Flonique Guimary

How Lani Misalucha kept her faith despite hearing loss due to bacterial meningitis

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Clarence Roi Gillego

Push Team

<p>Lani Misalucha suffered from bacterial meningitis five years ago, and she didn’t totally recover from it — rather, she just learned how to live with it.  </p><div> </div><p>In an interview with Ogie Diaz for his vlog, the Asia’s Nightingale revealed that she has been dealing with the  recurring effects of the disorder until now.</p><div> </div><div><iframe width="670" height="377" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jJtT7F4V1js" title="Lani Misalucha, may inamin! | Ogie Diaz" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><p>According to her, she never got an assurance from their doctors that her condition, which had caused total hearing loss in her right ear, would be cured. </p><div> </div><p>“Wala kaming narinig sa bibig nila na, ‘oh dont worry, you’re gonna be healed, your hearing will comeback, the dizziness will disappear.’ Walang ganon because meron talagang mga cases na hindi na talaga nag-heal,” she said. </p><div> </div><p>“Sabi nga ng mga doctor, ‘hopefully may makikita tayong pagkakaiba. Let’s say sa hearing niyo, within 3 months dapat at least mag-iiba na ‘yung hearing niyo, at least sana lalakas siya. ‘Yung sa hilo naman, at least dapat mabawasan ‘yung hilo niyo within 3 months. Dapat makakita tayo ng development or progreso. Pero ‘pag wala at lumampas na ang 3 months na ‘yun and wala pa rin, the damage is permanent,&#x27;” she added.  </p><div> </div><p>Lani admitted that it has taken a toll on her mental health, especially with her constant battle with tinnitus, one of its after-effects. Tinnitus is when one hears a noise within, such as a ringing or buzzing, even if there is no external source. </p><div> </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2020/12/27/fresh-scoops/lani-misalucha-loses-hearing-in-right-ear-after-su-190663" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Lani Misalucha loses hearing in right ear after suffering from bacterial meningitis</strong></a></div><div> </div><p>“I thought I was gonna go crazy, I thought I was gonna go nuts talaga,” she said.  </p><div> </div><p>“[Since] the onset of meningitis, napansin ko siya [tinnitus] tapos lumakas na siya as in ang lakas niya. Ngayon nalang syempre we have gotten used to it, parang naging parte na ng [sistema] mo. Pero &#x27;pag tahimik na tahimik at saka &#x27;pag pinag-uusapan... I’m telling you as in parang nakakasira ng ulo,” she shared.  </p><div> </div><p>The singer’s husband also suffered from the same condition, and that also hit him mentally. </p><div> </div><p>“Kailangan naming dalawang magtulungan pero I’m telling you, parang pareho kami, we went through that phase na parang na-depress kami. Kasi noong time na &#x27;yun, pag umuuwi kami sa Philippines, [we would rent an] Airbnb. So nasa condo lang kami. He would just be on the couch the whole afternoon, not talking,” she said. </p><div> </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/5/19/exclusive-lani-misalucha-looks-back-on-her-40-year-long-career-in-showbiz-0905" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Lani Misalucha looks back on her 40-year long career in showbiz</strong></a></div><div> </div><p>Despite what she described as a “life-threatening situation,” Lani’s faith has remained unshaken.</p><div> </div><p>“Na-realize ko na kahit anong mangyari, mahal pa rin kami ng Panginoong Diyos,” she said. “Nandito pa rin kami, nakakatayo, buhay, nakakapaglakad. May mga differences nga lang ‘yung mga nararamdaman. Pero the most important thing is we’re still here, still functioning. I’m still Lani.” </p><div> </div><p>Looking at the brighter side of things, she believes that there is a reason why it happened to them. </p><div> </div><p>“It’s just a matter of really accepting everything and knowing that there’s actually a purpose behind it,” she said.  </p><div> </div><p>“Lahat naman tayo, kaya nandito tayo sa mundo (ay) para ma-experience ang iba’t ibang bagay. May mga tao na walang pinagdaanan, masarap lang ang buhay. May mga taong iisipin mong ‘bakit ganito?’ Ipinanganak na mahirap, namatay na mahirap. Iba-iba ang ibinibigay sa atin na level of trials. It’s just a matter of how you’re going to face it and how you’re going to live around it, and kung paano mo siya malalampasan,” she added.  </p><div> </div><p>Despite her hearing loss, Lani is grateful that she’s still able to perform and that people still appreciate her craft. </p><div> </div><p>“Alam mo, na-su-surprise ako. Kahit ako na-su-surprise ako kasi I do corporate shows.  Actually nga recently, kasama ako sa isang concert. Na-su-surprise ako ‘ay naabot ko pa pala.’ At saka lahat ng kanta ko, the same key kasi I just use my minus-one, kung ano ‘yung minus-one ng talagang original na songs ko,” she said.</p>

<p>Lani Misalucha's faith has remained firm despite suffering from partial hearing loss due to bacterial meningitis.</p>

Lani Misalucha's faith has remained firm despite suffering from partial hearing loss due to bacterial meningitis.