Ruru Madrid reveals 2021 was filled with challenges: ‘Nawalan ako ng drive, ng passion’

As we welcome 2022, Ruru Madrid looked back on the year that was and revealed that 2021 gave him a lot of challenges.

In a media interview on Thursday, Ruru said 2021 "was not a good year" for him.

"Ang dami kong pinagdaanan na challenges. Umabot sa point na na-depress ako, nawalan ako ng drive, ng passion," he said.

[I went through a lot of challenges. It came to a point where I felt depressed, I lost my drive, my passion.]

According to Ruru, if there was one thing he learned from 2021, it was that we should always learn to love ourselves.

"Lagi akong bukas sa lahat ng tao. To be honest umabot sa point na nawala na 'yung pagmamahal ko sa sarili ko kasi lahat binigay ko na sa bawat tao," Ruru said.

[I am open to everyone. To be honest, it came to a point where I lost my love for myself because I gave it all to everyone else.]

However, he said when he lost his drive in life, he soon realized that he needed to love himself to rise again.

"It's not being selfish kung uunahin mo sarili mo," Ruru said. "Hindi ka makakamahal ng ibang tao kung hindi mo mahal sarili mo. Hindi mo kayang rumespeto ng ibang tao kung hindi mo nirerespeto sarili mo. Kailangan mo simulan sa sarili mo bago sa ibang tao."

[It's not selfish to put yourself first. You can't love another person without loving yourself. You can't respect another person without respecting yourself. You have to start with yourself before turning to anybody else.]

He said with everything that he had gone through, it gave him strength to face the new year.

"Kahit anong pagsubok, na challenge na pagdadaanan ko, kakayanin ko na. Hindi ko susukuan dahil alam ko na kakayanin ko siya as long as may goal ako," Ruru said.

[Whatever challenges may come, I'll be able to overcome it. I won't give up because I know I can get through it as long as I have my goals.] – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News