Bibeth Orteza's brother Dr. Neal Orteza dies of COVID-19

Veteran actress-director Bibeth Orteza pens a heartwarming tribute her brother, Dr. Ephraim Neal Orteza, who died of COVID-19 on Wednesday night, April 8.

On her Facebook, Bibeth shared a childhood photo of her with Dr. Orteza.

On its caption, she remembers precious memories with her brother, "Bimboy was my best friend and best enemy when we were growing up.

"The more studious one, who knew he wanted to be a doctor since Grade One, who earned regular praise for good grades from our Mama, until the day he put the frozen cat he was dissecting inside our refrigerator freezer.

"He married Imelda Olivarez in NYC, but his church wedding he had here. He asked my mother-in-law to be one of his ninangs.

"And as you know, Armida didn't go to our wedding.

"Before the reception ended, he whispered to me, 'Talo kita. Si Tita Armida nasa wedding album ko. Sa iyo, wala! Hahahahaha!'"

She also related how much of a good doctor her brother is.

"Among one of the last BS Pre-Med graduates of UP, he was an activist early on, who left BS Circle shortly before graduation.

"I asked why, and he said, 'Nahihiya ako to be there. Wala sa personality ko ang maging out in front."

"He said this, not knowing that he would be one. A frontliner, to the very end."

"Manang Bibeth is so very, very proud."

Aside from being a frontliner, Dr. Orteza, 64, is the medical director and pediatrician of Ospital ng Paranaque.