Trigger Warning: Mention of depression, anxiety, and trauma
Nagpaalam na ang aktor na si Pepe Herrera bilang isa sa celebrity contestants ng Kapamilya reality show na Your Face Sounds Familiar.
Ito'y matapos niyang amining dumaraan siya sa maselan at matagal nang laban kontra depresyon at anxiety attacks.
Nitong Linggo, November 16, 2025, inanunsiyo saYour Face Sounds Familiar ang pag-alis ni Pepe sa kompetisyon para bigyang prayoridad ang kanyang mental health.
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Pahayag ng mga host ng programa na sina Vhong Navarro at Jhong Hilario: "Isa sa mga celebrity performers natin dito sa Your Face Sounds Familiar ay nangangailangan ng panahon para sa kanyang kalusugan at kapakanan kaya naman humantong siya sa sa isang desisyon.
"Kapamiliars, si Pepe Herrera po ay nagdesisyon na hindi na magpapatuloy sa ating kompetisyon para po mag-focus sa kanyang kalusugan.
"Siyempre ayan naman ang pinakamahalaga — ang maayos na health at well-being para sa bawat isa sa atin."
Pepe STEPS back from work to focus on his mental health
Hindi idinetalye nina Vhong at Jhong ang pinagdaraanan ni Pepe pero may inilabas na video sa Facebook page ng Your Face Sounds Familiar.
Dito ay pinaliwanag ng komedyante ang estado ng kalusugan niya, partikular na ang mental health niya.
Ayon kay Pepe, matagal na siyang may dinaramdam na depression at anxiety na nagsimula raw noong 13-anyos pa lamang siya.
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Panandalian daw itong pinagsawalang bahala ni Pepe hanggang nitong mga nakaraang araw nang muli niya itong maramdaman kaya kinonsulta niya ang kanyang psychotherapist.
Dito raw niya napagtantong malalim na ang kanyang pinagdaraanan.
Maaaring nakahanap daw siya ng "escape mechanisms" sa pamamagitan ng kanyang komedya, ngunit hindi maitatanggi ng kanyang katawan na mayroon siyang matinding iniinda.
"Hello everyone. I wrote a love letter for all of you and thank you for giving me the space to share because this is very important for me," simulang mensahe ni Pepe.
Pagpapatuloy niya: "I haven’t been well for decades. After my session with my psychotherapist the other day, I realized I have been struggling with depression and anxiety attacks alternately since I was 13 years old.
"I managed to survive because I have developed the ability to escape with the help of band-aid solutions.
"I was sweeping everything under a rug, not dealing with traumatic experiences I am afraid to face, putting a mask on, making people laugh, and all this time I did not know that the body is keeping score.
"All this pretending and escaping apparently is taking a toll on my body."
Kuwento pa ni Pepe, madalas siyang makaramdam ng matinding panic attack tuwing gabi, dahilan para hindi siya makatulog.
Bukod pa rito ang labis na paninikip ng kanyang dibdib dahil sa paulit-ulit na puyat at tensiyon.
Aniya: "Recently, I have been experiencing panic attacks in the evening preventing me from sleeping. Either I will be able to sleep only when the sun is shining or I won’t be able to sleep at all.
"The combination of insomnia and anxiety is making my body experience regular tremors and numbness in different parts of my body.
"Chest pains and headaches are worsening. And there are times when my thoughts are becoming darker and darker. I feel like I’m drowning.
"A few days ago, I experienced a turning point. I had a mental breakdown and went through a panic attack because of something I felt on my chest.
"It was not just heavy. It felt like something was squeezing my lungs violently. I panicked because I thought I was dying. I was terrified.
"I moved around outside the house while walking barefoot on the grass, praying, begging, talking to my body and to God to make the pain stop. Eventually, it stopped."
Dahil sa nangyayari, humantong sa mabigat na desisyon si Pepe na panandalian munang mamahinga sa pagtatrabaho para pagtuunan ng pansin ang kanyang pagpapagamot.
Aniya, mahirap na desisyon ito lalo na't isa siya sa inaasahan ng kanyang pamilya sa paghahanap-buhay.
Pahayag niya: “Feeling exhausted, I made the promise to my body that I will never abuse it again by escaping. I had a long conversation with my wife that led to a moment of clarity.
"I made a decision to finally focus and commit to getting treatment while taking an indefinite leave from work. As a breadwinner, this was a very difficult decision for me.
"I became good in pretending because I need to provide for my family. But my wife and I agree that these needs to be done.
"I’m swallowing my pride by getting a loan to put food on the table because focusing on treatment means not having income for months. But it is what it is. Better do this now before the condition becomes chronic.
"I need to do this for my wife and kids also."
Dagdag pa niya: “I just have to commit now on receiving them and learning from them.”
“In a nutshell, after more than three decades of trying to be a people pleaser, I decided to choose myself and my healing.
"My wife is supportive because, as she mentioned, you cannot pour from an empty cup or picture."
PEPE APOLOGIZES TO HIS FANS AND YOUR FACE SOUND FAMILIAR FAMILY
Sa gitna ng biglaan at mabigat na desisyon, nagpaabot si Pepe ng taus-pusong pasasalamat at humingi ng tawad sa mga kasamahan niya sa programa.
Gustuhin man daw niyang magpatuloy ay mas kailangan niyang unahin ngayon ang kanyang mental health, pati na ang kanyang ang physical health.
Sabi niya: “To my Your Face Sounds Familiar family, I’m sorry if I have to leave.
"I’m sharing this unfiltered information because you deserve the whole truth. I’m grateful for the family we have created even for just a short time.
“You also deserve my complete honesty. I can be the Pepe who can get tired of being a clown and I can be the Pepe who can be very serious and from now on you will see the most sincere and truthful version of me. That’s a promise."
Sa huli, may mensaheng iniwan si Pepe sa lahat ng mga kagaya niyang dumaranas ng mental health isue.
Mangiyak-ngiyak niyang mensahe: "For those who are also struggling, I hope you get the help you need and the healing that you deserve.
"I hope you rediscover the courage to work on that for yourself and your family.
"Please don’t forget that you’re never alone."
Emosyunal din siyang nakiusap sa ABS-CBN na kung maaari ay i-flash sa screen ang mga numerong puwedeng tawagan ng mga kagaya niyang nagnanais humingi ng tulong kaugnay sa kanilang mental health issues.
Saad niya, "I have one last request to the ABS-CBN management: I hope you can show the mental health hotlines on screen after this video. It might save someone’s life."
Ang depresyon ay seryosong usapin. May mga organisasyong handang tumulong sa mga taong dumaraan sa ganitong kondisyon. Katulad na lamang ng National Center for Mental Health na inilunsad ng Department of Health.
Para sa nangangailangan ng tulong, maaring tumawag sa National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline: 1553, Landline (02) 7-989-8727 at mobile number 0966-351-4518.