Bianca Umali revisits a wound that has motivated her to champion a meaningful cause. On October 5, 2023, the Kapuso actress took to Instagram to open up about a deeply personal and emotional journey that has been a driving force in her life—honoring her mother's battle with breast cancer.
READ: Bianca Umali Shares a Heartfelt Message About Her Mom's Battle with Breast Cancer
"I lost my Mom to breast cancer when I was 5 years old," she related. The 23-year-old star vividly described the memories of her mother's illness, the physical toll it took, and the emotional rollercoaster she went through as a young child.
She continued, "I saw her very weak, unable to speak properly, losing all of her hair - slowly deteriorating. I remember not being allowed to be around her. It felt as if I was constantly pushed away when all I wanted was to cling to my mother. I remember feeling hurt because in my head, ‘mommy doesn't love me anymore.’ I did not understand everyone, I did not understand her, I did not understand cancer," she recalled, not comprehending the true extent of her mother's suffering.
"When my mom found out about her condition, she was already at stage 3 of breast cancer," Bianca recounted.
Her family faced the daunting prospect of losing everything to save her. It was a painful, confusing time for young Bianca, who watched her family cry without fully grasping the reason.
"I recall people saying it was too late. We were prepared to lose all of our possessions just to save her," she revealed. "The whole family was in pain. I would watch everyone cry but not understanding why. no one could give me a clear answer on what was really happening, all because they knew I wouldn't understand. I was only 5, after all."
"For years I carried this pain. I was deeply hurt," she admitted. "It felt as if I was robbed of precious moments with my mom. She was in unimaginable pain and felt so much fear."
It wasn't until later that the TV personality and all-rounder realized her mother's actions were driven by love, not rejection. "She wasn't pushing me away, it wasn't that she didn't want me around her - it was that she did not want me to see her in that state," Bianca reflected.
"She wanted my memory of her to stay as her 'healthy and beautiful' self. She wasn't turning her back on me because she didn't want to see me, she was turning her back to hide her tears because she misses me so much too. I wasn't being kept outside her room because she did not want me there, I had to be kept outside of the room because she just finished radiation therapy and she didn't want to risk me."
Moved by her own experience, Bianca made a profound commitment to ensure that no other child or woman goes through breast cancer without knowledge, awareness, and hope.
"After all the planning since 2017 - October 3, 2023 is the day that marks this milestone. Finally," a part of her caption read.
She stressed, "Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, and early detection is key to improving survival rates. The goal is to raise awareness of breast cancer through education about screening, symptoms, and treatment. Early detection saves lives. You are not alone in this fight," she wrote in closing as a reminder.
"Mommy, this is how I honor you. This one is for you."
Celebrities and Netizens React to Bianca Umali's Post
Touched by the post, Dra. Vicki Belo, among others who find the matter close to their heart, laid out their support for Bianca.
*This story originally appeared on Pep.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
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