April Boy Regino reveals depression, suicidal thoughts after going blind


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“Para bang gusto ko nang magpakamatay.”

That’s the statement of ’90s Jukebox King April Boy Regino in a recent interview in Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho as he revealed his struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts after going blind due to diabetes.

April Boy cannot see on his left eye anymore. His right eye can only see shapes.

Going blind is the latest in a string of medical battles for April Boy. In 2009, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. While the singer was declared cancer-free in 2013, he was then diagnosed with congestive heart failure. In the same year, April Boy retired from the music industry because he was not fit enough to hold gigs anymore.

“Matigas ho ang ulo ko. Kasi basta po gagaling na ako, umiinom po ako ng beer. Yun po ang kahinaan ko, malakas po ako uminom ng beer. Nakaka-sampu po ako isang araw. Nabigla po siguro ang katawan ko na tumatanda na pala ako. Kasi ang sarap po, e, sa showbiz, party-party,” April Boy said.

Then, the singer discovered he had diabetes, which caused the severe vision loss.

“Naisip ko, parang pawala na yung buhay ko, dahil naisip ko na lang yung mga kaibigan ko. Sabi ko, ‘Siguro, kilala pa ako ng mga kaibigan ko kahit papa’no, tutulungan pa siguro nila ako’. E, wala na akong trabaho, e,” April Boy said.

April Boy found refuge in Willie Revillame. The game show host gave him PHP100,000 for one operation but it was unsuccessful. Manny Pacquiao also came to his rescue and gave him PHP500,000.

Aside from his expenses, April Boy had to deal with depression and having to depend on others to live: “Ang yabang-yabang ko dati. Ang dami pong humahanga sa akin. Tapos nung naranasan ko na po yung nabulag na po ako… lagi na lang po akong nasa kuwarto, nasa kama. Matutulog ako, at pinapaliguan ng misis ko. At pinapakain ho ako. Iyak ho ako nang iyak sa sarili ko. Sabi ko, ‘Wala na akong patutunguhan, bagsak na ako.”

In his desperate moments, April Boy realized he can now only turn to one person for help: “Isa na lang pag-asa ko, Siya lang ang makakatulong sa akin. Siya lang buhay ko. Humingi ako ng tawad sa Kanya. Sabi ko, ‘Diyos ko, sobra na ‘tong pahirap Mo sa akin. Hindi na ako makakatagal nito, gusto ko nang mamatay,” he said.

After praying and studying the Word of God, the Jukebox King now feels he has a new lease on life.

And just when he thought it was all over, GMA Records is reviving his recording career. To pay tribute to God, the “Di Ko Kayang Tanggapin” singer is now writing Christian songs, instead of love songs.

“Mga salita na ng Diyos ang gusto kong [i-share. Kaya] ang ilalabas ko pong album [is a] Christian album. Ito po ay tungkol sa Diyos [at] hango sa buhay ko,” he shared.



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