindi ko pa rin deserve, so ginagawa ko na lang ’yung best ko. So nagiging grateful na lang ako sa kahit maliliit na bagay. Pero ’yung ‘deservability,’ hindi talaga. Mas maraming deserving, mas maraming magaling, mas maraming gutom.”
With Araw Gabi taking off and excited fans constantly sounding off on social media, it seems that De Guzman is back on the inevitable uphill path destined for one with his talent and passion. And while he seems more mindful and at peace these days, he says not all of it is sunshine and rainbows, and he tries to stay vigilant. “’Yung pinaka na-pinpoint ko is ’yung decision-making ko eh, ’yung how I handle problems or difficulties. ’Yung na-expose lalo ’yung weakness ko na, ah dito pala di ko kaya, hirap na hirap ako. ’Yung decisions ko on how to face those challenges, mali. Sa ngayon, marami nakong natutunang coping skills; how to manage it, how to deal with it.” He adds, “Nagre-resurface pa rin ’yung mga diagnosis sakin, ’yung mga depressive tendencies ko. Bipolar, anxiety, tsaka ’yung manic. Minsan up ako, down ako, hyper ako, tapos down ulit. Aware ako doon, ngayon aware na ako, tapos ’yun ’yung binabantayan ko. ’Yun din ’yung trigger sakin noon eh, to solve it the easiest way. Ngayon nandun pa rin siya, hindi siya completely nawala.”
Greater Than Himself
De Guzman attributes his growing stability to his faith and to the people around him who constantly believed in him even when it was difficult to do so. “Everyone deserves chances para mapakita na you can improve and better yourself, the chance to prove na kaya mong bumangon at kaya mong lumaban.” He muses, “May hope naman sa lahat ng tao.”
He also feels his recovery is important, not only for himself, but for those in the current climate who lean toward swift and inhumane judgment upon those with addiction problems. He says the worst thing that he’s ever been called is “adik na walang pag-asa na dapat pinutukan.” Those ignorant statements are what fuel him to prove himself as someone in recovery, knowing that there are so many people close to him in his life grappling with similar issues, trying to get to a better place. “’Yung struggle mismo, ’yung pinagdaanan mismo, sobrang hirap siya,” De Guzman shares. “Pinaka mahirap na ginawa ko sa buhay ko. And every time na ita-tap ko ’yung feeling na ’yun or ’yung hirap na ’yun, may binibigay siya saking energy or drive na hindi ko nakuha before.”
When asked where that drive will propel him within the foreseeable future, say the next five years, De Guzman looks thoughtful. “Five years from now, sikat na’ko,” he says with a shy laugh. “Five years from now, may enough money na ako to buy a house for my family. Sober pa rin ako sa drugs. Successful, sana successful.” He pauses, smiles widely, and confidently says, “Hindi. Successful. Claiming it.”
