Maalaala Mo Kaya, Oct. 1 Episode Review: JC Devera is ‘Golden Boy’ of Psoriasis Philippines

JC De Vera is Josef De Guzman, a.k.a. Golden Boy, in the Oct. 1 episode of “Maalaala Mo Kaya.” Josef is a once proud man who had built a fortune from resilience, determination, good looks and luck. He wanted to provide for his family,  and he was able to do that — at least for a while. Things fell apart when he was diagnosed with psoriasis. He was at the peak of his career as a sales and marketing director, but he had to quit. This episode highlights the effects of psoriasis on people’s lives. It also stars Irma Adlawan and Juan Rodrigo as Josef’s parents.

MMK: What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a disease that causes skin cells to multiply up to 10 times faster than normal. It manifests in different ways depending on the specific type that affects a person. An estimated 10 to 30 percent of people with psoriasis also suffers from psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain and swelling in the joints, according to WebMD. Psoriasis is not contagious, but it can destroy one’s sense of self-esteem and ultimately change their lives.

Golden Boy Meets Up With Filipinos with Psoriasis

In 2005, Josef reached out to fellow Filipinos who are also coping with psoriasis. They became each other’s support group. Josef admitted to having considered suicide because of the changes he was going through. He met people who were abandoned by their spouses and those who were getting solid support from their family, like him. From a small group of a few people, Josef’s support group grew to global scale. Psor Phil recently celebrated its 11th anniversary. Follow this link for the international support group’s Facebook page.

 

Maalaala Mo Kaya, Oct. 1 Episode -‘Salamin’ on Twitterverse

Wagi na naman ako. Salamin ang title ng MMK. #MMKGoldenBoy

— L O I S J O Y F U L (@ploisjoy) October 1, 2016

Be gentle to your people #MMKGoldenBoy

— Keddy Boy (@MarkMaglaqui) October 1, 2016

You need to look back when you don’t know which way to go! #MMKGoldenBoy

— Brendon Malon (@technolojing) October 1, 2016

Yung mas gugustuhin mo na lang sa bahay kesa mahusgahan ng iba #MMKGoldenBoy

— b u t a s (@maethclary) October 1, 2016

Maalaala Mo Kaya, Oct. 1 Episode: ‘Salamin’ Writer, Director and Review

This episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya was directed by Raz dela Torre and written by Jaymar Santos Castro and Arah Jeli G. Badayos. The story explores the challenges posed by psoriasis not just to the individual who has them, but to the people in their lives as well. Two percent of Filipinos are coping with psoriasis, while the public in general has no idea how to react to people who have the skin disorder. As shown in the episode, even Josef’s mother did not know how to react the moment she realized that his son’s skin was dramatically peeling off. Meanwhile, at work, people who saw Josef in his worst temper thought it was karma.

“Salamin” succeeded in exposing psoriasis as a condition that is not merely skin-deep. It could hurt people to their very core and render them unable to deal with life. It also reminded the viewers about the usual things we take for granted at home — the family that supports us, the kids who look up to us, and the parents who don’t always know the right things to say (but who love us, unconditionally, anyway).

Josef De Guzman, the hero of the story, is an inspiring force who got knocked down but fought his way back to a normal life. It’s not the dreary corporate world anymore, though. He used his vast experience in sales and marketing to run campaigns for psoriasis patients — not just in the Philippines, but in the world.

Maalaala Mo Kaya airs every Saturday at 8:15 p.m. on ABS-CBN. You can watch “Salamin” (#MMKGoldenBoy) on iWanTV.com.ph.