Michael V. chooses to stay silent on discrimination experience upon testing positive for COVID-19

Michael V. confirmed experiencing discrimination when he announced he tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) but he said he chooses not to dwell on it. Instead, Bitoy advised COVID-19 patients to prepare themselves because discrimination is inevitable.

"Mayroon, mayroon. Oo, kaya nga sinabi ko roon sa vlog na hindi ko ide-detalye at mabuti pa nga siguro na ganu'n na lang. Pero paghandaan n'yo 'yung mga sitwasyon n'yo," Bitoy said in an interview on "Quarantined with Howie Severino."

"'Yung mga sarili n'yo ihanda n'yo sa mga ganu'ng klaseng sitwasyon dahil hindi imposible talaga at hindi mo rin sila masisisi lalo kung walang masyadong kaalaman," he said.

'Yun ang tendency talaga, eh, mag-jump sila into conclusion. At hindi lang 'yung physical, ah," he added.

Bitoy said he also experienced a lot of discrimination online through social media but because he is a public figure, Bitoy said he is used to such situations.

"Sa social media marami. Maraming ganu'ng klaseng discrimination at saka harassment na matatawag," he said.

"Since public figure ako medyo sanay na tayo riyan. Pagdating sa social media medyo hindi na ganu'n ka-big deal talaga," he added.

In his previous vlog post where, he updated his fans that he has recovered, Bitoy pointed to the stigma and discrimination that comes with having the virus.

Without giving out further details, Bitoy said his family experienced harassment after he tested positive with COVID-19.

"Hindi ko na lang ide-detalye pero kami mismo ng pamilya ko, naka-experience kami ng harassment. Eh wala, ganon talaga eh. Kaya siguro yung iba, ayaw nila paalam na may COVID sila eh," he said in the vlog.

COVID-19 survivors have consistently pointed to loneliness and discrimination as the hardest things to go through.

In sharing his COVID-19 experience, GMA journalist Howie Severino was consistent in saying that COVID-19 is the loneliest disease in the world.

Bitoy tested positive with COVID-19 in July as he announced the news on his vlog.

In the same vlog post, Bitoy said he thinks he might have gotten it from package deliveries that were not sanitized. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News