Umapela ng pinansiyal na tulong ang singer-songwriter na si Chito Miranda para sa Parokya ni Edgar bandmate niyang si Gab Chee Kee na kasalukuyang naka-confine sa ospital.
Si Gab ang gitarista ng OPM rock band na Parokya ni Edgar.
Idinaan ni Chito sa kanyang social media accounts ang panawagan sa mga taong bukal ang pusong tumulong sa lumulobong gastusin sa ospital ni Gab, na ngayon ay nasa Intensive Care Unit (ICU) matapos ma-diagnose ng lymphoma (cancer affecting the lymphatic system).
Ayon kay Chito, hindi lang basta gitarista si Gab kundi puso rin ng kanilang banda.
Hindi rin daw niya maatim na makitang naghihirap ito, lalo na't si Gab ang itinuturing niyang "bestfriend" na kasama niyang nagbuo ng Parokya ni Edgar.
Saad ni Chito sa kanyang Facebook at Instagram nitong Miyerkules, January 18, 2023 (published as is), "Gab needs to undergo treatment, and won't be able to play until he makes a full recovery.
"Gab is the heart of the band, and it doesn't feel like Parokya kung wala sya.
"Bestfriend ko si Gab mula 1st year highschool, and sya lang yung palagi kong ka-jamming bago pa naming ma-isipan mag-buo ng banda.
"At kahit nung naging Parokya na kami, si Gab pa rin yung sinusundan ko whenever we perform live.
"Gitara yung sinasabayan ko tuwing gig, sa kanya ko kinukuha yung tono, at sa kanya ko din tinatanong kung nasa tono ba ako o wala.
"And I wouldn't have it any other way.
"Yun yung reason kung bakit ayoko tumugtog with Parokya kung wala sya."
Ibinahagi rin niya ang matinding laban na kinakaharap ngayon ni Gab matapos nitong ma-diagnose ng lymphoma noong 2022.
"Gabriel was diagnosed with lymphoma late last year, and has been undergoing chemotherapy for the past few months.
"Despite his situation, he was relatively doing ok, and thought it would be best not to let everyone know what he was going through, because he didn't want anyone worrying about him.
"So he continued playing with Parokya.
"But soon after, he was advised by his doctor not to play gigs muna para makapag-pahinga.
"I asked my bandmates na kung pwede, wag nalang din muna kami tumugtog habang wala si Gab.
"Pero kina-usap kami ni Gab and asked us to continue playing, because he doesn't want us to stop playing just because we're waiting for him to get better.
"So we did. We owe it to Gab, and more importantly, to everyone na patuloy na sumusuporta sa Parokya, to continue playing."
Dahil daw sa ilang komplikasyon ay nagkaroon ng pneumonia si Gab at napilitang ilipat siya sa ICU at i-intubate.
Handa naman daw ang pamilya ni Gab sa gastusin sa chemotherapy, ngunit dahil sa kanilang "overwhelming hospital bills" ay napagdesisyunan na nilang humingi ng tulong kahit na noong una ay ayaw ni Gab na ipaalam ito sa publiko.
Lahad ng Parokya ni Edgar frontman, "Due to complications brought about by his condition, he is now battling pneumonia and was recently transferred sa ICU and has been intubated for more than a week already.
"He was financially prepared naman for the chemotherapy...but now, his family needs help with the overwhelming hospital bills.
"Initially, ayaw pa rin sana ni Gab ipaalam sa lahat kasi ayaw nya talaga makaabala sa iba...but because of the situation, his partner, Kha, and his brother, Raoul, convinced Gab to allow us to inform everyone, because it would be easier for everyone to ask for assistance if the people who loved him knew what was really going on."
Hindi rin daw nag-iisa si Chito sa pagkumbinsi kay Gab na ipaalam sa publiko at mga fans ang kanyang kalagayan.
"Ebe Dancel (isa sa mga pinakamalapit kay Gab), also asked Gab not to deny the people who cared for him, the opportunity to help him out.
"'Sa dami ng tinulungan mo, hayaan mo naman kami tulungan ka, please.'
"And that convinced Gab to finally allow us to reach out and share his condition and his situation."
Sa huli, inanunsiyo ni Chito na magkakaroon sila ng fundraising gigs para makalikom sa gagamiting gamutan ni Gab.
Bukod pa rito, pinasalamatan din niya ang ilang kapwa singers at musicians na sina Moira Dela Torre, Gloc 9, Kamikazee, Ebe Dancel, Shanti Dope, Flow G, December Avenue, Moonstar 88, POT, at Gracenote na kasama nila sa ilulunsad na fundraising gigs.
Sabi ni Chito, "Parokya and our friends from music scene will be doing a series of fundraising gigs to help Gab out...most of which won't even be announced as fundraisers.
"Tahimik lang sila na tutulong. (pasenya na guys kung in-annouce ko na ha? I know that ang initial usapan natin was not to disclose the details...pero paano makakatulong yung mga nagmamahal kay Gab na nais tumulong, kung di nila alam?)
"Matinding laban to for Gab...at reresbakan natin sya.
"Maraming salamat kay Ebe, sa Kamikazee, kay Gloc9, kay Shanti Dope, kay Flow G, sa Gracenote, sa December Ave, sa POT, sa Moonstar, at kay Moira.
"Mahal na mahal namin kayo."
Dagdag pa niya, "Walang iwanan sa Parokya Band...sa Parokya ni Edgar."
Para sa mga nais mag-donate, narito ang bank details nina Gab at Chito:
BPI 2816006235
Gabriel Ignatius Chee Kee
Paypal: @chitomirandajr
Alfonso Miranda
Gcash
Gabriel Ignatius Chee Kee
