LAST year, Marlo Mortel revealed one of the biggest challenges in life was dealing with his mom’s illness after she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2014. This year, Marlo said his mom is still fighting the illness every day.
“Yung condition ng mommy ko hindi ganun ka-okay. Kasi hirap na hirap talaga siya kasi dahil nga dun in-open heart surgery siya then i-try i-chemotherapy kasi may bagong lumabas na tumor sa dibdib niya noon na lumabas talaga sa dibdib as in meron siyang malaking bukol sa dibdib na hindi na liliit. Hindi na kayang gamutin ng chemo so parang i-me-maintain na lang na ganun. And then mayrecent findings na meron pang iba pang tumor sa ibang part ng katawan. Continuous pa rin ang chemo. She’s been doing it since last year,” he told PUSH in an exclusive interview.
The 25-year-old actor-singer who is also the family breadwinner said that his family will always be his biggest motivation in life.
“First talaga, nakukuha ko yung strength ko kay God dahil I know gina-guide niya kami, bini-bless niya kami patuloy. Pati yung work ko kahit papaano tuloy tuloy naman kaya nakakapag-provide ako bilang ako yung breadwinner. Of course nakukuha ko yung strength ko sa mommy ko na patuloy na lumalaban kahit sobrang hirap na hirap na siya. Yung dibdib naninigas dahil sa operation. Hindi siya makakain and wala siyang voice dahil dun. So yung strength ko nanggagaling kay God, sa kanya, at sa daddy ko na lagi lang nandiyan para alagaan kaming dalawa every day,” he explained.
This year, the Star Music artist released a new single “I Pray” which he dedicated to his mom. “Every time I sing this song my spirit gets uplifted kasi si God hindi talaga kami pinabayaan ng mommy ko kahit andito pa rin kahit hirap na hirap, staying strong for us. That’s where we get our strength, yung faith namin kay God malakas. Kaya na-ha-happy ako whenever I sing this song. Because it’s for my mom, it’s for the love of my life, and it’s for God as well. I’m sharing this song I wrote for my mom. I want to spread a message of love and hope,” he said.
Throughout this entire ordeal, Marlo said he will always be thankful to his parents for giving him life and shares the most valuable lesson he has learned from his mom growing up.
“The biggest lesson na natutunan ko sa mommy ko is huwag mag-give up and just have faith. Just be strong and have faith in God dahil mayplans siya para sa atin and he’s the light of our lives kaya nga naka-sentro din dun yung song ko, sa pag-pe-pray dahil malakas talaga ang power ng prayers and faith lalo na sa pag-hi-heal. Kaya I’m better and stronger now because of her, because of our faith,” he shared. (Push)
