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After suffering a stroke in 2010, veteran character actor Dick Israel has been mostly absent from showbiz. His last TV appearance was in the 2012 ABS-CBN series Kung Ako’y Iiwan Mo. Still recovering from a stroke, Israel suffered another setback when his home in Caloocan was destroyed by a fire, leaving him homeless.
Israel, known in real life as Ricardo Vizcarra Michaca is a 57-year-old veteran Filipino actor mostly known for his roles as either a villain and or a sidekick in many Filipino movies. Some achievements Israel made during his acting career include winning the best supporting actor award in the Metro Manila Film Festival for Patrolman (1988) and Kanto Boy: Anak ni Totoy Guwapo (1994). Most would probably remember him from the defunct GMA Network sitcom Beh Bote Nga (1999) and the 2013 Filipino film Boy Golden.
A Facebook post uploaded on July 2, 2016 (Saturday) by Sidemiod Francisco Datanam detailed Israel’s plight. A photo showing the veteran actor with some residents (and authorities) was captioned with a request for assistance.
https://www.facebook.com/jojo.manatad/posts/1129598657101814
The Ikwento Mo Kay Delio Facebook Page also picked up the story to help spread the word.
https://www.facebook.com/IkwentomokayKuyaDelio/posts/589532997894783
The social media post reached concerned colleagues from the local entertainment industry. Vivian Velez, Nadia Montenegro, and Jhong Hilario also posted on their social media accounts to help raise funds for Israel.
https://www.facebook.com/vivianvelez888/posts/1226335504067786
Hello Brothers & Sisters!!!
All solicitations and pledges for Dick Israel pls course it… https://t.co/GVTnWz9y7W
— Nadia Montenegro (@OfficialNadiaM) July 4, 2016
ABS-CBN News visited the veteran actor to follow through with the viral story.
“Mabilis kumalat ang apoy (The fire spread fast). That’s life, carry on,” Israel said.
“Tulungan sana siya, ‘yung gamot na tine-take niya o pinansyal, o kung anong [maitutulong] (I hope they’ll help him; the medicine he takes or even financially—or anything to help),” according to Israel’s wife, Marilyn Michaca.
The Damay Kamay Foundation is raising funds fund for the actor. The Damay Kamay Foundation is an organization established by members of the entertainment industry which aims to help their colleagues in need during medical emergencies. Check out the details of the post for interested parties willing to help the veteran actor.
https://www.facebook.com/damaykamay/posts/970306393081897:0
Israel is currently staying at a hotel courtesy of the ABS-CBN program Rated K. The show also replaced his wheelchair which was burnt in the fire. ABS-CBN’s Lingkod Kapamilya will also be helping Israel undergo therapy and will also be accepting donations on behalf of the actor.
