Can Alma Moreno truly de-stress with politics?

ALMA Moreno may look healthy on the outside but her multiple sclerosis or MS — which she was diagnosed with in 2001 — is taking a heavy toll on her.

In the vlog interview by Ogie Diaz, the still-pretty sexagenarian actress didn't hide the fact that she was in pain for the most part of the exercise.

MS is defined as a chronic neurological condition that affects the central nervous system.

Alma revealed there's no known cure to it except that her only way to fight off the pain is to sleep.

Alma Moreno is valiantly living with multiple sclerosis and tries to avoid stress for her health. But isn’t politics stressful too? INSTAGRAM PHOTO/IAMALMAMORENO

“My doctor, however, tells me that if I can't stand the pain, then getting admitted to a hospital would be necessary.”

Not only is Alma suffering from the said disease, she's also dealing with diabetes and hypertension: “That I can endure but with MS, I just cry.”

While she has every reason to seek help from her children, Ness — as close friends fondly address her — is not one to bug them.

“I don't want any of my children to worry about me. I always tell them that the pain will eventually go away.”

Aside from getting herself a sound sleep to ease the pain, the actress finds her showbiz grind therapeutic. In fact, as much as possible, Alma refuses to stay home.

“What am I supposed to do at home anyway? I'll just get stressed. Speaking of stress, it's also something I should try to avoid. But in our world,” she turned to Ogie, “can we really avoid not getting stressed?”

Speaking of which, isn't local politics just as stressful? Late last year, Vignettes confirmed Alma's filing her certificate of candidacy for the post of barangay kagawad. The barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are set on October 30.

In Alma's case, she has expressed willingness to align with her daughter-in-law Jenny's ticket.

Jenny, the wife of Alma's son Vandolph by Comedy King Dolphy, is seeking reelection bid as barangay chair in Parañaque. A kagawad hopeful, Alma is no doubt a shoo-in.

It's hard though to convince myself why Alma would want to aspire for a barangay position when she was once a Parañaque city councilor, more so President of the Councilors of the Philippines.

But if this is Alma's idea of de-stressing herself to combat her MS, why not?

At least, Alma — who was then running for senator — no longer has to guest on Karen Davila's “Headstart” anew and give her two cents on reproductive health.

Lower post means lower expectations.

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GUESS WHO? This popular TV personality (PTVP) has visibly lost his drive and motivation since his program went off air.

The PTVP's “source of income” was among the shows which ceased airing on a fledgling network a couple of months back.

Apparently distraught, he kept himself busy with shuttling between his luxurious estates in southern Luzon via his million-peso means of transport.

In the doldrums, so to speak, the PTVP has neglected to take good care of himself. The once-neatly dressed person that his fans have so admired about him has become scruffy.

In the words of his close reporter-friend: “He gained weight, his belly has grown big, and his hair has grown so long that even a hermit would be embarrassed! But in fairness, he still has a lot of money!”