Netizens are expressing concern for Cita Astals after a video of the former ’90s TV star living a modest life went viral on social media.
Best known for her role in Home Along da Riles, Cita was spotted by an influencer outside a mamihan in Cavite.
In the video clip, uploaded on the Bench TV YouTube channel on April 22, 2026, Cita talked about her simple life after leaving showbiz and her short stint in politics.
Comments under the vlog showed a deep sense of pity for the former celebrity.
Many also urged Cita’s friends in showbiz to step in and help improve her living conditions.
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SUSAN ENRIQUEZ MEETS CITA ASTALS
The YouTube video opened the door to more interview opportunities for the former comedienne who was also a ballet teacher.
One of these was with Susan Enriquez, who spoke with Cita for her online show Kay Susan Tayo! Vlogs.
The episode was uploaded on May 2, 2026, on the YouTube channel of GMA Public Affairs.
Susan Enriquez began by asking about the circumstances that led to her current situation.
Cita came from a well-to-do family and studied at Colegio de San Agustin and Makati College.
She later entered politics and served three terms as a councilor in the city of Manila. She went on to run for vice mayor in 2007 but lost to Isko Moreno.
Following this, she alleged that former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim’s harassment took a toll on her health.
“They were stealing a property of my mother in Mindanao. So yun yung basis ng harassment.
"Tapos, as you know, binansagan na akong baliw, and all of this and all of that. Naospital ako sa kaka-torture nila sa akin, and then I was forced to leave Manila,” she claimed.
She did not go into detail about the alleged “torture,” but she has been living in Cavite since 2020.
These days, Cita keeps herself busy reading and writing books on Philippine history and other topics.
But how does she pay the bills?
“Yung mga luma pong utang-utang sa akin,” was her answer.
She also relies on her neighbors, who give her small amounts from time to time, so she can buy food and cigarettes.
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CITA ASTALS on HER MENTAL HEALTH
Her mental health was also discussed.
Cita acknowledged her 2011 bipolar disorder diagnosis as true, though she offered clarifications about it.
“It is not a thinking disorder. It’s a mood disorder. It’s an emotional disorder. Ganyan kasimple ang ating psychiatry.
"If you’re hearing voices, it’s because you’re schizophrenic. Pag natanggal yung voices, it’s because you’re bipolar.
"Ganun ka-simplistic yung level ng psychiatry in her country.”
(Ed's Note: According to the website of the Cleveland Clinic, a non-profit academic medical center in the U.S., hearing voices—an experience akin to hallucinations—is not exclusive to schizophrenia. People with bipolar disorder may also experience it during "severe manic or depressive episodes with psychotic features.")
Cita still takes medicine for her disorder, but, “it’s a very low dosage."
Looking back, the former comedienne said making her condition public was a mistake.
“Ako lang po ang nagkamali na umamin ako kasi I was thinking people will understand, but they don’t.
"You know? Kasi nga, pag sinabi mo, lagi na lang nandun yun. Any mistake you make, anything."
She thought telling the world about her sickness would lessen the stigma around it.
“Hindi rin nangyari, e. Kasi ang problema rin siguro, in Tagalog kasi, every thing is naka-lump sum as baliw. Any mental issue is baliw.
"Whereas, yung bipolar is actually an emotional disorder or a mood disorder. It comes with extreme stress.
"Once na uminom ng gamot, you’re fine. You’re perfectly normal.”
From time to time, she experiences discrimination from strangers.
“Luckily, kokonti lang yung ganoon, pero may mga instances talaga na pati ikaw, e, mapipikon talaga,” she said.
Susan Enriquez also asked about rumors claiming she is a drug addict.
“Hindi naman po,” she replied immediately.
Cita said the allegation is fake news that began circulating during her time in politics.
HOME ALONG DA RILES REUNION
The Argentinian-Filipina celebrity is not totally alone. She is still in touch with her half-siblings in the United States.
Cita is also hopeful for the upcoming Home Along Da Riles movie, where she has a cameo.
She had a tearful reunion with the cast—Claudine Barretto, Nova Villa, Smokey Manaloto, Vandolph Quizon, Boy2 Quizon, Gio Alvarez, Jenny Quizon, and Maybelyn dela Cruz—in 2024.
“That was so touching,” Cita said of the reunion.
“It was really appreciated by me that the kids remembered. Puwede namang sila-sila lang yun kasi sila-sila lang naman ang close talaga. Pero hindi nila kami pinabayaan. So that was very touching.”
Does she miss working in the showbiz industry?
She answered yes.
“Ang maganda kasi sa showbiz, at least lalo na within the production, everybody’s really professional and like family. So everybody’s kind to each other."