Now eight months into a year she was once told she might never see, she has another goal in mind: The next year, and hopefully many decades after that.
In an interview with Karen Davila, Ate Gay opened up about her cancer journey, sharing how faith, gratitude and hope continue to give her strength.
Screengrab from youtube/karen davila
For comedian Ate Gay, every new day has become something worth celebrating.
The veteran performer, whose real name is Gil Morales, continues to face stage 4 mucoepidermoid carcinoma with a spirit anchored in faith, gratitude and an unwavering desire to live. Months after being told that she might not make it to 2026, Ate Gay is still here — undergoing treatment, returning to the stage and looking forward to many more years ahead.
In a recent interview with Karen Davila, Ate Gay recalled the painful moment a doctor gave her a grim prognosis. Rather than allowing fear to consume her, she held on to hope.
“I wasn’t afraid. I only cried because I was saddened by what the doctor said, because it felt like it couldn’t be true,” she shared.
Her journey eventually brought her to Asian Hospital and Medical Center, where she has continued receiving treatment. She underwent CyberKnife treatment, a form of targeted radiation therapy, and said the large lump on her neck significantly decreased afterward.
Along the way, Ate Gay discovered another source of strength: The kindness of people who came forward to support her. Friends, supporters and even people from different walks of life extended help during one of the most difficult chapters of her life.
She sees that generosity as a reflection of the good she has tried to give others through the years.
“It really is true. When you do good, the Lord gives it back to you,” she said.
Even while undergoing treatment, Ate Gay has refused to completely leave behind the stage that has been part of her life for decades. She continues to perform, although she limits her appearances to a few hours so she can get enough rest.
Some audiences are initially surprised to see her singing and entertaining despite her condition. Ate Gay responds by reminding them that she is very much alive — and that the applause belongs to someone greater than herself.
“I tell them, ‘I’m alive. I’m alive, I’m not dead.’ Then they applaud, and I tell them, ‘Don’t applaud me. Applaud the Lord — He is amazing,’” she said.
Her battle has also changed the way she looks at time. Instead of spending her days dwelling on what might happen, Ate Gay chooses to appreciate what she still has: her faith, the people around her, the beauty of life and the opportunity to continue making audiences happy.
“I fight because I believe that when you’re gone, you’re gone. That’s why life should be enjoyed. As long as you are alive, you should be happy,” she said.
For Ate Gay, surviving is not simply about adding more days to her life. It is about making those days meaningful.
Now eight months into a year she was once told she might never see, she has another goal in mind: the next year, and hopefully many decades after that.
“They said I wouldn’t reach 2026, but look — it has already been eight months. I’ll make it to next year, too. I still want to reach 90,” she said.
Behind the humor that made generations laugh is a woman determined to keep choosing joy despite uncertainty. Cancer may have changed Ate Gay’s life, but it has not taken away her hope.
And for as long as she can sing, laugh, pray and stand before an audience, Ate Gay intends to keep living — one grateful day at a time.
