Ai-Ai delas Alas recounted what happened to Jiro Manio’s rehabilitation following the arrest of the former child actor for alleged frustrated homicide.
Police authorities nabbed Jiro, now 27, after a stabbing incident involving another man in Marikina last Friday night.
In a video uploaded on her Instagram, Ai-Ai detailed what happened to Jiro whom she considers as her anak-anakan (foster son) after he was found roaming around for food at the NAIA Terminal 3 back in 2015.
The actress-comedienne took Jiro under her wing and entered him in a rehabilitation center in Quezon City which lasted for about six to eight months.
The Kapuso comedy queen admitted that the expenses for Jiro’s medication and needs were quite expensive. She even got him a condo unit where he and his siblings could live in for a “fresh start”.
When Jiro was allowed to leave the rehabilitation center, Ai-Ai then suggested that if he wanted a job, the best thing he could do was to get back to showbiz.
“Sabi ko sa kanya kung gusto niya magtrabaho, ang pinaka-maganda sana eh bumalik siya sa pag-aartista. Dahil doon po alam naman natin na magaling talaga si Jiro na artista and doon madali siyang makakaipon para matulungan niya yung pamilya niya,” said Ai-Ai.
In 2004, Jiro won FAMAS’ Best Child Actor Award for his performance in the film Magnifico.
A week after he got out of the rehab, Ai-Ai said that Jiro signed a contract with GMA 7 to star in the dramatization of his own life story in Magpakailanman. Two hours after, Ai-Ai received a text message from Jiro saying that he doesn’t want to do showbiz anymore. Ai-Ai would try to convince Jiro but he would repeatedly change his mind.
“Kaka-convince ko nang kaka-convince sa kanya, after 30 minutes oo naman daw, pwede na daw. Tapos mamaya 30 minutes na naman, hindi na naman daw pwede… ganun yung utak niya. So parang nasabi ko sa sarili ko patay mukhang ‘di pa magaling ‘tong si Jiro,” said Ai-Ai.
With the realization that Jiro wasn’t fully recovered yet, Ai-Ai decided for Jiro to have his second rehab in Bataan where he stayed for about two years.
“Kasi mga tinetext niya sakin minsan tungkol sa Olympics, tapos yung dati yung naloka ako na text niya parang mag-aalign na daw ang Pluto sa Mars.
“Ako mismo sa sarili ko sabi ko mukhang hindi pa magaling si Jiro so nag-decide ako na ibalik siya sa rehab. And this time, medyo malayong lugar na para hindi siya na-stress sa family, sa mga problema niya sa buhay. So dinala ko siya sa Bataan. Doon ko siya ni-rehab ulit for the second time.”
Ai-Ai thought that Jiro was already doing okay until she received the news that her foster son was using marijuana again.
That was when Ai-Ai felt hopeless for Jiro: “So, dun yung time na sabi ko, ‘Wala na ‘to.’ Parang pakiramdam ko, yung lahat ng binuhos kong effort, tulong, pangaral, suporta sa pamilya parang natapon na lang ganon. Nasa rehab ka? Bakit ka nag-mamarijuana?
“Nung ni-rehab ko siya, 23 years old siya hanggang 24, 25, 26. Matanda na siya. Hindi naman siya 17 o menor de edad. So, sabi ko tama na yung nagawa ko para sa kanya,” Ai-Ai said in frustration.
“Hindi ko na siya pinansin nung sinabi niyang uuwi na siya, lalabas na siya sa rehab,” she added.
Ai-Ai eventually lost communication with Jiro.
“Ako, bilang nanay-nanayan niya, siguro naman, alam ng nasa Itaas kung anong effort iyong nagawa ko at naitulong ko sa kanya.
“Na sana pinahalagahan niya. And sana, iyong pamilya niya din, kahit papaano, sinuportahan siya sa lahat ng bagay. Siguro, hindi siya ngayon nandito sa ganyang sitwasyon.”
The D’Ninang actress said that praying for Jiro is the least thing she can do.
“So, ako po ay… siguro, ang pinakamagagawa ko na lang ngayon ay magdasal at hinihingi ko rin po na ipagdasal natin siya.
“Sana malagpasan niya itong lahat na nangyari sa kanya,” she added.
She also has a message for those who are saying that she neglected Jiro.
“Doon po sa mga nagdya-judge po sa akin… God bless po. Alam po ng nasa Itaas kung ano ang laman ng puso ko, at kung ano talaga ang ginawa ko kay Jiro para mapabuti siya,” she said.
