Robert Alejandro shares how dealing with cancer also helped him deal with depression

Robert Alejandro revealed he had struggles with his mental health and that cancer has helped him deal with depression and eventually he learned to love himself more.

In an interview on "The Howie Severino Podcast," the renowned artist said when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 it was "absolutely a complete turnaround."

According to Robert, "from most of my life, gusto kong mamatay. I even have suicidal thoughts."

But nobody knew about it, he said, explaining as a professional entertainer, he is able to face the world without looking like a mess. 

"I'm a host on TV. I'm a children's book illustrator. I'm very good. When I'm in front of the camera, I'm working. All of that is left behind," he said.

"Pero all of that, nag-change nu'ng nagka-cancer ako," he continued.

Getting the cancer diagnosis changed his mindset. "Parang, 'Okay. I don't have time anymore for all of that,'" he said.

While it wasn't a complete 180º change, it helped him notice and become aware of patterns. "Mayroon talaga akong — like even now, kapag gumagabi, nagiging malungkot talaga ako. So at least alam ko na," he said.

"In terms of mental health, it's very good to know yourself and accept na parang, 'Okay. Mayroon akong... Parang mayroon akong cycle."

Robert said it would be nice for people to observe and get to know themselves.

"Accept yourself na mayroon kang mga ganito and you're just — you're like nature. You have a cycle and you accept that," he said.

In the episode, Robert gave a nice advice for people also struggling with loving themselves.

"You know, whoever you are, whatever you are — gender, belief, race, profession, anything — you are enough," he said.

"You don't have to be anything. You don't have to accomplish anything. You have every right to be here in this world," he continued.

The Papemelroti owner said, "I get choked up. Because people really need to hear this. Sometimes we think we need to accomplish something."

"You know what my belief now? If you stayed in bed the whole day, you are enough. You don't have to be anything more. You are of value and you are of valued to the world whatever you are. That's what I want to tell people," he added.

Robert said if there's anything he can say to his struggling teenage self from years ago he would say "Be gentle with yourself and love yourself unconditionally, everything about you."

"Kasi all of us, 'di ba, we make terrible choices. We have so many 'sins' that we feel that makes us so inadequate and parang we see ourselves, sometimes we see ourselves as monsters," he added.

Robert admitted he saw himself as garbage at one point. "It is so unnecessary. But yeah, being gentle with yourself is very, very important. And be gentle to others as well. That's what I would tell [my younger self]."

Robert Alejandro previously hosted GMA-7’s “Art Is-Kool.” He has been holding free online workshops for art lovers stuck at home in isolation amid the pandemic. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News

If you feel you need to talk to someone, call the National Center for Mental Health hotline 1553 – a toll-free landline for Luzon or call or text the following mobile numbers: 0917-899-8727 / 0966-351-4518 / 0908-639-2672.