JOHN REGALA found a life-saver in veteran broadcast journalist Raffy Tulfo, both financially and emotionally.
Of the actor’s many donors who helped him raise funds for the treatment of his cirrhosis, Tulfo even promised to look into Regala’s complaint that he allegedly hasn’t gotten hold of the rest of the monetary donations to him.
Showbiz personalities like Nadia Montenegro, Chuckie Dreyfus and Aster Amoyo who were initially at his bedside since July 27 — when the actor was spotted unconscious by a Grab driver somewhere in Pasay City — nevertheless disputed Regala’s claim.
It was Dreyfus’ wife — when no one else wanted to keep the money — who took charge of the accounting of all expenditures, receipts and bank certificates which were handed in a brown envelope to the actor. The contents included a list of donors with the corresponding amounts of their contribution.
Save for the cash which was directly deposited to Regala’s bank account, every single peso was accounted for.
For Nadia, Chuckie and Aster, this is nothing more than a case of “tumulong ka na nga, ikaw pa ang napasama sa bandang huli.”
Most people could easily relate to them, whose only intention was to help a colleague in distress in whatever way they could, only to be accused of cheating on him. We doubt if some other good soul out there may be willing to help Regala the next time around.
Meanwhile, Tulfo has never wavered in his support of the actor, saying that he understands the latter’s medical case as his father also suffered from the same liver disease. He also pledged additional monetary assistance on top of his previous P100-thousand spot donation.
Now it may help Regala’s team of fundraising volunteers to figure out how liver cirrhosis affects anyone who has it. In Tulfo’s words, as to the extent of his understanding of his father’s ailment, “Pareho lang sila ni John, restless.”
It is perhaps because of this restlessness that Regala behaved stubbornly and brashly, defying doctors’ orders that he remain at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute where he was rushed on August 4. The actor requested for discharge all the same on August 13.
Often, a liver disease involves mental health component which affects the person’s behavior among others.
Having said that, it is Regala’s other side (mentally confused) that actually got him to Pasay City. We can only hope that with treatment, he will eventually realize who are his truest friends and be grateful for them.