Author: Latest Chika TEAM

By Artemio A. Dumlao BAGUIO CITY — Celebrities and influencers were urged to use their influence in helping unite the Filipino nation amid the battle against COVID-19. ACT-CIS partylist lawmaker and House Appropriations committee chairman Eric Go Yap made the appeal, saying, “hindi ito ang panahon ng pulitika.” Yap, also the caretaker congressman of Benguet province, said, “Hindi kulay ang mga magkalaban at hindi din iisang kulay lang ang tumatayo ngayon upang sugpuin ang krisis na kinakaharap natin.”  He called on these popular personalities to use their star power and platforms to encourage Filipinos to come together, especially during these difficult…

As a crisis expert, Dr. Ted Esguerra is used to being in the frontlines of emergency response and rescue. Now, amid the public health emergency brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Doc Ted, who co-anchors DZMM’s disaster preparedness program Red Alert, finds himself in the thick of the crisis. But this time, he is a patient battling the disease. In a series of posts on his Facebook page, Doc Ted has opened up about his COVID-19 journey. He is keeping the faith, turning to humor and just staying “positive” despite his positive COVID-19 diagnosis. “Friends, I am positive for COVID…

Veteran actress Sylvia Sanchez revealed Tuesday that she and her husband Art Atayde have tested positive for COVID-19. She said in an Instagram post that on March 24, they were both brought to the Cardinal Santos hospital after she experienced chills while Art had the symptoms of cough and shortness of breath. “Hi everyone❤️ On March 24, my husband and I were brought to Cardinal Santos as I was having chills and he had cough and shortness of breath. We were made to take the COVID-19 swab test and since then, Art and I have self-isolated,” she wrote. A week…

Iza Calzado is ready to go home after her COVID-19 retest result showed she is now negative for the virus, her talent manager said. The 37-year-old actress’ manager Noel Ferrer announced the good news on Monday in a statement. “It’s an amazing start of the week as we were just told that Iza can go home tomorrow after completing her IV antibiotics!” he said. “Moreover, the good news is — Iza’s retest results came back and she is now negative for COVID.” Ferrer thanked the support and prayers offered for Iza’s healing and recovery, as well as the medical health…

Kristen Ponce-Enrile, the granddaughter of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, shared on Saturday a video showing the “living legend” himself in good health and in high spirits. “Blessing your feed with the legend himself,” she wrote in the caption. “COVID, go away!” the 96-year-old Enrile was caught on cam quipping as he shooed the invisible virus away. The video shared on Facebook has since racked up at least 7,000 reactions and over 3,000 shares from netizens. The nonagenarian former politico has been the subject of viral memes and jokes because of his old age, having been around long enough…

Actress Iza Calzado tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), her talent manager has confirmed in a statement. In a public Facebook post by Noel Ferrer, he said that Iza received her test results yesterday. He also announced that she is recovering well and being aggressively treated for pneumonia, one of the symptoms caused by the infection. Unlike her Instagram post on Wednesday that showed the 37-year-old Kapamilya star’s selfie from a hospital bed, wearing what appeared to be an oxygen mask, Ferrer noted that she can now breathe sans any oxygen assistance. Here is the full statement: “Dear Family…

Pegasus management strongly denied social media posts that alleged a government official was spotted last March 16 at the self-proclaimed “ultimate men’s club”. “Beware of fake news circulating on social media that a government official was seen inside our establishment on March 16 when in fact we issued a notice of temporary suspension of operations from March 14, 2020 until April 14, 2020,” Pegasus said in a statement issued Saturday. The statement didn’t identify the government official who was subject of the “fake news” but Pegasus’ Facebook page shared the post in question that claimed a certain senator visited the…

The sister-doctor of Ruby Rodriguez passed away early Thursday morning due to COVID-19. Top pediatrician Dr. Salvacion “Sally” Gatchalian — Manang Sally to Ruby — became one of the frontliners who succumbed to the disease, the Eat Bulaga host confirmed in a statement. “As of 6 a.m. my sister, Dr. Sally Gatchalian, who fought really hard, has joined our Lord God and creator. We her family thank you all sincerely for praying with us. Stay Safe and keep on praying,” she said. In an Instagram post, the TV host also paid tribute to her “big sister”. “My sister, Manang sally,…

Actress Iza Calzado revealed on Wednesday that she is now confined at a hospital for pneumonia while waiting for her coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test results. “Hello, everyone. It’s been a while but I thought I’d update you all. I’m currently hospitalized for pneumonia and so, I was tested for Covid-19 and I’ve been waiting for the results for several days now,” Iza said in an Instagram post along with a photo of herself from a hospital bed. The 37-year-old star admitted that it’s been a challenging period for her, but her condition is nothing compared to the work of the…

Christopher de Leon became the first Filipino celebrity to go public that he tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). His action, in turn, inspired a husband and wife who contracted the virus to open up about their own health status, according to Christopher’s wife Sandy Andolong. In a series of Instagram stories on Tuesday, the actress shared, “Received this message from a kind and brave batchmate of mine from UPIS (University of the Philippines Integrated School). Thank you Liza for allowing me to share this. Fervently praying for you & Bob.” She went on to share the message that…