Vlogger Lola Lualhati Valencia Ignacio of Wander Z Vlogs diagnosed with skin cancer

Internet-famous Lola Lualhati Valencia Ignacio of WanderZ Vlogs revealed that she has been diagnosed with skin cancer.

In a ten-minute YouTube video with her grandson, Zoireen Raymundo, she opened up about her diagnosis, noting that their life on the internet is an open book shared with their followers.

The issue began with a small wound located on Nanay Lualhati’s face, near her eye, which first appeared around 2023.

The family initially paid little attention to it, thinking it was just a minor scratch that would heal. However, the wound lingered and failed to improve over time, raising concerns.

Although they frequently brought Nanay Lualhati to the hospital for blood tests and other examinations, the cause was not immediately visible, and it was only recently that the definitive test results arrived.

A doctor then confirmed that Nanay Lualhati has skin cancer.

“Pero sabi ng doktor, huwag raw akong mag-ano dahil ‘yun raw naman ay hindi—kaya lang, ayaw niyang siya ang umalis at gawa nang nasa mukha. Malapit kasi sa mata,” Nanay Lualhati said.

While the family is not sure what may have caused the skin condition, Zoireen shared that he and Nanay Lualhati would expose themselves to the sun during the 2020 pandemic.

“Lagi kaming nagbibilad ni nanay. Nagpapaaraw kami kumbaga para kumuha ng vitamins sa sunlight,” Zoireen said. "Hindi ko alam kung dun 'yun nag-ano pero marami pang procedures si nanay na gagawin." 

Nanay Lualhati and her family are now focused on consulting with a highly skilled specialist, and they intend to document this journey and fight.

“Marami pang procedures si nanay na gagawin, and gusto ko kasama ko kayo. Kumbaga, laban ni nanay, laban ng buong sambayanang Pilipino. Concern lang kami sa ‘yo, ano ka ba. Milyon-milyong tao ang napapasaya mo,” Zoireen said.

The family is not primarily asking for financial support, but they are requesting the community's prayers for the healing of Nanay Lualhati.

On Thursday, Nanay Lualhati had her first session with a skin specialist.

The grandmother and grandson duo based in California often share vlogs on their social media accounts, including YouTube and Facebook. Other family members frequently join them.

They have 230,000 YouTube subscribers, and 3.1 million Facebook followers.

—Carby Rose Basina/CDC, GMA Integrated News