MANILA, Philippines — The mother of YouTube vlogger Lloyd Cadena, Lorita, broke her silence for the first time weeks after her son’s untimely death.
“Mahirap man tanggapin, tanggapin na lang natin (It may be hard, but let’s just accept it),” Lorita, also known as “Mother Kween” to Lloyd’s fans, said in the YouTube vlog uploaded Wednesday.
“Kasi alam kong mahal si Lloyd ng Panginoon kaya kinuha na siya,” she added. “Although mahirap sa aming family pero wala na tayong magagawa dahil hiram lang naman si Lloyd. Hiram ko lang naman si Lloyd.”
(I know that the Lord loves Lloyd that’s why He took him. Although it’s hard for us as a family, we can’t do anything about it since Lloyd was only borrowed. I only borrowed Lloyd.)
It was on Sept. 4 when news broke that Lloyd suddenly passed away at the age of 26, leaving his fans and fellow social media stars in shock and grief.
His family later confirmed that the YouTube star contracted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and that Lloyd suffered a heart attack in his sleep.
Lorita, meanwhile, said that it took her so long to speak up about her son’s death because it was the only time she had gathered her courage to do so.
“Ngayon lang ako magsalita kasi ngayon ko lang kaya magsalita,” she said.
(This is the only time that I am speaking because it is only now that I have the strength to do so.)
She also addressed Lloyd’s fans who were worried about her family, saying that they had submitted to a swab test and tested negative for COVID-19.
Lorita also hopes that Lloyd’s fans will continue to support her.
Like Lloyd, Lorita also has her own YouTube channel, Mother Kween Vlogs, with 1.4 million subscribers as of this writing.
“Sana patuloy niyo akong supportahan kahit wala na si Lloyd kasi ‘yun naman ang gusto ni Lloyd na mangyari sa akin,” she said. “Di ko naman akalain na yung video-video ay katuwaan lang naman ‘yun at libangan lang pero ngayon parang tinotoo na talaga.”
(I hope you still continue to support me even though Lloyd is gone because that was what Lloyd wanted for me. I did not expect that these videos, which were just for fun and recreation, would be full time.)