BY ALEXA BASA
Hashtag Kid Yambao has come clean about his past drug addiction and what made him change his old ways.
In an interview with Ogie Diaz, Kid disclosed that he had been exposed to illegal drugs since childhood because his father was a drug user. He then started using drugs to survive and save money.
“Sabi ko, kahit pilitin ako, hindi ko ita-try eh. Nangako ako eh. Hindi, hanggang sa nung natuto ako dumiskarte. Puyat ka, punta ka dito, sama ka dito, ilibre ka nito, parang gagawin mo kasing pakikisama para mabuhay ka,” he said on the showbiz columnist/talent manager’s vlog uploaded on YouTube on June 28.
When he was young, he would often find illegal drugs on his things.
“Grade school ako, nakikita ko may nasa damitan ko, may malalaglag sa pantalon ko, tinatago doon,” he recalled.
The performer and actor admitted that he already tried different drugs like shabu, marijuana, cocaine, party drugs and the like.
When he started to become active in the industry and earn a larger amount of money, Kid said he became addicted to illegal drugs.
“Nung nagkapera ako, doon ako natuto na mag-[droga] … [G]inawa ko na dati nung nagugutom ako, sasama ako sa inyo para mapakain [sarili ko] ngayon may pera ako, pero ang ginawa ko, ang pinakamali ko, hindi na ‘yung para mag-save, hindi eh,” he confessed.
Turnaround
Kid revealed the reasons that changed him. He shared that he was about to star in an MMK episode in ABS-CBN but failed to arrive on time because he was intoxicated with illegal drugs.
“[T]andang-tanda ko pagtingin ko sa Facebook, sa Messenger, sa text, calls, ang dami ko tawag … ni mama, ni erpats,” he said, feeling that everyone was mad at him at that time.
“Sabi ko ito na nga ‘yung rason para makaangat kami pero bakit ganun ‘yung ginagawa ko, sinusundan ko ‘yung step na ginagawa ng magulang ko,” he added.
When Kid first attempted to audition for Hashtags, he arrived late again because of illegal drugs.
He was sober when he auditioned for the second batch and he was accepted. Becoming a Hashtags member made him realize that he had to put an end to his addiction.
“Tuwing may halong ganun [iligal na droga] may maaapektuhan, may masisira. Hindi niya lalo ibibigay ‘pag ganun.”
“Siguro kaya hindi ganun kadali ‘yung buhay ko sa showbiz dahil sa ginawa ko. Kaya siguro ganun ‘yung balik, na kailangan mong pahirapan kasi ‘yung time na binibigay sa’yo, winawalanghiya mo. Sinasayang mo.”
During the duration of the audition, he would visit the Baclaran church daily to pray.
When he was commuting, Kid would listen to Praise songs and cry throughout the trip.
“Isang linggong akong nagdadasal lagi sa Baclaran … Magcocommute ako, MRT, ako lang mag-isa. Naka-cap ako, naka-jacket, naka-headset ako. Tapos lagi lang ako nagpapatugtog ng puro about kay God,” he said.
“Tapos bababa ako magjjeep pa-Baclaran, umiiyak lang ako hanggang sa pagpasok ko ng simbahan, lahat ng santo doon hahawakan ko,” he added.
He stressed that he asked God to help him change.
“Ang dinasal ko, baguhin mo ako kasi nasa akin ‘yung problema eh. Nagbibigay siya tapos anong ginagawa mo? Gumagamit ka, nag-gaganito ka,” he said.
Incident with father
Kid, meanwhile, confessed that he almost killed his father one time when he was high on illegal drugs.
“Umuwi ako noon, nakadrugs ako, tapos ang nauwian ko, nag-aaway [‘yung parents ko]. Ngayon, umalis si ermats, umalis mga kapatid ko, ako naiwan. Tulog erpats ko, nakatulog. Parang may bumubulong sa akin na, ‘pagkakataon mo na ‘to walang tao… pagkakataon mo na ‘to, gawin mo na…’” he said.
He recalled that he reached for a knife in their kitchen, sat near his father while touching the knife’s edge. But he fought the urges.
“Umiiyak ako, alam mo ‘yung parang may bumubulong sayo na ‘gawin mo na’ pero sa sarili mo na may lumalaban na ‘wag, ‘wag, tas tinitingnan ko hanggang sa pasama nang pasama ‘yung galit ko. Ang ginawa ko noon ma tumakbo ako [paalis] sa bahay, binato ko [‘yung kutsilyo],” he said.
After that incident, Kid said he did not go back to his home for months. He regretted it until now, and he never admitted it to his father, who is currently imprisoned.
Kid is currently trying his best to earn money under the new normal, as the breadwinner of his family. He is now venturing into business to regain what he had lost after recovering from drug addiction and the money scam.
Watch the full video below:
