Maricel Soriano recalls battle with depression
Maricel Soriano admitted she silently fought depression when her mother Lynda passed away five years ago. But she sought professional help when her problem became unbearable.
"Kinailangan ko [psychiatric help], hindi ko kaya nung namatay ang nanay ko. Siguro apat na araw akong gising. Hindi ako natutulog,” Maricel shared on Thursday (September 11) when Yahoo Philippines asked her if she went as far as seeking help.
Break from showbiz
Maricel’s mom succumbed to pulmonary embolism that led to cardiac arrest in July 2009. She was 65. This prompted Maricel to take a break from showbiz for a few months.
The feisty actress said she fought depression the same way she went through the pain of delivering her firstborn.
"Ako nagdaan din, pero hindi ako nag-iiskandalo. Parang nung nanganak ako hindi ako sumigaw. Mahina lang. Nung humihilab ang tiyan, nung nagco-contract [tahimik lang],” she related. "Akala nila aalingawngaw ang buong kapuluan. Ineexpect nila na [maingay]."
Recalling how devastated she was during her time of grief, the 50-year-old actress said she even refused to surrender her mother to the mortuary.
“Forty five minutes hindi pa siya naipapasok sa kabaong… ayoko,” she recalled. "Alam mo catatonic ako, literally catatonic ako.”
Maricel tried evading questions about the issue— fully aware some of her showbiz contemporaries like Sharon Cuneta, Janno Gibbs, and even Agot Isidro have made their depression public. But the “Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real” lead star was reminded sharing her story could inspire others.
Counting her blessings
"Sobrang bakla ‘yun (her mom) kesa sa’kin. Maganda ba skin ko? Wala itong sinabi sa skin ng nanay ko… talbog ito,” she recounted.
Maricel still misses her mother, who she considers her best friend, and revisits her memory even during tapings.
Meanwhile, the Philippines’ Diamond Star was brave enough to admit she, too, experienced midlife crisis. She is just thankful her humble beginnings in a 44-year showbiz career made her survive the ordeal. And since the veteran actress knows what it's like to be extremely sad, she knows how to count her blessings.
"Ang requirement ko kasi rito [GMA’s Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real], ang sisimple, hindi kailangan ng pera. Kailangan everyday tumatawa tayo. Dahil ako kapag hindi natawa, magwo-walk out ako. Sa apatnapu’t apat na taon ko sa industriyang ‘to, hindi ako maaaring hindi matawa kapag nagte-taping. Hindi ba dapat masaya tayo at meron tayong blessings? Kaya minsan kapag umiinit ang ulo ko, ‘O, ‘wag kang antipatika, ang dami mong blessings.’"
