Eat Bulaga! host Ryan Agoncillo revealed in the show's episode last Saturday, April 2, 2022 that he suffered from alopecia, a medical condition that causes hair loss, when he was younger.
Ryan was moved to open up about his struggle with alopecia in the show's "Bawal Judgemental" segment after a contestant named Jenette Pitallar talked about her late daughter Nicole's experience with the autoimmune disease.
According to Jenette, her daughter's condition worsened after trying a medication, which later led to her acute cancer in the blood.
Ryan was surprised after hearing this detail from Jenette and said, "Nagulat din ako dun sa sinabi ni Ma'am Jenette kasi ako mismo diagnosed na may alopecia.
"Pero yung sa akin po, mga ganyang edad, 17 nung na-diagnose ako.
"Medyo bago po sa pandinig ko Ma'am Jenette na maari po palang ano, may mga epekto pala na hindi lang sa hair loss ang alopecia."
According to MayoClinic.org, it is usually caused by "heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging."
The 42-year-old TV host revealed that he, too, had weekly steroidal injections to help cure his alopecia.
Ryan told his Eat Bulaga! co-hosts, "Yung sa akin nun, kada linggo injection. Yun nga po steroidal nga po."
He further shared he had a huge bald spot at the back of his head, which he hid while working on TV and movie projects at that time.
He said, "Na-diagnose din ako, pero yung sa akin, recurring siya. Every few years. Hindi ako yung umabot sa total yung baldness.
"Pero umabot ako na yung mga ano, not even a patch, as big as my hand, wala akong buhok sa likod.
"In fact, may mga mga serye dati, may mga pelikula dati nilalabasan ko na kaya mahaba ang buhok ko, tinatakpan ko yung bald spot."
Towards the end of his interview with Jenette, Ryan asked her for a piece of advice she can share with parents who also have kids with the same condition.
Jenette said, "Sa mga nanay na katulad ko po, na may sakit na alopecia rin yung mga anak nila, sana po, huwag po natin silang i-judgement dahil...
"Alagaan po natin sila, subaybayan. Bigyan po natin sila ng time hangga't nadiya-diyaan pa sila. Kasi hindi natin masasabi yung panahon.
"Katulad ko po, hindi ko naibigay lahat. Hindi ko naibigay yung one hundred percent sa kanya. Hindi ako perfect na mother, pero alam ko ibinigay ko yung kaya ko.
"Kaya kayo po, sana mahalin niyo po yung mga anak niyo, lalo na yung mga may sakit."
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