Chito Miranda revealed that fellow bandmate and Parokya ni Edgar guitarist Gab Chee Kee has been diagnosed with lymphoma. The lead vocalist shared on his socials that Chee Kee knew about his condition last year and had been undergoing chemotherapy for the past few months.
While Chee Kee was initially doing alright after the diagnosis, he is now confined to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and battling pneumonia due to complications from his condition. The decision to go public was made to address the “overwhelming” hospital bills of Chee Kee, who is now intubated.
Miranda also thanked artists Ebe Dancel, Kamikazee, Gloc 9, Shanti Dope, Flow G, Gracenote, December Avenue, P.O.T, December Avenue, and Moira Dela Torre for setting up fundraising gigs for the guitarist. He also included bank details in the post for those who wish to donate.
“Matinding laban to for Gab…at reresbakan natin siya,” Miranda wrote.
Chee Kee has been an integral part of Parokya Ni Edgar, having formed the iconic band with Chito Miranda in 1993 during their high school days at Ateneo, along with Vinci Montaner, Jeric Estaco, and Mikko Yap.
He also sang and composed one of the group’s most recognizable singles, Your Song, which serves as a tribute to his wife. It was Parokya Ni Edgar’s first single to reach 100 million streams on Spotify. Miranda considers Chee Kee his best friend, who he has jammed with even before thoughts of forming a band were conceived.
“Best friend ko si Gab mula 1st year high school, and siya lang yung palagi kong ka-jamming bago pa naming maisipan mag-buo ng banda. At kahit nung nagging 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,” Miranda wrote.
Outside of Miranda, tributes and well-wishes poured from both celebrities and Parokya ni Edgar fans, some of who have been with the band for its entire 30-year existence.
