AFTER seven months, former child actor Jiro Manio was released from rehabilitation in a wellness facility last Jan. 25 and is ready to give show business another try.
“Ok na po ako. Naka-recover na,” told Manio during an interview in “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” broadcast over GMA-7 last Sunday.
Thanks to popular comedienne Ai-Ai de las Alas who never gave up on the actor who played one of her children in the blockbuster “Tanging Ina” film series.
“Hindi ko s’ya pwedeng pabayaan dahil sabi ko sa kanya, anak ko s’ya at nag-trust naman s’ya sa akin,” De las Alas said.
Manio rose to fame when he starred in the critically-acclaimed “Magnifico” in 2003. He also won awards in FAMAS and Metro Manila Film Festival.
The actor was born to a Japanese father Yusuke Katakura while his Filipina mother had passed away. He was raised by his grandfather and he has a younger brother Anjo Santos.
Manio, 23, recalled when he was found by airport security men begging for food at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City sometime in June 2015.
“Nag-start po ’yun dahil sa napabarkada ako. Tapos naturuan akong gumamit ng hindi maganda, ’yung drugs, hanggang tumagal nang tumagal ’yung experiences ko at nadala ko na ’yung paggamit ng drugs. Pero naagapan naman po kasi binigyan ng solusyon ng family ko ’yun at pinadala ako sa rehab. Nag-decide silang ipa-rehab na lang ako para ma-stop ko na ang paggamit ko ng drugs.”
After he completed his first rehab, the actor went home. But his drug use did not end there. He also fathered two daughters out of wedlock with his partner.
“Nung nakauwi na ako, may mga nagyayaya pa rin sa aking lumabas hanggang sa napagamit na naman ako (ng drugs). Pag nakagamit ako, ang dating sa akin, natatakot ako sa mga tao. Hindi ko na kaya at ’yung sarili ko parang gusto kong dalhin sa airport,” Manio said.
“Four days ako nun sa airport. Hindi ako kumain at dun ako natulog. Tapos may mga lumalapit na sa akin, nagtatanong kung aalis daw ba ako. ’Yung mga guard dun inasikaso po ako.”
Manio said that he has avoided his friends who had influenced him to do drugs. “Nilayuan ko na ngayon ’yung mga barkada ko. Kaya ko naman mabuhay ng wala sila.”
De las Alas described Manio as the most aloof among the child stars in the “Tanging Ina” movies in real life.
“Nung unang pinuntahan ko s’ya sa airport para kunin ko s’ya, nagtataka s’ya. Sabi n’ya, bakit daw ako nandun. Hindi raw n’ya inaasahang tutulungan ko s’ya.
“Parang anak ko ito e, so kung ano ’yung ginagawa ko sa mga anak ko na unconditional love, ganun din sa kanya. Alam ko paano i-handle ’yung pain at inis n’ya, ’yung gallt n’ya sa mundo. May mga anak ako at alam ko ’yung pinagdadaanan n’ya.
“Nung sinabi ko na tutulungan ko s’ya, dun lang nag-subside ’yung galit n’ya sa akin at hindi na s’ya kumibo,
“Sabi nya, ‘Mama, thank you sa tulong mo, ha.’ Ang sinabi ko naman sa kanya, gusto ko lang makabangon s’ya.
“Hindi ko muna s’ya binalik sa bahay nila, so dinala ko muna s’ya sa ibang place para new life and new home,” she said.
De las Alas also said that she is now helping Manio go back to showbiz.
“Ang galing n’yang artista. Sabi ko sa kanya, anak buti ka pa may Urian trophy ka na, ako wala pa.”