JM admits, ‘I am a lucid dreamer’

MANILA,Philippines — JM de Guzman is starring in a Cinema One Originals 2019 filmfest entry titled Lucid, which tackles the theme of lucid dreaming.

In the film, Alessandra de Rossi plays a lucid dreamer whose “boring” waking life and “exciting” dream life begin to blur when she meets the character of JM.

“It’s called Lucid for lucid dreaming, the ability to control your dreams and you can go anywhere,” said director Victor Villanueva in a C1 Originals presscon.

During lucid dreams, a dreamer is said to be aware that he or she is dreaming. “It’s based on real-life stuff,” Victor also said.

Lucid premieres Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m. at Trinoma.

Blur when she meets the character of JM.

Lucid dreaming may be a novel or strange idea to some, but JM believes in it and sometimes practices it.

“Yes, I am a lucid dreamer. I listen to meditation frequency in the brain to trigger lucid dreaming. There’s music, there’s a humming sound,” the 31-year-old actor recently told The STAR.

“Yes, I remember my dreams. Very vivid. Sometimes, kahit paghinahawakan ako, nararamdaman ko because I’m aware that I’m dreaming.”

Asked what he likes to dream about, he said happy things.

“Gusto ko masaya, gusto ko mga amazing but so far, napapanaginipan ko ay puro war. Like, may mga submarine-like planes na pang army. Tapos biglang may kuryente… (In my dreams), I see in one view, lahat sila bumabagsak. Then in another view, biglang babaha na.

“Minsan, nagkaroon ng anarchy,” JM shared.

“Nightmare daw sabi ng psychiatrist ko,” he said with a laugh.

“Ang sabi kasi kailangan ilista mo daw, pero di ko malista, so I would draw the details.”

How did he get into lucid dreaming? “Before pa yan, bata pa ako because I used to meditate through (methods like) Isochronic tones … where you relax your brain and focus. Then, I encountered (the topic of) lucid dreaming and out-of-body experience. I’m a very curious person.”

That’s why, when the film project Lucid was offered to him, “nagustuhan ko because I believe in it. The director didn’t know (I was into it). He was also surprised.”

Does he try to dream about the future? “In my daydreams, yes,” he answered.

JM went on to share, “I dream of a simple life, to secure a home for my family and their education. And ayun, lahat ng pinagdaanan ko sa buhay, parang simulation… Dun ko i-apply na ililihis ko sila sa pinagdaanan ko.”

No, he doesn’t dream about settling down and finding a lifetime partner. “Not yet, maybe 10 years from now. Save first.”

But when asked if he’s in a relationship, JM confirmed yes.

“Yes, I’m in a relationship,” he said, “with God.”

“He’s a very jealous type,” he added.

So, there’s no truth to rumors that he’s in a romantic relationship with actress Ria Atayde.

“She supports me naman in my relationship. She’s a very good influence. With the level of closeness in our friendship, she improves something in me as a person. I would like to believe I’m also like that to her. We learn from each other, we pinpoint each other’s mistakes and we support each other. For now, it’s a very treasurable (situation). We enjoy each other’s company. She’s a rare find.”

JM is also very close to Ria’s family, including her brother Arjo, mom Sylvia Sanchez and even her father Art Atayde. 

So close that Ria’s father could tease JM about the case filed against him that stemmed from a bar brawl incident last May, without him getting offended.

“Basta tinitigan lang niya ako, kumusta ka? Mabait ka na ba? Tapos (sabi ko) may kaso ako. ‘Makukulong ka na (laughs).’ Sabi ko, ayoko!”

Nevertheless, JM readily admitted that the pending case made him anxious. “Na-a-anxious ako kasi marami na siyang damage na nagawa sa akin, emotionally, career-wise, and in my image which I tried to clean up for so many years and dinumihan niya.”

He further told the press, “You know me. If I made a mistake, I would tell you, yung baho ko. Pagdadaanan ko yung hirap, from the very bottom, to prove myself, that I didn’t mean it.”

He confirmed he counter-filed a case. “So ngayon may ganyan, I will fight (to defend myself).”

At the moment, JM tries to stay positive and focus on improving himself further.

It’s no showbiz secret what the actor went through to become sober for three years now.

He dreams of building a house and has started a mixed martial arts business with Sylvia.

JM said, “For now, my short-term plan is to give back first. I really felt the grace and blessing from God. I plan to give back to others. I’m trying to fix that now.”