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Tuesday, January 6, 2015

In Memoriam 2014


Leandro "Roy" Delanter-Alvarez - "...Alvarez, who was part of the ongoing GMA-7 afternoon soap opera “Villa Quintana,” was 63. His “Villa Quintana” director Gina Alajar and co-star Maricar de Mesa took to Twitter to confirm the news of Alvarez’s passing. "Just received a really sad sad news. RIP Tito Roy Alvarez aka Don Manolo Quintana," De Mesa said. "With sadness and grief, my heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr Roy Alvarez, a good actor, a friend and a great person. I will miss you," Alajar tweeted. “We will miss your funny stories. And i will sorely miss our stare down scenes,” Sunshine Dizon, another “Villa Quintana” star, said on Twitter. Alvarez starred in a number of recent GMA-7 soap operas, including “My Husband’s Lover.” He also appeared on ABS-CBN shows such as “Juanita Banana” and “Guns and Roses..." - Chuck Smith, Philstar, 12 February 2014 (READ MORE)

Arvin "Tado" Jimenez - "...Isinilang si Tado sa Baybay, Leyte noong March 24, 1974 pero lumaki siya at nagkaisip sa Jaen, Nueva Ecija. Naging mananahi sa pabrika ang kaniyang ina at pintor naman sa construction project ang kaniyang ama. Dahil palipat-lipat ng lokasyon sa trabaho ang ama, inilarawan ni Tado ang buhay noon na "NPA" o no permanent address...Ayon kay Tado, nagkaroon ng art's night sa sikat noong Club Dredd at namangha siya sa isang equipment na naglalabas ng ilaw at mga imahe. Iyon daw ang nais niyang gawin kaya nagtanong siya kung papaano matututo nito at itinuro siya sa Mowelfund Institute, na kaniya namang pinuntahan. "Pagdating ko doon kinapalan ko na lang ang mukha ko, kinaibigan ko na lang sila. Kung ano-anong gimik ang ginawa ko, nagtitinda ako sa kanila ng sabon hanggang sa nakita nila na araw araw nandun ako. Hindi naman sila para itaboy ako habang nakikinig ako ng lecture ni [Direk] Yam Laranas," pagbahagi ng aktor. Mula noon, nakapagtrabaho na rin si Tado sa art department ng Mowelfund hanggang sa mabigyan ng break ni Laranas sa pelikulang "Radyo" na pinagbidahan nina Rufa Mae Quinto at Epi Quizon noong 2001..." - FRJimenez, GMA News, 08 February 2014 (READ MORE)

Roldan Aquino - "...Character actor Roldan Aquino died at the age of 65, his daughter Patricia Aquino announced through a Facebook post on Monday, March 10. Patricia posted a photo of her father with the caption, “goodbye papa tapos na ang paghihirap mo, makakasama mo na si God mahal na mahal kita.” (Goodbye, Papa. Your suffering has ended, you can be with God now. I love you very much)...In an interview with Startalk in February, Patricia and the actor's other children revealed that their father suffered a stroke and was hospitalized in January, due to clogging in his brain. The actor went through an operation in January 20, but did not fully recover and remained unable to speak. According to the report, Roldan Aquino spent roughly 4 decades in the industry. His latest projects include Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles, El Presidente, and Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story..." - Rappler, 11 March 2014 (READ MORE)

Harry Gasser - "...Gasser died of a heart attack on Thursday morning in a hospital in Quezon City. He was 76. His remains were cremated yesterday morning. Gasser appeared on the news program Balita Ngayon on ABS-CBN from 1969 to 1972, and on BBC Primetime News on Banahaw Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) Channel 2 from 1973 to 1977. He transferred to Radio Philippines Network (RPN) Channel 9 in 1975 and became the anchor of NewsWatch until 1999. From 1999 to 2007, he was anchor of TV Patrol Central Visayas. He also worked with Radio Veritas as news manager. Cebu’s top broadcast journalists considered the late anchorman as their “idol” and mentor at the time competition between TV networks in the local news scene started to heat up. “Harry Gasser is truly a broadcast icon. I was a huge fan,” said Leo Lastimosa, lead anchor of TV Patrol Central Visayas..." - Dale G. Israel, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 07 April 2014 (READ MORE)

Antonio "Junior"Morales Barretto - "...Junior, the original singer of the OPM classic "Yakap" and a former leading man of screen veteran Vilma Santos, was found dead at his home in Madrid, the Latin Times reported on Tuesday. He was 70. Junior died due to natural causes, the report said, and had no signs of physical abuse. Doctors said he had been dead between 12 to 14 hours before he was found and brought to the hospital. He is survived by his three children, including singer Shaila Durcal. Junior's wife, fellow singer Rocio Durcal, died in 2006 due to cancer. Junior, whose real name is Antonio Morales Barretto, was born in the Philippines before settling with his family in Spain when he was 15, according to a 2009 column by Ricky Lo published on the Philippine Star. After a musical career in Spain with different bands, including electric guitar group Jump and rock band Los Brincos, Junior moved back to the Philippines where he rose to fame with the release of three Tagalog albums..." - ABS-CBN News, 16 April 2014 (READ MORE)

Ramil Rodriguez - "...Ramil starred in teenybopper films for Sampaguita, often paired with Marquez, Josephine Estrada and Liberty Ilagan. His first film was “Palanca” in 1960, but he was officially launched in the film “Leron-Leron Sinta” in 1964. Perez’s daughter, producer Marichu Vera-Perez, said she would always remember Ramil as a gentleman. “Very respectful, caring. Basically, he was shy, but he was kind to everyone in the studio. We all loved him.” In 1974, he was cast in Elwood Perez’s adult drama “Isang Gabi … Tatlong Babae,” which top-billed Amalia Fuentes, Pilar Pilapil and Boots Anson-Roa. Said Perez: “Ramil was the epitome of Sampaguita glamour—a well-bred gentleman of the old school. “He was the perennial leading man to movie queens (like Susan Roces). I cast him against type as Boots’ ex-husband in ‘Isang Gabi’ and the gamble paid off handsomely..." - Bayani San Diego Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer, 02 May 2014 (READ MORE)

Doña Nena Vera-Perez - "...Madalas naming nakakasabay si Mrs. Vera-Pe­rez sa pagsisimba sa Mt. Carmel Church dahil ito ang simbahan na ­aming paborito. Nagkaroon kami ng kutob na may sakit si Mrs. Vera-Perez mula nang hindi na namin siya makita na nagsisimba sa Mt. Carmel Church. Sumakabilang-buhay si Mrs. Vera-Perez noong Miyerkules sa edad na 96. Mabilis na kumalat ang balita tungkol sa kanyang pagpanaw at kinagabihan, may report si Joseph Morong sa State of the Nation ng GMA News TV tungkol sa pagkamatay ng Sampaguita Pictures matriarch. Dahil sa report ni Joseph, na-miss namin ang Doña Nena’s, ang restaurant sa Morato Avenue na madalas na pagdausan noon ng mga presscon. Sumagi sa isip namin ang Doña Nena’s dahil sa mali at paulit-ulit na pagsasabi ni Joseph na sumakabilang-buhay na si Doña Nena, ang producer ng Sampaguita Pictures..." - Jojo GabineteAbante, 16 May 2014 (READ MORE)

Fred Galang - "...The late Fred Galang was an actor who turned pastor when his showbiz years were over. He died last July 18 when he visited relatives and friends in the Philippines. Fred was based in the US, where he preached the Word of God. In the mid- and late ‘60s, Fred was a Nepomuceno contract star, appearing in, among others, Igorota, The Hunted and Pulubi. He won a FAMAS Best Supporting Actor award for Igorota, which starred Charito Solis. After his stint with Nepomuceno, Fred starred in adult dramas and action pictures, including Fortress in the Sun with Tony Ferrer and Nancy Kwan. Other actors and celebrities who became pastors include Eddie Mesa, Manny Pacquiao, the late Nestor de Villa and son Jeric Soriano. Phillip Salvador, Piolo Pascual and Hayden Kho hope to follow in their footsteps..." - Danny Dolor, The Philippine Star, 28 December 2014 (READ MORE)

Cielito Legaspi-Santiago - "...Pumanaw na ang dating aktres na si Cielito Legaspi-Santiago kaninang umaga, September 26. Si Cielito, o mas kilala sa tawag na “Mama Ling” sa showbiz, ay kabiyak ng yumaong direktor na si Pablo Santiago. Siya rin ang ang ina ng magkakapatid na Randy, Rowell, Reily, at Raymart Santiago. Sa pamamagitan ng Instagram ay kinumpirma ni Raymart ang pagpanaw ng kanyang ina: “Dear family and friends, it is with a very heavy heart that we wish to share the very sad news that our dearest mother – Cielito Legaspi-Santiago has joined our creator. During this very difficult time, the outpouring prayers, love, and support of family and friends is absolutely invaluable. We are relieved that her passing was peaceful..." - Rose Garcia, PEP, 26 September2014 (READ MORE)

Myrna ‘Tia Pusit’ Villanueva - "...Tia Pusit was rushed to the Kidney Center where she was confined for two weeks. Complications set in (affecting her heart and other vital organs) so she was transferred to the Heart Center where, for some time, she was confined at the ICU on respirator, until two days ago…The reconciliation came long before Tia Pusit’s hospitalization. No apologies, no exchange of “I’m sorry,” no recriminations, no digging up of the bitter past but only looking ahead at a bright future. “Basta, it was automatic, hindi plinano,” said Nova. “She just hugged me and that was it. Ganoon kadali, that easy.” Every other day during Tia Pusit’s hospitalization, Nova said that she would visit her. “I would see her eyes wandering, as if asking herself, ‘What would happen to me?’ We avoided talking about sad things. Ayokong malungkot siya at biglang pumutok ‘yung kanyang aneurysm. Paminsan-minsan, nagiging dramatic actress siya but as we went along, lumalabas din ang pagka-comedienne niya. Smile-smile lang kami. After two hours with her, I would say goodbye kasi dumadating na naman ang mga anak niya to watch over her.” No, Tia Pusit never told Nova of any last wishes. Toward the end, there was only love between the sisters. “Ganoon pala ‘yon. When you see your loved one, or even just a friend, in that condition, no matter how much you hate them, nawawala at ang nangingibabaw ay ang pagmamahal at kung paano mo sila matutulungan. Isa-isang nawawala ang galit o tampo mo at ang tanging natitira ay love..." - Ricky Lo, The Philippine Star, 04 October 2014 (READ MORE)

Aida Fandialan - "...Aida suffered a stroke (her second in 10 years) last Saturday (July 19) morning and died early the next day at the Asian Hospital where she was rushed to the ICU. Vilma and husband Sen. Ralph Recto (with usual traveling company) were in London to look for a school for their son Ryan Christian (who graduated from La Salle Greenhills last March) who was left behind along with his Tita Aida who took care of him. The entourage was about to leave London when Vilma got a text message that Aida was hospitalized. When they arrived at the NAIA Sunday afternoon, first thing Vilma asked was how Aida was. Told that she had died, Vilma broke down. It turned out that she didn’t get the second message texted to her while she was already airborne. Aida had been with Vilma and her family for more than 35 years. She was already virtually a member of the family with whom she always traveled, except on the recent one..." - Ricky Lo, The Philippine Star, 23 July 2014 (READ MORE)

Ralph John "Mark Gil" Eigenmann - "... Until the very end, he was a warrior. Ralph faced death with courage and grace, while still bringing laughter to the room. That was his gift: the ability to make those around him better. Ralph had told us that he only wanted to spend and cherish the remaining precious days of his life in the company of his family and closest friends. He also wished that we be allowed to grieve his passing in private. We all request that the public please respect his wish and allow us to mourn his passing accordingly. Please allow us this time as well to remember Ralph: husband, son, brother, father and grandfather. For the outpouring of love for Ralph that we’ve received on his behalf, we thank you. It is deeply appreciated. For those who’ve known and loved him throughout his career in cinema, and television, we will hold a celebration of his life and work. We will announce the details at a later time. But for now we would like to assure everyone that as long as Filipino films are being watched and appreciated, there will always be Mark Gil. To quote a line from Batch ’81, one of the many movies he made his own, and characteristic of Ralph himself: "Sa simula’t katapusan ay kapatiran..." - JST/YA, GMA News, 01 September 2014 (READ MORE)