“Wala tayo kung wala ang ating mga magulang. Pero paano tayo kung wala sila sa sarili?” said the teaser for MMK’s previous episode titled “Kadena.” Aired with the hashtag #MMKNeverGiveUp that became a top trending topic on Twitter, the said episode told a touching story of a son who constantly showed unconditional love for his mentally ill mother.
In the episode, we witnessed how Kirby Manzon handled tough situations caring for his mother. Growing up, he saw how his father always physically abused and detained his mother by enchaining her at the back of their house. While he still has not grasped why it happens, he learned that his father constantly raped his sister, which is his only sibling. After that revelation, his father paid for his crimes in prison and his sister went away to recover herself with their aunt, leaving him alone with his mother at their house. Thus, he struggled to sustain and finish his studies while providing for him and his mom, whom he discovered to be suffering from Bipolar 1 Disorder.
Dramatic as the story is, MMK “Kadena” did not fail to move us. The episode is indeed a tearjerker, which mainly starred Kapamilya actor Kiko Estrada as Kirby and award-winning theatre and film actress Joanna Ampil as Corazon.
READ: Joanna Ampil stirring, Kiko Estrada brilliant in touching MMK “Kadena”
In their full interview with MMK host Charo Santos-Concio, Kirby further shared how those dilemmas helped him become a stronger person. Although he admitted that he had some heartaches from what he experienced and had grudges against his father before, Kirby said that he now learned to see the reason behind those painful situations.
“Ang purpose po is para tayo po ay maging isang indibidwal na may matibay na kalooban, especially sa mga hamon ng problema. So, naiisip ko na kung hindi ko napagdaanan ‘yong mga malalaking mga dagok sa buhay, hindi rin po ako magiging able na i-overcome ang mga problemang maliliit,” stressed Kirby.
When asked about what inspiring message he can give the youth who are facing mental health issues, Kirby noted:
“Be strong always. Of course, have faith and always believe that God answers prayers but in different ways. So, unang-una is maybe ‘yes’, kung magdarasal ka o may hihilingin ka sa Panginoon, ibibigay Niya. Pangalawa naman is maybe sasabihin ng Panginoon is ‘No’, pero [para] sa akin hindi po negative ‘yon. Kasi sa buhay, or [base] sa pinagdaanan ko po, although pangarap ko pong maging isang broadcaster noon, hindi po ako naging isang Mass Comm. graduate… So, it’s a no for me pero God has something better in His mind. Kahit graduate po ako ng Education, pinalad naman po ako na makapagtrabaho sa radio station. At pangatlo naman po is ‘Wait’. So, it takes time. [Sa akin,] it took time especially sa paggaling ni mama, it took years. Kay papa rin sa nangyari sa kanya, it took years as well. Pero again, God answers prayers. So, just believe and have faith tapos tiwala sa sarili.”
Apart from personally imploring us about the good points that can be learned in his story, her mom Corazon who went with him on the interview also told everyone how grateful she is and how deeply she loves her son Kirby.
Watch what Kirby and his mom Corazon’s full interview on this video above.