Karen, Lyca celebrate highly anticipated birthday by helping others | ABS-CBN

ADVERTISEMENT

dpo-dps-seal
Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!

Karen, Lyca celebrate highly anticipated birthday by helping others

Karen, Lyca celebrate highly anticipated birthday by helping others

Karl Cedrick Basco,

ABS-CBN News

Clipboard

Photo from Lyca Gairanod
Photo from Lyca Gairanod's vlog


Several months after Karen Davila’s reaction to Lyca Gairanod’s birthday took social media by storm, the veteran broadcast journalist and “The Voice Kids” inaugural winner celebrated their much-anticipated common birthday in style.

As shown in videos posted on their respective vlogs on Saturday, Davila and Gairanod crossed paths again, this time to mark the special occasion by giving away bicycles, phones, and food to some of Gairanod’s neighbors in Tanza town, Cavite.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa inyong lahat for welcoming our birthday the way you have. Medyo nakaka-pressure kasi hindi naman namin inisip na magiging viral ang ‘Oh, my God.’ I usually celebrate my birthday quietly. Pero it’s special kasi may ka-birthday ako,” Davila said in her vlog.

Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv

“We wanted it to be about other people. May pandemya po tayo ngayon. What we wanted to do was help people and give them gifts.”

ADVERTISEMENT

With the help of benefactors, some 45 bicycles, 14 smartphones with loading kits, 10 pocket Wi-fis, food packs, and bike safety gears were distributed in Tanza.

The special occasion received a warm welcome from chosen recipients, who said the bicycles would cut their commuting expenses.

“Hindi lang po para sa amin itong special day natin. Para rin to sa mga taong kailangan nating bigyan,” said Gairanod, who will turn 17.

Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv

“Nagulat din ako kasi yung pahanda ni Ms. Karen for me is special at hindi lang para sa akin kundi para sa ibang tao. Ayaw kasi namin mag-birthday na kami lang masaya. Gusto namin may mapapasaya kami.”

As expected, Gairanod performed some of her hit songs and covers, such as “Kabilang Buhay” to entertain the guests and her neighbors.

Catered food featured lechon, initially promised when their first vlog went viral.

Meanwhile, Gairanod also received a luxury gift from socialite Small Laude’s daughter, a Gucci belt bag.

Laude also assured Gairanod to fix her house as requested by his entrepreneur husband, Philip, which excited the “Voice Kids” alumna.

In September, Gairanod landed on Twitter Philippines’ list of trending topics after that interview with Davila made the rounds online.

In the viral clip, Davila asked Gairanod when her birthday was. As it turned out, the young singer was born on November 21, which also happened to be Davila's birthday.

Davila was visibly shocked by the coincidence and her screaming reaction made Gairanod step back a little, looking perplexed.

“Oh my God! Birthday ko iyon! Birthday mo November 21? Hindi ko alam 'yun ah, wait hindi ko alam 'yun. Magka-birthday kami,” Davila exclaimed.

Several netizens were so amused by this interaction between Davila and Gairanod that some of them said they could not stop laughing while watching the clip.

Even Davila herself acknowledged that watching the short video also made her laugh.

Besides Gairanod making it to Twitter’s trending topics, their interaction also gave birth to a meme that’s now being used all over social media.

Towards the latter part of that video, Davila promised to throw a party on her and Gairanod’s birthday.

“We are meant to meet. How many people ang makakatsamba mo, ini-interview ka, ka-birthday mo? Dear set in stone, kapag nag-birthday tayong dalawa, ako ang magpapa-party,” she said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Family of late Matutina shares her last days and struggle with kidney disease

Family of late Matutina shares her last days and struggle with kidney disease

MJ Felipe,

ABS-CBN News

Clipboard

Matutina's remains will be cremated on February 21. MJ Felipe, ABS-CBN News

The iconic comedienne Matutina, or Evelyn Bontogon-Guerrero in real life, passed away last February 14 at the age of 78. 

Speaking to ABS-CBN News, her family shared her last moments with them.

"Mama was a CKD (chronic kidney disease) patient, a chronic kidney dialysis patient for nine years," said Shiela Guerrero, the youngest daughter.

"Meron na siyang heart condition, marami nang pinagdaanan si Mama. In and out siya sa hospital. Na-ICU pa siya 10 years ago. Lahat 'yun na-survive niya. This one, ayaw na niya. Napagod na po siya." she added.

ADVERTISEMENT

Despite her condition, Matutina drew strength from people around her. "Marami po kasing hindi nakakaalam na very matulungin po si Mama. Her priority is to make other people happy -- family members, close friends. And because 'yun ang kanyang priority, kailangan niyang lumaban," said Shiela. 

Her health was okay, as Shiela would describe it. Her husband Henry said she has been under medication since 2016. Her dialysis treatments have been continuous for almost nine years, up until her last session last February 12.

"Tapos na 'yung dialysis niya then her doctor called me. Sabi niya, 'Brod Henry, come to the hospital, I have to tell you something about your wife.' Nagpunta ako doon and in-explain niya, mababa ang sugar, mababa ang BP (blood pressure), she needs to be brought to the ER (emergency room)," Henry recalled. 

He continued, "When she heard that, she woke up. 'No', sabi niya huwag. Ayaw ko, nahihirapan na ko. Then sabi ko, 'What do you want?' Sabi niya, 'We will go home'. [I said] 'Doc, she doesn't want to go to the ER.' The doctor said, 'You can go but just in case, bring her back here.' So we decided we bring her back home."

Matutina's grandson Luigi recalled his lola's remaining days after her last dialysis at the hospital. He noticed that they struggled just to get his "granny" (how he calls his Lola Evelyn) to stand up or go to her bed.

"I remember na she was really tired at that time. It was as if hindi na niya kaya. But the day before that, she was so strong. Nakakausap pa niya ako, she would still ask help to walk," he said. 

The following day, February 13, Luigi decided to skip school and just watch over her Lola. Conincidentally, it was also Matutina's husband's birthday.

"Around 3 p.m., 'yung sinasabi ni Granny sa amin ni Papa, 'Ayaw ko na, ayaw ko na.' Paulit-ulit. It just breaks my heart seeing my Granny like that," he said. 

Luigi continued: "Come Friday, I remember it was 9:20 a.m. when I went out of my room and I saw Papa and Mama (Shiela) crying. Tapos nakita ko si Granny nakahiga lang siya, hindi na siya humihinga, but she looked peaceful there."

"I'm sad because we never had a proper goodbye. Pero I'm thankful na sila talaga ni Papa and nag-alaga sa kids ko," said Shiela.

Her stepsister Rowena Gementiza, Matutina's daughter to her first husband, was on her flight back to the Philippines from Chicago, Illinois when she found out about the sudden passing of her mom.

"Pauwi na talaga ako nun. Nag-text siya sa akin, 'yung last message niya sa akin sabi niya, 'Owen, malapit na ang uwi mo ng Pilipinas. Ingat ka sa paglalakbay mo.' 'Yan 'yung last message niya, one week bago mangyari ito. Tapos nung nasa airport na ko, doon nga nabalitaan ko na sa Facebook. Tapos 'yun, wala na nga si Mommy," shared Rowena.

"Sabi ko, hindi man lang ako hinintay," she said in tears.

Shiela added: "She passed away Valentine's Day, when everyone was celebrating. Si Mama naman, nag-stop na 'yung heart niya."

Matutina's legacy  

While she was best known as Matutina from the iconic "John En Marsha" sitcom, she also did numerous films and other projects. 

Rowena recalled years of tagging along with her mom on the set and would also join her in Radyo Veritas where she did and directed a lot of radio dramas.

But for the past few years, Matutina has been a dubbing director for a number of ABS-CBN-acquired series like Asianovelas even anime shows.

"Medyo magka-strikto siya. Sa radyo minsan sinisingit niya ako, tinuturuan niya ako pero talagang hindi ako matuto," shared Rowena.

Shiela revealed: "Actually siya rin 'yung nag-train sa akin to be a voice talent. Cousins ko, mga pamangkin ni mama, tinirain niya and they're directing na ngayon."

Even Luigi got the chance to be directed by her Lola. "She would sometimes bring me to dubbing and 'yun 'yung dahilan bakit ako nakakasalita at nakakaintindi ng Filipino maigi ngayon. Siya 'yung dahilan kung bakit mahalaga sa akin 'yung pagiging Filipino."

Shiela added: "Masaya kaming lahat na maraming napasaya si Mama, especially noong 'John En Marsha' days. And that is her legacy -- a life filled with love, kindness, laughter, and joy."

A Philippine flag has been placed on top of the comedienne's casket -- Shiela explained that it was her mom's colleagues at the Barangay Council who brought it. Matutina served as a barangay council or kagawad for a term from 2007-2010 in Barangay Pag-Asa Quezon City.

Her remains will be cremated on Friday, February 21.

Read More:

Matutina

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.