WATCH: Joey de Leon apologizes to public, Maine Mendoza for depression statement

MANILA, Philippines – A day after he drew flak from people online regarding his statement on depression that it was all made up, Eat Bulaga host Joey de Leon issued an apology on television. 

“Kahapon po mga kaibigan, magulo, nagtutuksuhan kami, nagkaharutan, nagkagulo dito, at kausap namin ang isang pastor at isang guro, yung kanyang may bahay. At pumapasok sa usapan namin sari-saring mga paksa. At isa na rito ay tungkol sa depression. Dala po ng gulo at tuksuhan namin, eh naging mababaw lang at magaan yun pagtanggap ng inyong lingkod sa salitang iyan,” he said.

(My friends, yesterday, we were all joking, having fun and we were able to talk to a pastor and a teacher, who is his wife. We talked about different topics and one of them was about depression. Because of the teasing that has been happening, yours truly took the topic very lightly.)

“Hanggang nabanggit ko nga yung wala, gawa-gawa lang iyan ng ibang tao. Iyon kasi ang paniniwala ko na ang stress at depression halos magkapantay lamang. Huwag ninyo asahan na alam ko ang lahat ng bagay sa mundo. Habang nabubuhay po tayo, eh natututo tayo ng mga bagong bagay-bagay. Nagkamali po ako,” he said.

(Until I mentioned that it was all made up by people. That’s what  I believed – that stress and depression were of the same track. Don’t expect that I know everything in this world. As long as we continue to live, we also learn new things. I made a mistake.)

According to the TV host, upon arriving at home, his wife Eileen and his children lectured him on what he said on television. He also said that when Eileen mentioned that they have relatives suffering from the condition, he felt guilty and ashamed.

He also apologized to Maine Mendoza, who spoke up that depression was not an issue to joke about.

So ako’y humihingi ng paumanhin sa mga napaitan sa mga nabanggit ko at humihingi ng iyong unawa. Kagabi tinawagan ko si Maine. Nag-sorry ako kay Maine dahil siya yung nagbanggit nun sa usapan naming tatlo (Joey, and Allan K). Nabanggit doon tungkol sa depression. So medyo nakaluwag yung paghinga ko na hirap nga ako matulog hanggang hindi umaabot itong pagkakataon na ito,” he said.

(I ask for your forgiveness. Last night, I also called Maine. I apologized to Maine because she was the one who mentioned about depression. So I can now breathe a sigh of relief because I was not able to sleep properly until this opportunity came.)

Joey said that if there’s one thing from his mistake people should remember is that it could lead to more serious discussions on the matter.

“Kung may madudulot ng mabuti yung aking pagkakamali, eh sana’y mabuksan ito ang maraming pinto sa pagtalakay sa isyu na ito. At yung tungkol sa depression hindi ko alam na ganun kalawak at kalalim pala iyon. Akala ko stress lang iyan, ganyan… Muli, humihingi ako ng kapatawaran sa mga nasaktan, nagalit. I’m sorry at may kasabihan naman tayo na mapait man ang ugat ng karunungan, o edukasyon, eh karaniwan naman ay matamis ang binubunga nito.”

(If there’s one good thing that came out of this, is this would open the gate to discuss this issue more. And about depression, I was not aware that it was that wide and deep. I just thought it was stress and all, again, I ask for your forgiveness, to those who got hurt and angry. I’m sorry and as the saying goes  if the root is bitter or knowledge or education is bitter, the fruit is of it is sweet.)

Joey also said sorry to Ryan Agoncillo, who on Instagram Friday, October 6 spoke about the matter. Ryan said that in one way or another, it was also good that the situation happened to enlighten people about the topic.

“Kulang ang isang usapin dyan noh, isang upuan. Kulang ang isang tweet, isang noon time show. Pangmatagalan na problems so henyo master, hanga kami sa iyo na nagpakababa ka,” Ryan said.

(One talk is not enough, one sitting is not enough. One tweet, noon time show is not enough. This is a big problem, so henyo master, we admire you for being humble about your mistake.)

Ryan added that the issue was not just about the mistake, but those who are quiet and affected by the stigma.

“Let me just encourage everyone from this point on noh, what happened yesterday was a mistake, and I think everyone admits it and ang problema hindi doon sa maiingay (the problem is not those who are reacting). They’re the quiet ones who are affected. So as you react to today, from this point on, as we react, let’s be honest, sana hindi sa galit manggaling yung reaction n’yo (let’s hope its’s not from anger that yuo’re reaction is coming from). Sana sa pagmamahal and yung nangyari, may dahilan (I hope its from love and what happened, there’s a reason for it) . So to the quiet ones out there, noh, nandito ang mga Dabarkads, para sa inyo, lagi iyan (the Dabarkads is always here for you, always.)” – Rappler.com