Did Maureen Larrazabal experience discrimination as a COVID-19 survivor?
Comedienne and character actress Maureen Larrazabal realized how blessed she was when she contracted COVID-19 recently.
In her exclusive chat with Kapuso Showbiz News, Maureen took the opportunity to thank Michael V.'s wife, Carol Bunagan, and her Pepito Manaloto co-star, Mosang, for being there while she was suffering from coronavirus.
She told Kapuso Showbiz News, “I'm very lucky na very supportive ng mga kasama ko sa Pepito Manaloto and si Bitoy with the wife.”
Maureen recalled Carol made sure that she was doing well and she will regularly check up on her whenever she can.
“Si Ayoi [Carol], si Ayoi mismo 'yung everyday na tumatawag to check up on me.
"I'm very, very lucky to have Ayoi na, 'O, ganito ano na ba ang temperature mo, make sure that your oximeter is there. Make sure you take this. And then mag-tuob ka twice a day.'”
“And siya mismo, tinawagan niya ako after niyang malaman na masama na 'yung pakiramdam ako.
"Inalalayan niya ako along with Mosang na si Baby ng Pepito Manaloto.
“Both of them nag-a-alternate ng call, may tatawag sa umaga, may tatawag sa gabi making sure that I am okay.
"Kaya nga I'm very, very grateful to them because I didn't have to ask for anything talagang ibinigay nila 'yung help in good faith.
“They are really concerned.”
Meanwhile, COVID-19 patients face discrimination after recovering from the virus.
Fortunately for Maureen, she didn't experience this, especially with those people around her.
She explained, “I am very fortunate that the people I'm surrounded by very compassionate na mga tao.
"Sincerely, they have a good heart and they are willing to help and they are really concerned.
“'Yung discrimination, because may stigma ang COVID, hindi ko siya naramdaman.”
Howevever, Maureen said she understands why other people discriminate against those who are COVID-19 positive.
“As I was telling nga my friends, apparently, some are not as lucky as I am and they experience 'yung mga ganun klase ng discrimination.
"Sometimes from their own family pa. They are pushing them away because probably they are afraid of getting sick.
“'Yun lang naman, wala ng ibang reason why they will push you away.”
Maureen added, “But you know, to me kasi, kailangan mo rin i-respeto kung ano 'yung gusto nila, 'tsaka 'yung magiging reaksyon nila. Hindi mo rin masisi, e.
“I have no grudges, wala akong galit or whatever sa mga taong ganun kung meron man magpaparamdam sa akin, maiintindihan ko.”
“Takot sila, e. They are not familiar with COVID at saka sa social media kung anu-ano nababasa mo, naririnig mo. Nababalitaan mo na it's very deadly and all.”
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