The picture of young actor AJ Perez standing beside a portrait of the late actor Rico Yan made more poignant the parallelism noted by ABS-CBN executives about the two young stars.
"If he gets the right breaks, he'd be like a Rico Yan," Johnny Manahan - the chairman emeritus of the network's talent arm, Star Magic - boldly told YES! (May 2011) in an interview for the magazine's list of showbiz faces to watch for.
Mr. Manahan had voted him in as part of ABS-CBN's "The Next Big Thing." This meant that AJ, among hundreds of hopefuls, was among a dozen or so who were going to be given every opportunity to shine in the next three years. The network believed in him.
Obviously, Mr. Manahan's comparison of AJ and Rico hit a chord with the industry. The two boys did share similar backgrounds and traits: Both look wholesome, possess boyish good looks, and fit the idea of would-be matinee idols; both are promising actors with the charisma to last long in a fickle industry; and both are proud La Sallians.
Sadly, AJ and Rico also shared a fate no one could have anticipated or wished for: Both were taken away from this world too soon. They were at the peak of their youth.
The shocking death of AJ last Sunday, April 17, while on his way home to Manila from a provincial show once again reminded us of the celebrities who passed away at an early age.
Young stars like Julie Vega, Miko Sotto, Marky Cielo, and Alfie Anido, among others, left not just image and career behind with their unexpected demise.
They left unfulfilled all the promise and potential that they had been privileged to have.
Here is the list of local celebrities who died young:
AJ PEREZ
Things were starting to look up for ABS-CBN young talent AJ Perez. A Maalaala Mo Kaya episode was upcoming as well as a movie with Mara Clara stars.
But tragedy struck on April 18, 2011. While AJ was on his way home to Manila from a provincial show in Dagupan, Pangasinan, the van he was riding in collided with a truck and a passenger bus, killing the 18-year-old actor and commercial model instantly.
Initial reports said that AJ sustained "multiple head injuries" caused by the collision, but medico-legal reports ascertained that his ribs puncturing his heart and lungs caused his death.
AJ's credentials as an actor include appearances in the shows Star Magic Presents: All About A Girl (2006), Lobo (2008), Your Song Presents: Underage (2009), Wansapanataym (2010), Agua Bendita (2010), and Sabel (2010), among others.
MARKY CIELO
The untimely death of Mark Angelo Cadaweng Cielo on December 7, 2008, remains shrouded in controversy. Just like Rico Yan before him, the StarStruck graduate's demise spawned speculation about the cause of the actor's death.
Marky's demise was reported to have been caused by acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, which he suffered during his sleep. However, rumors floated about personal and emotional issues driving the young actor to depression and proving to be too much for him to handle in the end.
The 20-year-old actor's home network, GMA-7, immediately branded the rumors as "untrue" and asked the public to respect the memory of Marky and pray for his eternal repose.
Some of the projects he did include Fantastikids (2006), Bakekang (2006), Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (2007), Asian Treasures (2007), Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan (2007), Joaquin Bordado (2008), Codename: Asero (2008), and LaLola (2008), among others.
But tragedy struck on April 18, 2011. While AJ was on his way home to Manila from a provincial show in Dagupan, Pangasinan, the van he was riding in collided with a truck and a passenger bus, killing the 18-year-old actor and commercial model instantly.
Initial reports said that AJ sustained "multiple head injuries" caused by the collision, but medico-legal reports ascertained that his ribs puncturing his heart and lungs caused his death.
AJ's credentials as an actor include appearances in the shows Star Magic Presents: All About A Girl (2006), Lobo (2008), Your Song Presents: Underage (2009), Wansapanataym (2010), Agua Bendita (2010), and Sabel (2010), among others.
RICO YAN
At 27, the handsome, bedimpled matinee idol Rico Yan seemed to have it all. A blossoming showbiz career, a supportive family, a college degree from a prestigious school, and even a head for business.
Unfortunately, on March 29, 2002, Ricardo Carlos Castro Yan succumbed to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis in his sleep, a day after shooting a television commercial at the Dos Palmas Resort in Palawan.
Rico's death was not spared from intrigue. Still reeling from a broken heart after his separation from actress and then-girlfriend Claudine Barretto, the young actor was said to be extremely depressed at the time of his passing. This triggered the "suicide" angle, a theory dismissed by Rico's own family.
MIKO SOTTO
At the time of his death on December 29, 2003, Miko Sotto was just starting to build a name for himself as part of a new batch of GMA-7's young talents.
Some projects he appeared in include Click (1999), Bahay ni Lola (2001), Kung Mawawala Ka (2001), Kahit Kailan (2002), Walang Hanggan (2003) and Fantastic Man (2003), where he starred alongside his uncle, Vic Sotto.
The 21-year-old actor's death was officially listed as having been caused by "multiple skull fracture," which he sustained after an accidental fall from the ninth floor balcony of the San Francisco Garden Plaza Condominium in Mandaluyong City.
JONJON HERNANDEZ
As a child star, Jonjon Hernandez appeared in commercials and had cameos in movies, but he shot to fame as a teenager in the film Bagets 2. Here he shared stellar billing with Aga Muhlach, William Martinez, Herbert Bautista, Raymond Lauchengco, Francis Magalona, JC Bonnin and Ramon Christopher.
His popularity rose another notch when he joined the teen show, That's Entertainment.
He was part of the show's Thursday Group that included Lea Salonga, Herbert Bautista, and Ian Veneracion, among others.
Jonjon was cast in several action films: Pita, Terror ng Kaloocan and Patapon in 1993. But in the late ‘90s, after reaching a respectable level of popularity, he became less visible in showbiz. Apparently, he had concentrated on his personal life.
An out-of-town trip in 2000 with friends turned out to be deadly for the actor after their car hit a concrete obstruction in an unlit section of the expressway.
TENTEN MUNOZ
One of the misconceptions among young listeners of today is that Tootsie Guevarra is the original artist behind the infectious ballad "Kaba." Truth of the matter is that Tootsie's version was just a cover of the ‘90s hit song popularized by young singer Tenten Muñoz.
A product of the legendary singing contest, Bulilit Bagong Kampeon, Tenten would eventually join the world of stage musicals and recording scene. Tenten—who released her debut album in the early ‘90s - died in 1996 at the age of 19 from brain cancer.
JULIE VEGA
Julia Pearl Postigo, better known as Julie Vega, began her career at the tender age of three as a television commercial model. Her first major lead role, and one that endeared her to the masses, was in the 1978 hit, Mga Mata ni Angelita.
Her star shone even brighter after she was tapped to play the lead role in GMA-7's soap opera, Anna Liza. As the underdog character, Julie earned the sympathy of the viewing public who looked upon her as local showbiz's newest darling.
When Julie died on May 6, 1985, from complications caused by pneumonia, this triggered a giant wave of grief that was felt around the country. Throngs of people joined her funeral procession, proving that despite her short stay in the entertainment industry, she had managed to touch the lives of many.
Julie's other projects include Mga Basang Sisiw, Durugin Si Totoy Bato, Mother Dear, and Daddy's Little Angels.
When she died, she was 16.
ROXANNE ABAD SANTOS
The life of Roxanne Abad Santos resembles a romance-drama with a heartbreaking ending. Appearing alongside matinee idol Gabby Concepcion in the 1982 movie titled Miracle of Love, the project served as Roxanne's first and last movie. She succumbed to leukemia.
Roxanne was already ill when she did the film project, and her condition was made public. But showbiz being showbiz, cynics said she certainly wasn't sick enough not to report for work. The movie's producer was actually accused of using Roxanne's "supposed" illness to drum up publicity for the film.
But Roxanne was truly sick. She never even had the chance to see her own film. She passed away before the movie was exhibited in theaters.
ALFIE ANIDO
Alfie Anido embodied the typical ‘80s matinee idol: young, mestizo, and drop-dead handsome.
Alfie, or Alfonso Serrano Anido in real life, started his showbiz career as a ramp and commercial model before taking the big plunge as part of Regal Films' stable of young talents. He was launched right alongside Gabby Concepcion, William Martinez, Snooky Serna, and Albert Martinez.
Another fellow Regal Baby, Dina Bonnevie, was romantically linked with Alfie, and the couple appeared in the now classic camp film, Temptation Island.
Alfie's death at 22 years of age, on December 30, 1981, was surrounded by controversy. The media reported that his death was a "suicide," caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. But persistent rumors followed him around. One of the loudest rumors said the young boy was murdered upon the orders of a high-ranking official under the government of then President Ferdinand Marcos.
- Source
"If he gets the right breaks, he'd be like a Rico Yan," Johnny Manahan - the chairman emeritus of the network's talent arm, Star Magic - boldly told YES! (May 2011) in an interview for the magazine's list of showbiz faces to watch for.
Mr. Manahan had voted him in as part of ABS-CBN's "The Next Big Thing." This meant that AJ, among hundreds of hopefuls, was among a dozen or so who were going to be given every opportunity to shine in the next three years. The network believed in him.
Obviously, Mr. Manahan's comparison of AJ and Rico hit a chord with the industry. The two boys did share similar backgrounds and traits: Both look wholesome, possess boyish good looks, and fit the idea of would-be matinee idols; both are promising actors with the charisma to last long in a fickle industry; and both are proud La Sallians.
Sadly, AJ and Rico also shared a fate no one could have anticipated or wished for: Both were taken away from this world too soon. They were at the peak of their youth.
The shocking death of AJ last Sunday, April 17, while on his way home to Manila from a provincial show once again reminded us of the celebrities who passed away at an early age.
Young stars like Julie Vega, Miko Sotto, Marky Cielo, and Alfie Anido, among others, left not just image and career behind with their unexpected demise.
They left unfulfilled all the promise and potential that they had been privileged to have.
Here is the list of local celebrities who died young:
AJ PEREZ
Things were starting to look up for ABS-CBN young talent AJ Perez. A Maalaala Mo Kaya episode was upcoming as well as a movie with Mara Clara stars.
But tragedy struck on April 18, 2011. While AJ was on his way home to Manila from a provincial show in Dagupan, Pangasinan, the van he was riding in collided with a truck and a passenger bus, killing the 18-year-old actor and commercial model instantly.
Initial reports said that AJ sustained "multiple head injuries" caused by the collision, but medico-legal reports ascertained that his ribs puncturing his heart and lungs caused his death.
AJ's credentials as an actor include appearances in the shows Star Magic Presents: All About A Girl (2006), Lobo (2008), Your Song Presents: Underage (2009), Wansapanataym (2010), Agua Bendita (2010), and Sabel (2010), among others.
MARKY CIELO
The untimely death of Mark Angelo Cadaweng Cielo on December 7, 2008, remains shrouded in controversy. Just like Rico Yan before him, the StarStruck graduate's demise spawned speculation about the cause of the actor's death.
Marky's demise was reported to have been caused by acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, which he suffered during his sleep. However, rumors floated about personal and emotional issues driving the young actor to depression and proving to be too much for him to handle in the end.
The 20-year-old actor's home network, GMA-7, immediately branded the rumors as "untrue" and asked the public to respect the memory of Marky and pray for his eternal repose.
Some of the projects he did include Fantastikids (2006), Bakekang (2006), Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (2007), Asian Treasures (2007), Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan (2007), Joaquin Bordado (2008), Codename: Asero (2008), and LaLola (2008), among others.
But tragedy struck on April 18, 2011. While AJ was on his way home to Manila from a provincial show in Dagupan, Pangasinan, the van he was riding in collided with a truck and a passenger bus, killing the 18-year-old actor and commercial model instantly.
Initial reports said that AJ sustained "multiple head injuries" caused by the collision, but medico-legal reports ascertained that his ribs puncturing his heart and lungs caused his death.
AJ's credentials as an actor include appearances in the shows Star Magic Presents: All About A Girl (2006), Lobo (2008), Your Song Presents: Underage (2009), Wansapanataym (2010), Agua Bendita (2010), and Sabel (2010), among others.
RICO YAN
At 27, the handsome, bedimpled matinee idol Rico Yan seemed to have it all. A blossoming showbiz career, a supportive family, a college degree from a prestigious school, and even a head for business.
Unfortunately, on March 29, 2002, Ricardo Carlos Castro Yan succumbed to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis in his sleep, a day after shooting a television commercial at the Dos Palmas Resort in Palawan.
Rico's death was not spared from intrigue. Still reeling from a broken heart after his separation from actress and then-girlfriend Claudine Barretto, the young actor was said to be extremely depressed at the time of his passing. This triggered the "suicide" angle, a theory dismissed by Rico's own family.
MIKO SOTTO
At the time of his death on December 29, 2003, Miko Sotto was just starting to build a name for himself as part of a new batch of GMA-7's young talents.
Some projects he appeared in include Click (1999), Bahay ni Lola (2001), Kung Mawawala Ka (2001), Kahit Kailan (2002), Walang Hanggan (2003) and Fantastic Man (2003), where he starred alongside his uncle, Vic Sotto.
The 21-year-old actor's death was officially listed as having been caused by "multiple skull fracture," which he sustained after an accidental fall from the ninth floor balcony of the San Francisco Garden Plaza Condominium in Mandaluyong City.
JONJON HERNANDEZ
As a child star, Jonjon Hernandez appeared in commercials and had cameos in movies, but he shot to fame as a teenager in the film Bagets 2. Here he shared stellar billing with Aga Muhlach, William Martinez, Herbert Bautista, Raymond Lauchengco, Francis Magalona, JC Bonnin and Ramon Christopher.
His popularity rose another notch when he joined the teen show, That's Entertainment.
He was part of the show's Thursday Group that included Lea Salonga, Herbert Bautista, and Ian Veneracion, among others.
Jonjon was cast in several action films: Pita, Terror ng Kaloocan and Patapon in 1993. But in the late ‘90s, after reaching a respectable level of popularity, he became less visible in showbiz. Apparently, he had concentrated on his personal life.
An out-of-town trip in 2000 with friends turned out to be deadly for the actor after their car hit a concrete obstruction in an unlit section of the expressway.
TENTEN MUNOZ
One of the misconceptions among young listeners of today is that Tootsie Guevarra is the original artist behind the infectious ballad "Kaba." Truth of the matter is that Tootsie's version was just a cover of the ‘90s hit song popularized by young singer Tenten Muñoz.
A product of the legendary singing contest, Bulilit Bagong Kampeon, Tenten would eventually join the world of stage musicals and recording scene. Tenten—who released her debut album in the early ‘90s - died in 1996 at the age of 19 from brain cancer.
JULIE VEGA
Julia Pearl Postigo, better known as Julie Vega, began her career at the tender age of three as a television commercial model. Her first major lead role, and one that endeared her to the masses, was in the 1978 hit, Mga Mata ni Angelita.
Her star shone even brighter after she was tapped to play the lead role in GMA-7's soap opera, Anna Liza. As the underdog character, Julie earned the sympathy of the viewing public who looked upon her as local showbiz's newest darling.
When Julie died on May 6, 1985, from complications caused by pneumonia, this triggered a giant wave of grief that was felt around the country. Throngs of people joined her funeral procession, proving that despite her short stay in the entertainment industry, she had managed to touch the lives of many.
Julie's other projects include Mga Basang Sisiw, Durugin Si Totoy Bato, Mother Dear, and Daddy's Little Angels.
When she died, she was 16.
ROXANNE ABAD SANTOS
The life of Roxanne Abad Santos resembles a romance-drama with a heartbreaking ending. Appearing alongside matinee idol Gabby Concepcion in the 1982 movie titled Miracle of Love, the project served as Roxanne's first and last movie. She succumbed to leukemia.
Roxanne was already ill when she did the film project, and her condition was made public. But showbiz being showbiz, cynics said she certainly wasn't sick enough not to report for work. The movie's producer was actually accused of using Roxanne's "supposed" illness to drum up publicity for the film.
But Roxanne was truly sick. She never even had the chance to see her own film. She passed away before the movie was exhibited in theaters.
ALFIE ANIDO
Alfie Anido embodied the typical ‘80s matinee idol: young, mestizo, and drop-dead handsome.
Alfie, or Alfonso Serrano Anido in real life, started his showbiz career as a ramp and commercial model before taking the big plunge as part of Regal Films' stable of young talents. He was launched right alongside Gabby Concepcion, William Martinez, Snooky Serna, and Albert Martinez.
Another fellow Regal Baby, Dina Bonnevie, was romantically linked with Alfie, and the couple appeared in the now classic camp film, Temptation Island.
Alfie's death at 22 years of age, on December 30, 1981, was surrounded by controversy. The media reported that his death was a "suicide," caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. But persistent rumors followed him around. One of the loudest rumors said the young boy was murdered upon the orders of a high-ranking official under the government of then President Ferdinand Marcos.
- Source
