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Only on OMG! - JM de Guzman’s dad talks about son’s condition

JM de Guzman is bent on turning over a new leaf (NPPA Images)

Tough love. That’s what Ronniel de Guzman, father of young actor JM de Guzman, is giving his troubled son these days.

The older De Guzman,  a desk editor at the English tabloid Tempo, says he decided to pull JM out of the film "Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir," where he was supposed to play the title role para “gamutin niya ang sugat nya.”

‘May pinagdadaanan’

“May pinagdadaanan siya. May health problem siya. But he’s on his way to recovery,” the single dad told Yahoo! Philippines OMG! in an exclusive interview.

He talked to the director, Francis Villacorta, and told him about his decision.

Villacorta, according to Ronniel, was hesitant. He still wanted JM to play the young Cebuano saint persecuted for his faith.

Ronniel added that he would have allowed JM to shoot the film if the schedule didn’t stretch up to October. And since no legal impediment that would get in the way, Ronniel pushed through with his plan to pull out JM so he can rest and do some soul searching.

“He’s been on a sabbatical for two weeks now,” Ronniel reported. And he has a wish list for his son.

“I want my kid back. I want him to be much better, magkaroon ng responsibility. He has to fix himself, conquer his own demons. Sabi ko sa kanya, dapat pagbalik mo sa showbiz, mas may tools ka na.”

He denied reports that JM is broke.

“May pera siya.  Mabait na anak yan.  He has never bothered me. He has never been disrespectful.”

Ronniel is confident his 24-year-old son will bounce back because he loves his work and has the talent for it.

Passion for acting

“Pag-arte lang naman ang gusto nyang gawin. Kahit bigyan mo lang 'yan ng piso at ilang tao lang ang manonood, aarte siya.”

And since music has therapeutic powers, Ronniel  wants his son to return to his guitar.

The father’s Facebook post on June 27 was also full of meaning.

“Its not about the fall that is important. Its about how you bounce back,” he posted.

Ronniel placed his full confidence on his son’s talent.

“Kahit anong mangyari kay JM, you can’t take away his talent. Paano ka magiging tunay na artista kung hindi ka sensitive sa feelings mo?”

Meanwhile, Jessy Mendiola, JM’s ex-girlfriend, expressed her concern.


“Nalulungkot ako kasi napakagaling niyang aktor at sayang kung hindi niya gamitin ang talent niya. Sa pagkatao niya, mabait siyang tao. May paninindigan siya kasi nakita ko naman na pinanindigan niya ako,” Jessy said.

“Noong narinig ko yung tungkol sa trabaho niya, nalungkot rin ako pero siya na iyon. Hindi ko na hawak iyon. Kung pwede ko lang siyang matulungan, gagawin ko, pero hindi po. Desisyon niya na lang po iyon,” she added.