Reason for using illegal drugs? CJ Ramos says it’s poverty

Ramos was one of the famous child actors during 1990s. He was known for his roles in a variety show “Ang TV” and in a family drama film “Tanging Yaman.” (Photo: thisiskorinasanchezroxas/Instagram)

Following his arrest in a drug buy bust operation, former child actor Cromell John Ramos, popularly known as CJ Ramos, revealed what prompted him to use illegal drugs.

Ramos was one of the famous child actors in the 1990s. He was known for his roles in the variety show “Ang TV” and in the family drama film “Tanging Yaman.” His last appearance on screen was on an episode of the television drama anthology “Tadhana” in 2017.

After a year of being inactive in the show business, the former actor made headlines again not because he will star in another movie or drama, but because he was nabbed by the police after being caught in a “shabu” transaction with a targeted pusher.

In an interview with Rated K on Sunday, August 5, Ramos recalled that it was during his high school days when his entertainment career did not make progress anymore because of his age.

“Hindi na ako pinapirma ng kontrata, wala akong manager kaya napabayaan po [‘yung career ko] (They did not allow me to sign contracts, I do not have a manager that is why my career was neglected),” he narrated.

The former child actor said his remaining savings were supposed to be used for his studies, however, it did not happen as he lent a quite large amount of money.

Ramos might have thought that it will be returned soon, but…

“Natakbuhan po kami ng isang taong nangutang sa’min. Simula po non as in zero [balance] (The person who borrowed the money ran away. Since then, I had no money left as in zero balance),” he said.

“Parang pinagsakluban kami ng langit at lupa na ang inuulam namin sa loob ng dalawang taon isang sardinas, itlog at kanin naghahati po kami doon pamilya (It seemed like heaven and earth were pressed down on us to the point that for two years, we only eat one sardines, egg, and rice which we shared among his family),” he continued.

This incident made him depressed as he said it was his first time to experience poverty, a situation which was far from the life he had when he was a kid.

Depressed and saddened by the turn of events in his life, Ramos became acquainted with the ‘wrong’ people. Due to peer pressure, he began using “shabu.”

Ramos then admitted that this illegal drug slowly destroyed his life.

“Mas lalong nahirapan po ako makabalik nga dahil siyempre hindi naman pu-pwede na nagbi-bisyo ka at nagtatrabaho ka (It was hard for me to return to my old self because, of course, you cannot have vices and at the same time work),” he stressed.

He added, “Napabayaan ko po ‘yung sarili ko, inaabuso ‘yung katawan ko. Doon ko na-realize na, ‘Hindi, dapat itigil na ‘to.’ Papasayahin lang ‘yung utak mo, katawan mo sandali. Papaligayahin ka akala mo pero hindi — ‘pag nawala ‘yung tama mo, mali ka na (I was unable to look after myself, I abused my body. That was when I realized that ‘No, I should stop this.’ It would make your mind and body happy for a while. You thought it would make you happy but no — once the effect of the drug wears out, you are wrong),” he further explained.

Realizing that it would not make him a better person, Ramos shared he tried to stop using the drug and instead pursued his studies.

“Dahil na rin po sa magulang ko, dahil po nakikita kong malungkot sila. Dahil sa anak ko rin po. Sinubukan ko pong tumigil ng isang taon — kaya ko naman (Because of my parents, because I saw that they were sad. Also, because of my child. I tried to stop for a year — I could do it),” he said.

He also tried applying for a job in another country, however, it seemed that things just did not to go his way.

If given another shot in life, a teary-eyed Ramos replied, “Kung ano man ang ibigay sakin ni God, basta ang gusto ko lang malaya at maayos na buhay (Whatever God gives me, I just want to be free and a have a stable life).”

“Magandang buhay lang po okay na ‘yon hindi ako naghahangad ng kung ano man makasama ko lang ‘yung pamilya ko (To have a good life is already okay with me. I do not wish for anything else but to be with my family),” he added.

Ramos is currently detained at the Caloocan City Police Station.