This generation has become more open and honest about mental health. People are finding the courage to speak up about what they're going through, and that awareness has found an even stronger spotlight as celebrities also become more vocal about their own experiences.
Building on that openness is the growing reminder to intentionally carve out time for yourself—even in the smallest ways—just to pause and breathe. There are so many ways to find that sense of mental peace, and for entertainment personalities, many turn to creative outlets as a meditative escape from the stress and pressure that comes with the job. Others find time spent at home with family is enough to fill their cup.
Perfect for the Holy Week, these grounding activities are your sign to slow down. Take notes from Kapamilya stars as they share their favorite things to do to find calm and peace amid their busy lives.
With a jam-packed schedule filming the highly anticipated series "Sigabo" alongside Coco Martin, Julia Montes is currently one of the busiest actresses. But even with everything on her plate, she makes sure to never skip her moment of solitude. "Siguro lagi dapat meron kang quiet time. Quiet time na makakapag-pray ka, makakapag-devotion ka, makakapagpasalamat ka at makakahiling ka ng guidance for the whole day, for the whole week, for the whole month." For Julia, prayer is her compass "kasi without prayer, parang lost ka."
Aljur Abrenica doesn't need a lot—just 15 quiet minutes in the morning and another 15 in the afternoon and he's centered and ready. Choosing to speak good things over yourself is a power move—and that's exactly what “ASAP” mainstay Jona does to find peace. She meditates a little, and then intentionally fills her mind with affirmations, "Relax ka lang, ‘wag ka magpapadala sa pressure." Prayer, she says, is always the most important part.
"What Lies Beneath" actor Race Matias echoes that need for an anchor—just in a different form. He pressed that having a creative outlet is non-negotiable. "If you are in a situation where you're busy, it's hectic, a lot of overwhelming things in your environment that can really drain the energy out of you, it's really easy to get caught up in the emotions. So I think it's really important na meron kang outlet, whether it's physical or artistic. Basta something where you can forget all of the problems that you're facing and you can just let it all out on a craft. Parang meditation mo na rin yun. It keeps you grounded and it helps you focus on the things that matter talaga."
Maris Racal knows this feeling well, that's why her antidote to chaos is 'creation.' Whether she's journaling or writing songs, the actress-singer, who recently finished her “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” stint, has her own rituals for coming back to herself. She also loves long walks and sharing hugs with her sister.
And sometimes, the most healing thing you can do is simply listen to music, which can feel like an instant reset button. "Music. Yeah, number one sa akin ‘yung music. Kahit saan ako magpunta, nakaka-relax kasi siya for me," said the new-gen “Darna,” Jane De Leon, who also turns to books as her other go-to escape when she needs to fully unplug.
Carmelle Collado can sure relate. For her, going through her set list and rehearsal sessions are practically her form of meditation. "Talagang peace sa akin kapag pinapakinggan ko ‘yung material ko, ‘yung minus one ko, or ‘yung music. Because at the same time, nag-i-imagine ako kung ano ‘yung gagawin ko sa pagpe-perform ko," shared the ex-"PBB Collab 2.0" housemate.
For Kai Montinola, peace is literally just one playlist away. "It's really all in the mind, but all I have to do is put my AirPods on. Because as long as I don't hear anything and as long as I close my eyes, I am in control of my mind. Therefore, I'm in peace."
No matter how drained he is at the end of the day, writing and recording music is the one thing that leads Jeremy Glinoga back to stillness. As for Kobie Brown, he's been on a self-improvement arc lately, swapping mindless scrolling for reading books and jotting down his thoughts.
Or sometimes, the most restorative place you can be is right at your doorstep. Home has a way of stripping everything back and putting everything back into perspective. “What Lies Beneath” actor Jake Cuenca said it best, and honestly, it hit home (pun intended). For him, what matters isn't how that space looks but how it makes you feel. “I think it's very important that you have a good place to go home to. It doesn't have to be very glamorous or luxurious, but you need to call it a home. When you get there, you can lower your guards. You don't need to prove anything to everyone because you're at home." Jake considers his house his sanctuary where he prays, unwinds, and most importantly, where he gets to just be him.
A family man like Luis Manzano knows what it means to have everything he needs under one roof. The equation is simple—his wife Jessy Mendiola plus daughter Isabella Rose is equal to nowhere-else-to-be. "Whenever I'm home at kumpleto kami, for me, that's the best peace a man can receive, na kasama mo ‘yung asawa mo, kasama mo ‘yung anak mo, kahit ano pa ang ginagawa nyo, kahit watching TV or simply playing or just being quiet. I think that's the best para sa akin," the “Rainbow Rumble” host reflected.
Jameson Blake keeps peace close to home — literally. When things get hectic, his first instinct is to go back to his safe space. "Most of the time, I'll just stay home. When I'm at home alone, I can easily just find my peace there. And if I'm with my mom, if I'm with my dogs, and I have some communication with my family, that's already good enough for me." Bonus points: knowing he has taping and projects lined up actually adds to the calm for him—productivity as a self-love language is so valid.
When in doubt, go home to the family, as former "PBB Collab" housemate Emilio Daez would say. Elijah Canlas finds peace with spending time with his loved ones too, but he also has his alone-time rituals like solo trips to the cinema.
Criza Taa is a self-proclaimed homebody through and through. She usually has no elaborate plans of getting dressed and going out on her days off, "Mas gusto ko ‘yung chill lang ako sa bahay. Nanonood lang ng movie, ganyan.”
Kolette Maelo's recipe for a good day is refreshingly wholesome: cooking, cleaning, and quality time with her cat. AC Bonifacio, meanwhile, has just unlocked a new era as a domestic goddess. "I've actually been finding peace in cleaning. Adulting na talaga ako," she laughed. Case in point: just recently, she had a two-hour break between shoots, went home, scrubbed the floors, and headed back to set feeling completely refreshed.
Mary Joy Apostol's idea of a perfectly peaceful day too relatable. "Kapag nasa bahay ako, at peace ako sa totoo lang 'pag walang masyadong work. Spending time with my family is peace also. And ‘yung dog ko, 'yun."
Ask any pet parent and they'll tell you—there's an unexplainable kind of calm that only their pets can give. “Your Face Sounds Familiar” celebrity performer Alexa Ilacad knows this firsthand because her fur babies are her biggest source of peace—and so is spending time with her friends. And okay, fine, she'll also admit that a little shopping never hurts. "Add to cart. ‘Yan ang therapy." Right?
Not everyone finds their breathing room in stillness, though; some people need to move, like “Roja” leading man Kyle Echarri, who finds his peace through physical activities like working out in the gym and running. But it's not just the solo grind for him, as his circle keeps him sane, too. "I have a lot of really good friends in this industry and we always try to spend time together,” said Kyle.
Diego Gutierrez, on the other hand, heads straight to the court when things get heavy. "I love playing basketball. So ‘pag nase-stress ako, medyo basketball talaga ‘yung pinupuntahan ko. Kahit shooting around alone lang." And when he's off the court, he's drowning everything out with music— playing guitar, singing, listening.
There's a reason people are always running to the beach when life gets heavy. For comedian Negi, it's her number one go-to when she needs to decompress. The sound of the waves, the fresh air and the swimming itself can get those endorphins going in the best way possible.
On the other hand, Anji Salvacion's path to calm is a little more intentional. "I need to stay grounded in order for me to not stress out," she shared, admitting that she tends to absorb the energy of everyone around her, especially in high-pressure situations. It's a reminder that knowing yourself well enough to protect your own energy is its own kind of peace.
Lastly, Gela Atayde gets beautifully honest about how tricky it can be to find stillness in this industry. "With this job, it's hard to find peace, honestly, especially within yourself." But she always comes back to two things — the people who love her, and the reason she started in the first place. "I always go back to my roots. I go back to where I came from. I go back to the reason why I began."
However you find it—through music, movement, a prayer, or even beach trips—peace is always worth making room for. Consider this your sign. Have a meaningful Holy Week, Kapamilya!