00:00 I asked the doctor, "What is it?"
00:02 And the doctor said, "It's cancer."
00:07 This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
00:20 So what happened to me was I was in a teleserie once again
00:25 with Ms. Jean Garcia and Mr. Alger Branica in 2016.
00:34 I was playing a mother and we were inside the hospital.
00:38 My daughter, in my role, had cancer.
00:42 So we were in the hospital.
00:44 Then I suddenly thought of having a check-up that day
00:48 because we were in the hospital.
00:50 So we had a long break.
00:51 I went to the hospital and I had a check-up.
00:55 I called up my doctor and he said, "You haven't had a check-up yet.
00:57 You need to wait."
00:59 So I waited for a few weeks and then I had a check-up.
01:02 So part of the check-up, it was just a routine check-up which I have.
01:05 Every year, they see something.
01:08 So what they see is this.
01:11 So they saw that.
01:12 And so I decided that it would be time for me to take a break
01:16 so that I could take care of myself.
01:19 But the challenge is over.
01:21 It was over in a few months.
01:24 It was over in a few months.
01:25 I didn't have to undergo chemo or anything.
01:29 It was just my choice to go deeply into self-care.
01:34 Self-care meaning sit back, relax, and enjoy what you should be enjoying.
01:40 So that's what I did.
01:42 As I said, the health challenge,
01:45 it really cut my road meaning it blocked the road for a while.
01:52 So I was in a tennis area and then they had to remove me from there.
01:57 They had to end my role.
01:59 But it's a good thing that the tennis area was ending.
02:01 So when that happens to you, I mean, the doctor goes to you.
02:06 I asked the doctor, "What is it?"
02:10 And the doctor said, "It's cancer."
02:14 You've never heard that before, right?
02:16 Has anybody?
02:17 Okay, so when I heard that, no matter how strong you are,
02:23 giba, giba lahat.
02:25 So I remember that time when the news was given to me,
02:31 the cancer was actually very small.
02:34 Kasi masipag ako.
02:35 I gifted myself with an annual checkup when I was 40 years old.
02:41 So the cancer came when I was 56 years old.
02:44 So sanay na sanay ako magpacheck up.
02:46 Lahat ginagawa ko.
02:48 And then when that happened, they found this small mass,
02:53 and it was as small as a peppercorn.
02:56 Ganun lang kalingit.
02:58 But I felt it.
03:00 I was in my house in Tagaytay and I was walking under the sun.
03:05 Biglang, tshk-tshk, parang kidlat.
03:09 So napaupu ako.
03:11 I thought I was having a heart attack or something.
03:13 And then I let some days pass because I was going back to Manila for the thalassemia.
03:20 And then while I was exercising again, after three or four days,
03:24 narandaman ko ulit.
03:26 So talaga, you know, takot na.
03:28 And then I went to the doctor again.
03:30 And yun nga, had a biopsy, and that's what they found.
03:33 So what I did was I went to a second opinion, third opinion, fourth opinion,
03:39 and I chose the most conservative program of all,
03:44 which is, so you know, so ladies will know that it's really your decision what you will do with yourself.
03:53 Even if the doctors give you a plan, ikaw paring magdi-decide.
03:56 So I decided that even if the cancer was very small, to remove one of my breasts.
04:03 So doing that, I mean, as a woman, it's really something.
04:08 So super dramatic yung moment na yun.
04:11 I had to, you know, talk to myself, and I had to say goodbye to one of my breasts.
04:17 But it's okay.
04:19 I have an implant, just so you know.
04:22 And I never want anything false in my body.
04:26 Of all the people I know in the entire world, ayoko talaga ng anything hindi totoo.
04:32 So sa akin binigay.
04:34 So nung nangyari yun, naisip ko na, sa'yo binigay, kailangan mong tagapin.
04:42 So coming back to showbiz, was very far away from my mind at that time.
04:47 And coming back right now, I just told the Lord five months ago,
04:50 "Lord, balik na tayo."
04:53 Hindi, siya nagsabi sa'kin, "Balik ka na, balik ka na," sabi ni Lord.
04:57 And it's only been five months, and here I am now.
05:01 So as I said earlier, when you make a wish, and it's a good one, ibigay talaga sa'yo.
05:08 So eto na tayo ngayon, and I hope na samahanin niyo ako.
05:12 And sana maintindihanin niyo na nandito ko para gumawa ng kabutihan.
05:17 And gusto kong ipamahagi yung kabutihan.
05:20 Wala nang iba.
05:21 So kung gusto natin gumawa ng iba pa, 'wag niyo na ako'y sali.
05:25 [laughs]
05:26 Yung iba na lang.
05:28 [music]
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