'Grateful' Tekla is ready to move on; thanks daughter for unconditional love

No regrets, only love and lots of gratitude

This is what's in the heart of comedian Super Tekla after surviving perhaps the biggest controversy of his career.

Tekla was in good spirits when he faced GMANetwork.com and Nelson Canlas of 24 Oras during an online chat today, October 30.

He was smiling genuinely and looked well-rested after days of feeling restless.

The 38-year-old co-host of The Boobay and Tekla Show described what he went through as the toughest situation that he faced.

There were even moments when he thought that he wouldn't make it through.

“Talagang devastated [ako], sobrang lugmok ako, and hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko.

"Mag-isa lang kasi ako sa unit ko, so ang ginawa kong remedy is black out lahat--hindi ako nanonood ng TV, Facebook, wala lahat,” recalled Tekla.

“Kinomfort ko 'yong sarili ko, parang ni-rescue ko 'yong sarili ko.

"Ayaw ko makarinig ng ganito, ng ganyan, pero syempre, natural sa atin na pumapasok sa isip [mo 'yong problema], pero hindi ko ini-entertain.

“Anxiety is real, depression is real.

"Hindi siya birong bagay. kahit sinong pinakamatibay na tao sa mundo 'pag once na nakakaranas ng ganun, lalo na kung malalim 'yong sugat tapos patong-patong.

"Feeling ko kung iba talaga, hindi kakayanin, e.”

Good thing Tekla has friends who encouraged him to keep on going and face his problems head-on.

“Pinakamaganda na advise na nagamit ko is marami ka nang pinagdaanan sa buhay mo, ang dami nang dumaan sa 'yo, pinagtibay ka na ng panahon. 'Yon talaga 'yong nag-standout.

“Tsaka 'yong ibang alam ko na kahit hindi literal na nagbigay ng advise, talagang alam ko na nanalangin para sa akin.

Malaking factor 'yon para matawid ko 'tong combong, bonggang-bonggang pagsubok na dumaan sa akin.”

PILLARS OF STRENGTH

But the biggest source of strength for Tekla was his family.

When the issue first came out, his thoughts quickly went out to his father living in the province and two children.

“Ayaw kong unang-una malaman nila lalo na ng tatay ko kasi matanda na si papa, e,” he said.

“Buti na lang si papa medyo mahina na pandinig niya so kahit may magsabi man sa kanya, 'Ha?' 'Ha?' gaganun lang 'yon,” said Tekla half-jokingly.

“Feeling ko 'pag si papa ko naapektuhan wala na, bibigay na ko.

"At least hindi siya naapektuhan. Kasi kung may unang-unang maapektuhan, 'yong tatay ko talaga.

"Hindi ko kakayanin 'yon dahil sa edad niya matanda na at ayaw kong bigyan [siya] nang sama ng loob.”

He talked fondly of his daughter, Theora Irah, and the manner she handled the controversy in public to defend her dad against bashers.

Irah, who is currently based in Bacolod, is Tekla's child with ex-partner, Airyn Gonzales. He has another child, a son named Angelo.

“Na-amazed ako sa batang 'yon. Although umiyak siya nung una pero nung pangalawang araw na, ang talino niyang mag-post, ang galling niyang mag balanse ng sitwasyon.”

He described his kids as his “kryptonite” and praised his former wife for raising Irah well.

“Sabi ko sa ex-wife ko, "Alalayan mo siya kasi alam ko matindi 'tong dagok na dinaraanan ko ngayon and ayaw ko siya maapektuhan,'” said Tekla.

“Good thing na ang galing din naman ng pagpapalaki ng mommy niya. Basta matalino 'yong bata, binalanse niya 'yong sitwasyon.

“Tsaka matawag siya sa messenger, 'Daddy, are you ok?” Sila 'yong mga nagpapalakas ng loob ko during that time.”

Tekla admits missing his kids so much that he is looking forward to spending more time with them especially during the Christmas season.

“Kung maluwag na ang puwede na ma- travel unang-una kong gagawin is kukunin ko si Irah para dito na siya sa side ko,” he confided.

“Kahit dito na siya mag-aral. Kung puwede na makakuha ng flight para makasama ko siya sa December. Nandito naman ang mommy niya.

"Okay naman ang relationship naming ng mommy niya as friend, bestfriend. May sarili na rin siyang buhay so ganun na lang din 'yong plan ko.”

Tekla was visibly emotional when asked about his message for his children.

“Anak [Irah], salamat at hindi ka bumitaw at nauunawaan mo si daddy parati. Pakabait ka at i-maintain mo ang pagiging ikaw at [tandaan mo] 'yong mga tinuro ng lolo at lola mo, ng moomy mo.

“Pakabait ka at mag-aral kang mabuti at maging responsableng anak at matupad mo sana 'yong dream mo sa buhay, at andito lang si daddy nakalaalay.

“And of course, sa kapaitid mong si Angelo. Alam ko kung gaano mo siya kamahal. Alalayan natin ang kapatid mo para sa ikakabuti niya. Hindi tayo mawawalan ng love sa kanya parati tsaka mahal na mahal ko kayong dalawa.”

A STRONGER TEKLA

Tekla is excited to work again and even more motivated to get his career back on track.

Aside from his commitments with GMA-7, Tekla plans to do comedy shows even online just to spread cheer to people during the holiday season.

“Sobrang excited ako na kinakabahan. Ayaw kong mawala si Tekla. Nawawala ako sa pagiging ako ['pag may problema].

“Ayaw ko na mawala 'yong spark ko na kuwela ako. 'Yon yung gusto kong i-save.

"So, excited akong bumalik at talagang maraming mas importante at mahalagang bagay na iku-consider ko rather than entertain kung anong makakapagpabagsak sa 'kin o kung anong makakasira.

He thanked GMA Network for never leaving his side: “Sa aking tahanan, sa GMA, thank you. Sa lahat ng boss, sorry po.

"Nakakatuwa at kahit anong naranasan ko, kumbaga, ayaw kong isipin na sobrang pasaway na ko, but still 'yong love ng GMA hindi nawawala.

"'Yon pa lang sobrang ang laki na nang utang na loob ko. Thank you so much!"

He likewise expressed gratitude to his co-artists, fans, and supporters for not losing faith in him.

Tekla said the experience humbled him but also made him a better and stronger person.

“Sa lahat ng pinagdaanan ko ito 'yong pinaka matinding weapon ko sa susunod na pagsubok. Siguro parang dadaanan na lang yon.

“Malaking weapon para sa mga susunod na challenges na darating. Feeling ko maha-handle ko na siya ng bonggang-bongga,” said Tekla with optimism.