“The Long Goodbye”: Caridad Sanchez’s Daughter Opens Up About the Actress’ Battle with Dementia

MANILA — For Cathy Babao, daughter of legendary actress Caridad Sanchez, the pain of losing a loved one doesn’t always come in an instant. Sometimes, it unfolds slowly — a long and painful goodbye that stretches over years.

At 87 years old, Caridad Sanchez, once known for her iconic roles and unmistakable presence on screen, is now quietly battling dementia. Cathy revealed that her mother was diagnosed in late 2015. Since then, their family has been living through the heartbreaking rhythm of memory loss — good days, bad days, and moments when the same questions are asked again and again.

“She remains physically strong,” Cathy shared. “Pero paulit-ulit siya. There are moments when she forgets, and you see her slowly drifting away.”

As a grief educator and counselor, Cathy is no stranger to pain. But this — watching her once-vibrant mother slowly fade — has brought a new depth to the term “anticipatory grief.”

“It’s a long goodbye,” she said. “Over time, you slowly lose the person. You just prepare for it.”

Despite the sorrow, Cathy chose to speak out — not just to share her truth, but to help other families who might be going through the same struggle. Breaking the silence, she shared her journey on social media, stressing the importance of awareness, early detection, and acceptance.

“Why keep it a secret?” she asked. “Hindi naman nakakahiya. There are many families out there going through the same thing but are too afraid to speak. If we share our stories, we help others feel less alone.”

Her post quickly went viral — with an outpouring of love from fans, fellow caregivers, and even strangers. It was both heartbreaking and healing, she says.

In one of her most emotional Instagram posts, Cathy quoted a line from the book Still Alice, which captures the ache of loving someone who may forget you:

“What if I see you and don’t know that you’re my daughter, and I don’t know that you love me?”
“Then I’ll tell you that I do, and you’ll believe me.”

This sentiment has become Cathy’s guiding light: to love, even when memory fades. To care, even when recognition is lost. Because, as she writes, “the heart always knows and never forgets.”

Now, as she cares for her mother in these final chapters, Cathy considers this journey a blessing in disguise — a second chance to say all the things she never got to tell her father when he died suddenly years ago.

“Maybe this is God’s way of giving me the time I didn’t get before. To say goodbye slowly. To love more deeply. To remember — for both of us.”

Through her ongoing hashtags #caringchronicles and #thelonggoodbye, Cathy documents moments of connection, caregiving, and quiet love — proof that even as the mind fades, the bond between mother and daughter endures.

And perhaps, in this slow, silent journey — filled with whispered names and fading memories — the most powerful thing that remains… is love.