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Maegan Aguilar opens up about her rehab journey: 'It has been a rough road'
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TRIGGER WARNING: This article mentions suicide and drug addiction.
Filipina singer Maegan Aguilar opens up about her years-long rehabilitation journey and the struggles she faced on the road to recovery from drug addiction.
In an interview with entertainment columnist Dolly Ann Carvajal, which was uploaded on her vlog called Dollywood PH on Thursday, July 16, Maegan recalled her first rehabilitation program in 2023. Despite her entry, she admitted she wasn't ready to change at the time.
"It was no one's fault that it didn't work, but mine. I really was not ready to change, and hindi ko rin naintindihan what I was doing," Maegan confessed.
"Ang feeling ko lang, parang magpapahinga lang ako and then, after the program, you know, I'll just go back to my old ways again. There was really no genuine change or desire in my heart."
After completing the program, Maegan remained clean for the first few months. However, as she had been warned, she eventually relapsed, describing it as even worse than before.
"I really embarrassed myself in public," she said. "I claimed that I was clean, but I was not. I tested positive noong ginawa ang hair follicles."
As her struggles deepened, Maegan shared that she experienced suicidal thoughts. She also recalled posting a video of her attempt on social media during that difficult period.
Fortunately, her plan did not push through after she encountered four locked doors, which she believes was a sign that saved her.
"So that was for me a divine intervention, a divine save. From there, it has been a rough road. Pero, I guess kinailangan kong daanan to get better," Maegan continued.
Determined to turn her life around, the singer entered a second rehabilitation program, where she stayed for two years. She was released in April 2026.
"Kasi, the second rehab I went to is really a tough one. Intense," she shared.
"Pero much needed kasi I wouldn't be here right now being able to share my story, being able to live a normal life again. After 11 years, I'm reunited with my family."
During her recovery, Maegan faced another heartbreaking challenge when her father, the OPM legend Freddie Aguilar, passed away.
She shared that she was not allowed to attend his Janazah—the Islamic funeral rites, which are traditionally held within 24 hours after a person's passing—as her rehabilitation center believed it could negatively affect her recovery.
"So, it was very hard for me when that happened. I was just allowed to visit his grave one week after he went down," she said.
"Kasi 'yung rehab, they don't want me sumabay sa crowd, sa mga pupunta. They didn't want me to be visible sa showbiz. They didn't want me to see family kasi syempre whenever someone passes in the family, hindi maiwasan na there's going to be disputes and fights, which really happened in our family also."
Despite the heartbreak, Maegan said she remained grateful for the love and encouragement her father expressed through the letters they exchanged.
She also became emotional recalling how, despite his conversion to Islam, Freddy continued to greet her during Christmas and would even send advance birthday wishes.
Maegan also admitted she felt guilty about being away from her family during one of the most difficult periods of their lives. At the same time, she remains thankful for the love and support they continued to show her throughout her recovery.
Now embracing a new chapter, Maegan said she no longer has any desire to return to her old life.
"As you can see, okay na po ako. I really have no desire anymore to go back to who I was kasi nakatikim talaga ako ng malupit na kapaitan ng buhay noong naging adik ako," she stated.
She added that learning to acknowledge her past mistakes was one of the biggest lessons she gained from her rehabilitation.
"I had the behavior. I had the attitude. I had everything that was wrong. It took me two years to really face myself and to admit mga mali ko," she said.
"So, now that I went through all of that and I'm out, I have a good relationship now finally with the family after 11 years of being estranged. Now I'm close to my mom. I'm close to my siblings."
Maegan also clarified that there are no issues or disputes within the family, including over the inheritance left by their late father.
Meanwhile, here are other inspiring stories from celebrities who also sought rehab services to reclaim their lives:
