VANCE LARENA was reported to be indisposed last March due to depression and mental health issues, but we are glad that he is now back in circulation.
He is part of the new Vivamax drama, “Home Service”, that has just started streaming this weekend.
In the zoom presscon, he was asked about this and he admits that he experienced it but he’s able to get over it.
“It’s very important for a person experiencing distress and anxiety to seek professional help,” he says.
“When you feel depression, you should consult a therapist. That means na matapang ka and willing to face your problems.
"It might not be easy but the important thing is you keep making progress towards wellness.”
He wants to thank his family and friends who supported him.
“Kung wala yung suporta nila, wala na ako rito,” he adds.
“I realized na dapat, mas importanteng unahin mo muna ang sarili mo, para you yourself will be better than your present state.
"Kasi you won’t be in a position to help others kung ikaw mismo is not okay. But you have to do it with the help of your loved ones.”
He also stresses the importance of getting rest.
“In my case, I was doing a lot of things nang sabay-sabay.
"I was into theatre, I was going to law school, I’m doing TV and movies, and it took its toll on me.
"So dapat, matuto tayong magpahinga so that hindi tayo ma-burn out.”
In the last movie he did, “Fall Guy”, he played a rich guy who frames up someone else for a crime he and his friends committed.
Is he playing another bad ass in “Home Service”?
“Actually, I play a law enforcer here,” he says. “I’m a sergeant na part ng anti-cyber crime unit.
"But when we arrested Hershie de Leon, who plays the lead role of Happy, for being involved in a sex video uploaded sa internet, I also take advantage of her.”
He has a bed scene with Hershie and he consulted her first before they shot it with Director Ma-an Dagnalan.
“I talk to Hershie about what we will do sa eksena. I told her ganito ang mga gagawin ko, at okay naman sa kanya, she approved it naman.
"She appreciates na sinabi ko sa kanya para mas maganda raw ang pasok sa character niya.”
He is used to being directed by male and gay directors. So how is it being helmed by a female director this time?
“I enjoyed it. I noticed na mas kuha ng isang female director ang feminine sensibilities ng female characters.
"May mahabang scene kami ni Hershie na andaming dynamics na naipakita. The characters we play are not one-dimensional.
"Mahaba yung dialogue namin. It helped in shedding more light about our characters.”
Since their movie is about a masseuse who does home service, who would he want to do home service for him?
“I want to choose si Direk Ma-an sana, but si Hershie ang kasama ko rito at wala na kasi kaming ilangan sa isa’t isa, so siya na lang ang pipiliin ko and I’m sure na magtatawanan lang kami ng magtatawanan.”
He’s been doing a lot of sexy films lately, but given the chance, he says he wants to try other film genres.
“Yes, I want to show I can be versatile. So I want to try naman comedy in a movie or a sitcom.
"I also want to do a horror movie, kasi I’ve done action, drama and sexy films so, iba naman. I want to do yung contravidang may dating na nakakatawa, for a change.”
Vance is lucky as he is now part of the cast of a new GMA=7 series, “Black Rider”, with Ruru Madrid and Matteo Guidicelli.
He plays the role of Uno and he is also doing another movie entitled “Off Load”.
This is with Allen Dizon and he plays the leader of a crime syndicate boss, as directed by Rommel Ricafort.
So just keep on doing it, Vance. You’re so talented and you have no reason to get depressed since you’re already so blessed.
