ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
Advocates Philippines
Susan Africa Finally Names P5K Challenge Winner After Viral 'Cough' Debate
Photo credit: Susan Africa
Veteran actress Susan Africa has officially revealed the winner of her viral ₱5,000 challenge, putting to rest a social media debate over whether she really coughed in almost every teleserye she starred in.
The challenge stemmed from the long-running online joke, often described as the "Mandela Effect," where many viewers became convinced that Susan's characters were constantly coughing in her television roles. Wanting to settle the matter, the actress offered a ₱5,000 prize to the first person who could find an actual scene from one of her past projects showing her coughing.
The search quickly gained traction online, with fans digging through decades of teleseryes to find proof.
In a Facebook post, Susan announced that Sheena Rose Traifalgar, a third-year college student from Iloilo, was the first to submit a clip from Mara Clara that met the challenge.
"Yes, we have a winner! Ms Sheena Rose Traifalgar, a 3rd year college student in Iloilo was the first to submit a video of a scene from Mara Clara where I was coughing."
She also thanked everyone who joined the challenge, admitting that many of the scenes sent to her were already forgotten because of her long career in the entertainment industry.
"I must admit I do not remember the scenes which our many contestants submitted. I have been blessed with four decades in this industry playing myriad roles, so I cannot remember all the details."
While acknowledging that she had portrayed a few characters who coughed over the years, Susan clarified that the viral belief was still an exaggeration.
"As for the Mandela Effect, I concede that although it might not be accurate at this point, I maintain that though I may cough occasionally in a few roles in the past, I do not cough in ALL of my teleseryes."
The actress also expressed her gratitude to ABS-CBN for the many roles she has played throughout her four-decade career, giving special thanks to JRB Creative Production and ABS-CBN executive Cory Vidanes for casting her as Dra. Teresa Reyes in Blood vs Duty.
She ended her post by thanking everyone who participated in the lighthearted challenge and once again congratulated the winner.
The challenge stemmed from the long-running online joke, often described as the "Mandela Effect," where many viewers became convinced that Susan's characters were constantly coughing in her television roles. Wanting to settle the matter, the actress offered a ₱5,000 prize to the first person who could find an actual scene from one of her past projects showing her coughing.
The search quickly gained traction online, with fans digging through decades of teleseryes to find proof.
In a Facebook post, Susan announced that Sheena Rose Traifalgar, a third-year college student from Iloilo, was the first to submit a clip from Mara Clara that met the challenge.
"Yes, we have a winner! Ms Sheena Rose Traifalgar, a 3rd year college student in Iloilo was the first to submit a video of a scene from Mara Clara where I was coughing."
She also thanked everyone who joined the challenge, admitting that many of the scenes sent to her were already forgotten because of her long career in the entertainment industry.
"I must admit I do not remember the scenes which our many contestants submitted. I have been blessed with four decades in this industry playing myriad roles, so I cannot remember all the details."
While acknowledging that she had portrayed a few characters who coughed over the years, Susan clarified that the viral belief was still an exaggeration.
"As for the Mandela Effect, I concede that although it might not be accurate at this point, I maintain that though I may cough occasionally in a few roles in the past, I do not cough in ALL of my teleseryes."
The actress also expressed her gratitude to ABS-CBN for the many roles she has played throughout her four-decade career, giving special thanks to JRB Creative Production and ABS-CBN executive Cory Vidanes for casting her as Dra. Teresa Reyes in Blood vs Duty.
She ended her post by thanking everyone who participated in the lighthearted challenge and once again congratulated the winner.
Jul 20, 2026
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