My vivid recollection of Cita Astals dates back to Home Along Da Riles, a top-rated sitcom in the 90's where she played Dolphy's classy and good-natured boss. For a while Cita Astals became a familiar boobtube celebrity. She was a recognized character actress; she established an image of a smart and articulate woman. Her venture into politics was remarkable, having served three terms as Manila councilor until her loss to Isko Moreno in the vice-mayoralty race. Then rumors began to circulate that Cita Astals has been seen wandering in the streets and exhibiting odd behavior.
The following video compilation of Cita Astals features a clip of her dance number on Eezy Dancing and a Wish Ko Lang episode which tackled her mental illness issues. As i watched the videos my faculties kept pacing back and forth, i felt like being challenged to how far i can hold on to my own sanity. I just can't fathom the fact that a beautiful and successful life be turned upside down in a snap of the finger. Indeed, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!
