It broke fans’ hearts when a video surfaced of Sarah Geronimo crying during her Las Vegas concert. Before singing her hit song “Forever’s Not Enough,” she talked about the pressure she feels to “always do good, to be a role model, [and] to always be perfect.”
She also admitted that she feels empty despite having a successful 15-year career. “Hindi yung successful na shows o yung mga hits ang makakapag-kumpleto sa ‘yo, ang makakapagpasaya sa ‘yo bilang isang tao, kundi ‘yung tunay na pagmamahal na hindi nagbabago, perpekto ka man o hindi.“ (It’s not the successful shows or the hits that will complete you or make you happy as a person. It’s true love that never changes even if you’re perfect or not.)
Many have offered their support for Sarah, telling her to keep going, and commending her for her honesty. Boyfriend Matteo Guidicelli also explained that she’s fine and is continuing her US tour. “I think she came from another state into Las Vegas nang walang tulog (without sleep) and she did the show, and you know, her 15-year show is a very emotionally jam-packed show from the start… and she just got emotional there,” he said.
While admitting to being tired isn’t exactly a sign of weakness, one must also know when to step back if things get too much. Sarah’s statement about feeling empty made many fans concerned for her well-being, saying that she needs to take a break from work. Some even started to tweet “#FreeSarahG,” implying that the entertainment industry is allegedly working her to the bone.
Sarah has been doing shows and musical guestings on TV since she won Star for a Night in 2003. She’s also done movies and a couple teleseryes in between. Don’t get us wrong, it’s inspiring how she’s managed all of that in the past 15 years. But the possibility of burnout is likely as well.
It’s also troubling how Sarah isn’t being given the chance to delve into other projects and interests that’ll hopefully fill the emptiness she’s feeling. She said in Las Vegas, “[May] nagsabi sa akin na, ‘Sarah, huwag ka na maghanap, kasi iyan ‘yung binigay na talento ng Diyos para sa ‘yo, so use that as a platform to honor His name, to glorify His name, and to become an inspiration to other people.'” (Someone told me, “Sarah, don’t look for other things. This is the talent that God gave you so you can use that as a platform to honor His name, to glorify His name, and to become an inspiration to other people.”)
Singer-songwriter Trina Belamide tells us that in the few times she’s worked with Sarah, she has never broken down like this. But she’s also not surprised since “she has been working and being told what to do from an early age.” She adds, “I don’t think she is even aware that she has the right to make her own decisions. She is an obedient daughter who probably has a lot of guilt feelings about not being able to please people. I feel so sorry for her.”
According to the US National Library of Medicine, burnout can be caused by extreme pressure and stressful lifestyles. Live Chat also adds, “It occurs when you feel overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest or motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place.” This state may take a toll on your physical, emotional, and mental health if not addressed properly.
Even international personalities have experienced this kind of stress. Raf Simons exited Dior in 2015 due to creative burnout, stating that he wanted to “focus on other interests in my life, including my own brand.” Rihanna, Selena Gomez, and Beyoncé, to name a few, have fallen ill in the past because they’ve overworked themselves.
While Sarah is prepping for her upcoming shows (she was spotted in New York hours ago), all we can do for now is to wish her the best and to have the time to collect her thoughts. She could’ve decided to cancel some shows to take a rest, but she’s still trucking on. So hopefully she considers taking a break away from work commitments after the tour. Because if there’s one thing that Sarah G needs to be freed from, it’s the idea that gratifying people is more important than putting her overall health first.
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