TW: This article contains mentions of depression and suicide.
Veteran journalist Ramon Tulfo Jr. is grieving the passing of his eldest grandson, Ramon Enrique who had taken his own life.
In an emotional post shared on his social media on Friday, Ramon expressed grief and regret, revealing that his grandson, whom he referred to as Ramonito, had been struggling with depression.
Tulfo revealed that Ramonito’s body was found in a hotel, accompanied by a note explaining that he was “not strong.”
Tulfo shared his deep sorrow over the loss, expressing that he wished he could have provided his grandson with the support he needed.
“Had Ramon Enrique (Ramonito), my eldest grandson, talked to me, he wouldn’t have done the unspeakable,” Tulfo wrote.
“I could have talked him out of it because I probably know what he felt inside,” he added.
The veteran broadcaster reflected on his own experiences, admitting that he, too, had once grappled with similar thoughts. He expressed his sadness that his grandson might not have had the same resilience to cope with these challenges.
“Last year I also contemplated doing what he did. But Ramonito, who looked like me but had the fine features of his mom, was not as strong-willed as his dad Patrick and me,” Tulfo
The post also highlighted the many positive qualities of Ramonito, who graduated from La Salle University, held a stable job, and had the intelligence and charm admired by many.
“A graduate of La Salle University, everything was going for Ramonito. He was intelligent. He had the looks that girls his age would swoon over. He had a stable job,” he described his grandson.
Tulfo expressed disbelief that a young man with such promising traits and potential could feel isolated and weighed down by depression.
“I would have told you that life has full of challenges. That life is unfair. But crises or problems make life so exciting. That if you just plodded on, the issues you faced would have disappeared,” Tulfo added.
If you think you or someone you know is considering self-harm or suicide, you may call the National Mental Health Crisis Hotline at 1553 (Luzon-wide, landline toll-free), 0966-351-4518 or 0917-899-USAP (8727) for Globe/TM users, or 0908-639-2672 for Smart users.
