Cita Astals admits she underwent rehab

AFTER A PREVIOUS report saying she’s been wandering in the streets of Manila aimlessly, “Showbiz Central” does a followup on former councillor Cita Astals who is now back after spending sometime in rehab. “Lakad ako ng lakad noon as I didn’t want to stay at home dahil binabato ang bahay ng mga goons doon,” she says. “Yung bahay ko, ninanakawan, three times a week. Wala na ngang natira. I was left with nothing. Ang sister ko, si Fatimah, pinadampot ako para ko dalhin sa ospital. Binigyan ako ng mga test, pero negative ako sa drugs at sakit. But I was found out to be bipolar so dinala ko sa rehab in a hospital na may about 50 to 60 patients lang.”

She suffered from severe depression after she lost as vice mayor in the 2007 election. “That really hit me heard. From being a vocal at masayahing tao, bumaligtad ako. I just want to be by myself. The doctors gave me the right medication para mabalanse ako na hindi paiba-iba ang mood swings. While I was there, seven friends ko, inayos nila kunsaan ako titira. I was released in March this year and I just report weekly to my doctor.”

She now lives alone in a condo unit in Paranaque and works part time as community organizer for a water distribution company. She feels like she’s starting all over again. Cita is a good character actress so we hope someone will give her another break and get her for a soap or something. It’ll surely help her if she’d be able to act again.