Kapamilya star Maymay Entrata broke down in tears during the Star Magic Spotlight press conference held on April 10, as she bravely shared for the first time that her mother, Lorna, has been battling cancer for nearly two years.
With visible emotion, the singer-actress revealed that her mother’s illness began as a kidney complication before it progressed to what she now refers to as the “Big C.”
“Yung totoo, galing lang ako sa ospital kasi nga pabalik-balik kami ngayon. Pero please po, huwag n’yo akong kaawaan. I just need your prayers lang—‘yun lang kailangan ko,” Maymay pleaded.
She shared that her mother had undergone medical treatment in Japan, which explains her frequent travels there in recent years. Fortunately, her mother was able to return home two months ago and is now in Cagayan de Oro undergoing continuous dialysis.
“Almost two years na may cancer ang nanay ko. Kaya pabalik-balik ako sa Japan. Isa sa pinaka-pinasasalamatan ko, nakauwi siya two months ago. Kaya po hangga’t maaari, nandiyan ako, kami ng pamilya, kasama siya,” she added.
Making things even more difficult, Maymay said her grandmother—who raised her as well—is also currently ill.
“Sabay sila, pero mas malubha lang ‘yung sa nanay ko.”
Despite the weight of her family’s situation, Maymay stressed that she doesn’t want to be pitied.
“Isa sa mga pinakaayaw ko talagang mag-open up is ayoko ‘yung may awa kayo sa ‘kin. Pero it will help me din para malaman n’yo kung saan ako nanggaling,” she explained.
She recalled a recent night when they had to rush her mother to the hospital again and reflected on how she’s been coping.
“Kagabi lang sinugod na naman namin siya sa ospital. Hindi ako umabot sa ‘hindi sobrang okay’ at ‘super okay-okay’—nandito lang ako sa gitna kasi ‘yun ‘yung time na hindi ako okay at nalampasan ko ‘yun. And dahil din ‘yun sa Panginoon, siyempre.”
“At nandito ako sa point na hangga’t may oras ako na makapiling ko ‘yung dalawang nanay ko—yung nanay ko at lola ko—gagawin ko.”
Maymay also acknowledged how the unwavering support from her family, friends, ABS-CBN colleagues, and bosses has kept her going during her darkest days.
“Umabot din sa point na hindi ako okay or hindi ko na nakayanan yung emosyon ko. Nandiyan talaga sila lagi, 100 percent na sumusuporta sa akin.”
She admitted this is the reason behind her on-and-off presence in showbiz over the past few years.
“’Yun din po ang dahilan kung bakit on and off ako sa showbiz these past few years po.”
