He encouraged others to take his experience as a sign to stop smoking or vaping.
“The number one cause nung stroke ko is because I was vaping and smoking.”
This was how content creator Jico Umali, also known as JiConyo, shared the findings of his check-up one year after suffering a stroke.
In a Facebook video, Umali said his check-up with his neurologist included blood tests to determine whether he had inherited genetic abnormalities that could cause blood clots and potentially lead to a stroke. His results, however, showed that everything was normal.
Umali said his doctor also discussed other conditions, including his cholesterol levels and untreated sleep apnea. Despite this, he said he was told that vaping and smoking were the primary cause of his stroke.
He encouraged others who smoke or vape to take his experience as a sign to stop, sharing that while one year has passed since his stroke, he will likely need two more years to recover.
“Hindi worth it yung relaxation na nafi-feel mo at yung pag-destress mo sa paghihipak kung may risk of losing body functionality, of losing how you live,” Umali said.
He also hoped others would learn from his experience, reminding them that there are healthier ways to manage stress.
“‘Yun ang number one regret ko sa buhay, na I started vaping,” he said.
Umali’s post received comments from people sharing their own experiences with quitting smoking or vaping.
“I’m trying brother and it’s effin hard, even thou[gh] I’m already feeling sudden head aches from time to time,” one user commented. “I’ll make sure to quit smoking totally but vaping [probably] lessen it for now. Thank you for this clip man, it gives me a little kick booster.”
In a follow-up comment, Umali clarified that he was mainly a vape user and only smoked 5%, while also addressing comments disputing his account.
“Andaming nagagalit pa sakin kesyo hindi daw vape at yosi nagcause,” he said. “Eto lang yung facts based sa numerous medical tests na pinagdaanan ko… Ngayon kung makikinig kayo saakin, nasa inyo na yun. Pero ako ishshare ko yung story ko para makatulong sa mga tao.”
In July 2025, Umali suffered a stroke at the age of 28.
Umali was a core cast member and content creator for Filipino digital comedy channel PGAG. He is best known for his viral comedy skits portraying the “neighborhood conyo” persona.
He also popularized the “sheesh” pose, a trend where he tapped two fingers against the pulse point on his inner elbow while exaggeratedly biting his lips.
He has also worked in film as a cinematographer and camera operator, with credits including “Pepe sa Lockdown” (2021) and “The Art of Making Landi” (2017). His acting credits include the 2023 drama “When This Is All Over” and the music video for Josh Cullen and (e)motion engine’s 2024 song “No Control.”
Umali also wrote songs and did acoustic covers.
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