Nadine Lustre
In one of her life’s most trying moments, following the tragic death of her younger brother late last year, Nadine Lustre found a rock in her boyfriend James Reid, whom she described as one of the most patient people she has ever known.
“I went through a lot. I was stressed, fell into depression. I had mood swings that simply didn’t feel right. But not once did he get angry. He didn’t get tired of me,” she related at a recent press conference for her and James’ upcoming Valentine concert, “Revolution.” “James is caring and very comforting to have around.”
And when things became too overwhelming for the 24-year-old star, James was always there to remind her that there was nothing wrong about letting others know that she was sad and hurting.
“I could tell, at times—especially since she’s a public figure—that she was trying to be strong, that she was holding back. She would insist that she was OK, even though I could tell that she wasn’t. But I told her it would help to just let it out,” James said.
More than the unfaltering support James provided, Nadine also drew strength from fans who looked up to her and were facing similar challenges in life. Reading their touching messages, Nadine recalled, inspired her to pick herself up.
“It’s heartening to know that I could give joy to those who are in the same
situation. That’s one of the reasons I willed myself to be strong again for everyone,” she said.
Now, three months after his 16-year-old brother Isaiah took his own life, Nadine said she’s starting to feel better. “My depression … I think it’s going away,” said Nadine, who sees the said incident as a crucial learning experience.
“Bad or unexpected things happen to us, but we learn so much from them. My family and I made promises to one another to be stronger—and we became better people,” she said.
Asked for a piece of advice she could give to those going through depression, Nadine stressed the importance of having a trustworthy person they can confide in. “Find someone who’s willing to listen, because, sometimes, you need to just pour out your feelings. You can’t just hold everything in. Otherwise, you’ll end up imploding,” she said.
“I urge people to just listen to those in need. That simple act can make a whole lot of difference,” Nadine added.
Nadine looks ready to go back to the grind. She said she’s excited about JaDine’s second major concert at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Feb. 9 (call 911-5555 or 687-7236). Unlike the tandem’s previous concert, “Revolution” will highlight original music.
“It’ll show who we are as artists—not just as celebrities or as a love team,” pointed out Nadine, who conceptualized and directed some of the videos for the concert. “It will be like watching a film and concert at the same time.”