American book author, writer and columnist David Haldane has revealed something amazing in a colorful and inspiring story about a Filipina entertainer who has taken Los Angeles, California by storm.
Rhiza Romero Chick, a native of Maasin City in Southern Leyte is a sought-after singer, dancer and comedienne in the US today.
It all started when she was employed as a caregiver at Vista Montana Senior Living in Hemet in Southern California where she was a hit among old folks who appreciated her knack for singing, dancing and cracking jokes that made them happy, however fleeting.
She was entertaining at the same time caregiving.
Rhiza confided to David that she loves singing, dancing and making old people laugh during her “shows.”
After she quit her service at the home care, Rhiza was already being tapped by music lounges, bars and entertainment halls across the US to perform, especially to large Filipino communities that earned her awards from the AmerAsia International Awards for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025.
Back home in Cebu City in Daanbantayan where she spent most of her growing up years, she left a family of modest life where teaching was the main line of work but had a penchant for pop culture.
Her dad pushed her to do regular karaoke while her brother was the comedian in the brood.
Rhiza’s professional entertainment stint started when she was assigned as choreographer of International Pharmaceutical, Inc. (IP) in the promotion of its products nationwide.
Meanwhile, Rhiza’s chance to go to the US was through a dating site when her female friend signed her on it which she hesitated initially in fear of language barrier as she wasn’t confident of her English but she went on just the same.
An American guy named Garret Chick was lonely and wanted to meet Filipinas online.
After frequent chats and digital posts, Rhiza was convinced about the honesty of her cyber pal and agreed to go to the US on a fiancé visa.
Garet and Rhiza got married in 2008 in Las Vegas and settled in Ontario, California.
Meanwhile, the first years of her marriage were not easy because of homesickness.
What Rhiza did was to invite fellow Filipinos to her house and entertained them with her songs.
Aside from singing and caregiving, Rhiza was also known in the home care as an excellent masseuse.
One day, a friend of hers from a Filipino bakery My Haus, asked if she could massage the Filipino singer Arnel Pineda of the internationally renowned band Journey, she didn’t hesitate to do so with matching song on the side which marveled Arnel who eventually asked her to guest as front act in one of his shows in the US.
Some of Rhiza’s favorite songs for the Seniors were “Sad Movies (Make me Cry),” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” “Hey Jude,” and “Yellow Submarine.”
Among the enrollees in the US facility was Virgil Gibson, one of the members of the former pop group, The Platters.