Kapamilya star Angelica Panganiban spoke candidly on how some celebrities become addicted to illegal drugs and alcohol to deal with pressure in their careers.
Appearing as a guest on Alyssa Valdez’s Spotify podcast, Angelica admitting being an actor is a very hard job.
“Alam mo kung ano yung mahirap na hindi naiintindihan ng mga tao? Akala nila yung mga artista, sasabihin nila, ‘Ah, ano iyan, wild iyan, ganito iyan, pariwara iyan,'” she began. “Makakarinig at makakarinig ka talaga ng mga ganu’n. Pero ang hindi nila alam, hindi naman sila mga artista. Hindi niyo alam ang pinagdadaanan namin every scene.”
Angelica said that their mental states are affected by the different emotions given during taping.
An example she gave was grieving a death in one scene, happily celebrating a birthday in another, then followed by a triggering scenario.
“Uuwi ka ng bahay na ang daming nangyari sa iyo, mentally. So, hindi ka talaga makakatulog,” Angelica added.
As a result, Angelica said many celebrities turn to addiction, eventually needing rehabilitation or else risk wrecking their lives.
“May ibang tao, ang takbuhan nila is alcohol or drugs. Nakaka-escape na sila, e [sa reayalidad ng buhay]. Parang gagaan ang loob mo, and then kahit paano, maitutulog mo,” Angelica continued.
“Gigising ka, it’s another day. Parang di mo na alam ulit yung nangyari kahapon. Para siyang blackhole, parang pag pinasok mo puwede ka niyang higupin. Magiging masamang tao ka na lang din.”
She did point out there are some professional actors who are capable of “snapping out” and distance themselves from performances.
Angelica then shared how she broke down back in 2009 as a result of too many projects – at the time she was working on “Rubi,” “I Love You, Goodbye,” “Banana Sunday,” “Kris TV,” and “ASAP,” on top of guestings.
She recalled one time breaking down in front of fellow actor John Pratts while at a taping for a comedy show, “Sino mag-aakala na may chance at makakaramdam ka ng depression o kaguluhan ng isip mo habang surrounded ka ng masasayahing tao? Pero wala, e, nangyari lang talaga siya.”
“Iyak ako nang iyak. Sabi ko, hindi ko na kilala yung sarili ko. Ang dami kong ginagawa,” she went on. “Tapos napo-portray ko sila with flying colors, pero si Angelica, wala na, wala na siya. Nasaan siya? Tapos iyak ako nang iyak.”
Angelica ended with the realization that being an actress is not her ultimate dream but becoming a mother to daughter Amile and a wife to husband Gregg Homan.