Rafa Reyna shares how 'sense of normalcy' helped mom Bibeth Orteza battle cancer

Actor Rafa Reyna got candid about how his mother, acclaimed scriptwriter Bibeth Orteza, battled cancer in 2017.

In a series of posts on Instagram, in partnership with Hope From Within, the theater actor shared how it's important for patients not to feel inferior to the ailment.

The former Encantadia star wrote in his account, “When my mom was battling cancer, it was important for us to never make her feel like she was sick or weak.

“We continued to communicate with her as if she were never afflicted with breast cancer, and we did not stop doing things as a family just because she was undergoing treatment.

“We would tease her, play word games with her like scrabble, and when we found out she liked taking naps in our beds when we were in school so she could at least 'smell' us, we let her.”

Rafa explained that through this effort, they would establish a sense of normalcy in their household despite their mother dealing with one of the toughest trials she had to endure health-wise.

“This was very important for her psychologically given that we made a complete effort to make her feel that everything was normal,” he added.

“This was also important to us as family members and as caregivers - it took our minds off of how serious this situation was. When I look at that period in my life, I can't even say for certain that I was worried.

“We were able to establish a sense of normalcy despite what my mom was actually dealing with health-wise.”

Rafa noted, “In taking care of individuals who are battling cancer, it's important that caregivers do not change how they communicate or treat individuals. This is good for both parties because it is important to stay positive and not dwell on the diagnosis of cancer.

“I believe doing this can boost morale for both the individual battling cancer and the caregiver because it is never healthy to give any credit to negative things.”

Scriptwriter Bibeth Orteza Siguion-Reyna learned that she had stage 3 breast cancer in 2004.

It was only in 2017 when Rafa happily announced his mother is cancer-free.

He noted in an interview with the press, “Mag-e-eleven to twelve years na siyang magaling at wala nang nararamdaman. In remission.

“Nakatulong sa kanya inyong kanyang trabaho. Matiyaga kasi siya sa pagsusulat at even noong nagkasakit siya hindi siya nag-stop.”

Aside from Bibeth Orteza, other notable celebrities and personalities who battled cancer include Maritoni Fernandez, Glenda Garcia, Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, Gary Valenciano, and so much more.

Learn about their stories in the gallery below: