An increased vulnerability to the coronavirus has plagued the world along with the emergence of the highly contagious Omicron variant.
In January 2022, the country has alarmingly crossed the 3 million mark for its total COVID-19 infection count, and yet, the numbers keep rising as new cases are reported every day.
The Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday, January 24, that the epicenter of the Omicron-fueled virus surge has been identified in Metro Manila. However, DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire pointed out that current records may be an underestimation since more Filipinos have opted not to get tested.
Given the shared spaces in households, many families have been observed to contract the virus in a domino effect or all at the same time. And celebrity families were not spared.
Scroll through this gallery to know more about these well-known families' bouts with the dreaded coronavirus.
Filipina actress Sharmaine Arnaiz and two of her children contracted the coronavirus in September 2021.
“Ako 'yong nauna tapos dalawang kids ko. Magkasunod kami,” she shared in an episode of Eat Bulaga.
Sharmaine recalled how worried she was since her youngest child experienced the worst symptoms among all of them.
“Nakakaawa 'yong bunso ko. Ang sama ng symptoms niya. Mangiyak-iyak ako…Grabe 'yong taas ng lagnat niya. Nine days siyang nagka-lagnat. Tapos 'yong ubo niya, hindi na siya makapagsalita. Hindi na siya makakain,” she said.
Ina Raymundo announced on Friday, January 7, that she contracted COVID-19 along with her husband Brian Portunak and their five children.
"We all got Covid - my husband and five kids. Most of them have recovered but I just tested positive today. Ang bait pa rin ni God that I'm the last to get it so I was able to take good care of all of them. Most of my kids were sick for two days, not more than three days. I treated all of them like they have the flu. Please keep calm everyone. God is still in control," she said.
When Ina guested on Eat Bulaga's “Bawal Judgemental,” she opened up about how grateful she was for still being able to nurse her family back to health before she finally caught the virus.
“Nagpapasalamat pa rin ako kay God na ako 'yong huling nagkaroon [ng COVID-19] so naalagaan ko silang lahat.”
She also underscored the importance of remaining calm when battling COVID-19 since most cases can still be manageable with the right amount of research and preparation.
While on her fourth pregnancy, Kapuso host Iya Villania first shared that she and husband Drew Arellano tested positive for COVID-19 through an Instagram post on Monday, January 10.
"Drew and I are still hanging on to that little chance that maybe the kids are spared. This post is for all mamas and papas who are going through the same thing [of having] to endure not hugging and kissing their children. This was the hardest thing to accept upon learning I was positive [for COVID-19]," she wrote in the caption.
Iya coupled her post with photos of their children Primo, Leon, and Alana from the other side of their glass door. "It broke my heart to see [Alana] cry for me and not be able to console her even for a bit. So mamas in this same situation, you are not alone," she said.
A few days after, the Chika Minute host announced that all three of her children also caught a few of the COVID-19 symptoms.
Candy Pangilinan, along with her sister, son Quentin, and two household helpers, contracted COVID-19 in early January.
She revealed that the only person in their home who didn't fall sick from the virus was her 85-year-old mom. “I was really praying. Talagang every day…Sabi ko, 'Lord, i-bonus mo na sa'kin 'yong mommy ko. Huwag niyo na po [siyang] bigyan [ng sakit].”
Candy also reminded parents like her to keep themselves healthy and strong, imploring, “Mga magulang, kailangan natin magpalakas because we really cannot give what we cannot have.”
Vin Abrenica, along with fiancé Sophie Albert and their 10-month old baby Avianna Celeste, tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a family gathering.
He recalled how difficult it was when he couldn't help bring his daughter to the hospital since he was completing his isolation in one of the rooms in their house.
In an interview with 24 Oras, Vin shared how much of a nightmare it was for him to witness his daughter suffer from the symptoms of the virus.
"Naririnig mo 'yong torture na iyak ng baby mo tapos hindi siya makatulog at 'yong paghinga raw, sabi ni Sophie, nagwi-whistle na...Sa panahon ngayon, even babies. Sa hospital, ang daming babies ngayon at napakahirap kapag tinamaan sila," he said.
Chynna Ortaleza, along with her husband and Callalily frontman Kean Cipriano, contracted COVID-19 despite staying in a "strict family bubble."
"Everyone who knows us will attest to the defense that we put up against this virus. It found us in a place that we secured so that our kids could play safely and still enjoy the sun and nature. How did we get it? I do not know. We have no close contacts...We have a strict family bubble," she shared via her Instagram page on Tuesday, January 18.
After thanking their family, friends, doctors, and support system throughout their journey with COVID-19, Chynna revealed that they had to restart their isolation period since Kean and their daughter Stellar developed symptoms later on.
"We are back to Day 1 today. Ate Stellar developed a fever a day after and we had no choice but to break isolation. Kean started developing symptoms eventually. We still have plenty of days to learn and fight through. We humbly ask for your prayers," she said.
The celebrity mom also urged for test kits to be made available to the public for a more affordable price, stressing that its unreasonable price can push some people to belittle their symptoms into less alarming infections when it could potentially be COVID-19.
Television host and writer Bianca Gonzalez opened up about their family's encounter with the virus in an Instagram post on Wednesday, January 19.
She shared value-adding tips on how to power through the period of isolation, citing routine building, sleeping, soaking in some sun, keeping in touch with isolating friends, and trying to do something different as her main guide to maintaining one's sanity through their recovery from COVID-19.
While she didn't disclose who else in her family contracted the virus, Bianca confirmed that it wasn't just her who fell sick.
"It hit our home as well, and thankfully, everyone hit had mild symptoms, and we have all 'graduated' and are healthy and well," she said.
Pia Guanio's husband Steeve Mago and daughter Scarlet were the first to contract the virus from their family.
On Instagram, she shared the reality of caring for her isolated loved ones with COVID-19 as they communicated through distanced windows. The 'Eat Bulaga!' mainstay also showed how she makes sure to nurture her husband and daughter especially as they restore their health in isolation.
Following her husband and daughter's recovery from COVID-19, Pia revealed that she and her youngest child Soleil Brooklyn had also tested positive for the virus.
"Together in sickness and in health. A day after Steeve and Scarlet got cleared for [COVID-19], my youngest and I tested positive. But praise God that we are having it easy. We got the best nurses who already know what to do to care for us," she wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday, January 19.
Aubrey Miles and Troy Montero opened up about their family's encounter with COVID-19.
"The worst that could happen to a family, especially with kids. My eldest son Maurie is still negative and [is] isolated in his room. We don't know what's going to happen. I pray we finish this and he stays healthy," the actress shared via Instagram on January 20.
Days ahead of Aubrey's post, her husband Troy confirmed that he had contracted the virus and was isolated in their garage which he called his "recovery camp."
He later revealed that Aubrey and their kids Rocket and Hunter have also caught the virus while their eldest Maurie entered quarantine inside his room after receiving a negative result.
"Aubrey and the kids tested positive for COVID-19 today so we're all back together again. Not the reunion I was hoping for but it is what it is...Now that we're all together, set the COVID clock to day one. Thanks to everyone for all the kind words of support. We'll need it more than ever in the coming days," he said.
Celebrity host Joyce Pring shared her family's ordeal with COVID-19 through an Instagram post on Thursday, January 20.
Joyce also emphasized how crucial their faith in God was in helping them through their journey to recovery.
"It's hard coming to terms with reality. It's hard accepting we're vulnerable, finite, and so deeply at the mercy of our Creator. And so we must make peace with our God and trust Him through all of life's seasons: the joyful ones that are easy to embrace and welcome and those that are harder to weather...Praise God for our restored health," she said.
Yasmien Kurdi recounted the COVID-19 experience of her whole family in a YouTube video posted on Sunday, January 23.
She clarified that the video was posted late and that they have now fully recovered after completing their required period of isolation.
"Based on our experience, ang pinakakalaban niyo talaga dito ay 'yong stress and pressure [kaya 'di ko agad pinaalam sa inyo dahil ayokong ma-stress noong nalaman ko 'yong results]," the Kapuso actress said.
Yasmien first announced that she and her family contracted the virus through an Instagram post teasing the release of her latest vlog.
"Finally, Day 7. Last day of home quarantine na namin ni Pangga pero si Ayesha Zara, may additional days to go pa then malaya na rin siya. Road to negative na ang Familia Soldevilla na Team Positive noon...Laban lang," she wrote in the caption.
Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes revealed that he and his family tested positive for COVID-19 in a sit-down video shared via Facebook on Sunday, January 23.
"Napansin namin na marami na ang hindi maganda ang pakiramdam sa kapaligiran namin. Halos lahat ng kakilala namin ay mayroong positive case sa bahay. Hanggang sa halos lahat kami dito sa bahay ay nilagnat na at nagkaroon na ng sintomas. Kaya inisip namin 'Naku, mukhang ito na 'yon. Mukhang nasama na kami sa surge,' kaya nag-test kami at 'yon na nga, nag-positive na kami [sa COVID-19," he said.
Despite their encounter with COVID-19, Dingdong stressed that their family remains grateful because they only experienced mild symptoms.
"Naging mahirap para sa amin dahil lahat kami nagkaroon ng sabay-sabay, naging mahirap 'yong mobility para sa amin, naging mahirap 'yong movements. Masasabi kong nalampasan namin ito dahil sa tulong ng maraming tao," he shared.
The Kapuso actor also reiterated the importance of getting vaccinated and receiving the needed booster shot to protect oneself against the dreaded virus.
Nadine Samonte shared that her family, including one-month-old baby Harmony Saige, tested positive for COVID-19.
"Grabe ang nangyari sa'min. Kaming lahat, nag-positive. Kahit si Harmony. Buti mild symptoms lang kami and ang kids, naagapan agad. Thank you, Lord, for everything. We made it," she said in an Instagram story on Monday, January 24.
A few days ahead of confirming her family's health condition, Nadine took to Instagram to share a few monochrome photos of her and husband Richard Chua with their newborn Harmony.
"We are still in the grey area but we are okay. Everyone's okay, even our little Harmony. Thank you, Lord, hindi mo kami pinabayaan lalo na [ang] mga kids. Salamat," she wrote.
Kapuso couple Mark Herras and Nicole Donesa, along with their one-year-old son Corky, were also not spared from contracting the virus.
"After two days of trangkaso, nahawa si Corky...so sobrang stressed kami. Umiiyak ako noong gabi kasi nakita ko kung paano nahirapan 'yong bata," he recounted in an interview with '24 Oras.'
Mark then breathed a great sigh of relief as he shared that their COVID-19 symptoms subsided only a week after they first encountered it.
"Sa awa naman ng Diyos, after a week lang din nawala na 'yong symptoms namin," he said.
In an episode of Eat Bulaga, Filipina singer Bituin Escalante opened up about her family's challenging bout with the dreaded virus.
Aside from Bituin, her mother, father, brother, two children, and husband also tested positive for COVID-19.
Bituin shared that it was her kids who first caught the virus. However, she and her husband decided to still stay with them despite the risk of falling sick as well.
“Kapag ina ka, mas mabuti nang magkasakit ka, 'wag lang 'yong anak mo. Nauna kasi 'yong mga anak namin [na] magkasakit tapos nag-desisyon kaming mag-asawa kasi alangan naman na i-isolate namin sila to protect ourselves. Sabay-sabay na lang tayo magkasakit kasi kaya natin 'to basta magkasama tayo.”
Digital content creator Kryz Uy shared it was initially only her firstborn Scott Knoa that had tested positive for COVID-19 but a few weeks later, more members of their household caught it as well - including her husband, Slater Young.
On Sunday, February 27, Kryz revealed that she also contracted the virus while pregnant with her second child.
"I did finally catch COVID-19 after two years of avoiding it. We all got it from Scottie. He was our main source here in this household. It's already been two weeks after Scottie was out and about, that's when I got it pa. And I think it's because Slater caught it from Scottie and then, I mistakenly drank Slater's salabat, his ginger tea. I think that's where I got it. And it was pretty bad for me. Not really like severe or anything but it was a lot worse than how Yaya Jera had it or how Scottie had it. And I'm pregnant so I didn't really want to push myself," she said.