|
By Ricky T. Gallardo, Entertainment
Editor
Unlike the typical burial scenes
we often see in Philippine movies, there were no hysterics when
actor Rudy Fernandez was brought to his final resting place Thursday
afternoon at the Heritage Park in Taguig City. Fernandez, who was
once the president of the Actors’ Guild, was given a hero’s
burial, complete with a 21-gun salute and a bagpiper, and his coffin
was draped with a Philippine flag.
Although a deep sense of loss
remained much evident in the faces of the many family members and
close friends who paid their final respects to the local action hero
and industry leader, the general feeling was that of serenity and
acceptance. Lorna Tolentino, the bereaved actress-wife, was a
picture of a woman pained but resilient. From the time the casket
was brought out of the chapel and boarded on a horse-drawn carriage,
up to the moments when her husband’s coffin was placed inside the
tomb, Tolentino remained composed, only breaking into quiet sobs
when she had her chance to kiss her husband of 25 years goodbye. She
chose not to wear sunglasses throughout the proceedings.
In an earlier interview,
Tolentino told The Manila Times that she will take a break from
acting and will give herself time to grieve and accept everything
that has happened.
“In due time, in God’s time,
pag malakas na ako, pag maayos na lahat, pag kaya ko na ulit [if I
am strong enough, if everything is fine, if I am ready for it], “
she said of her comeback to television and the movies.
The Fernandez boys, Ralphe and
Renz, also showed courage and never left their grieving mother’s
side. Fernandez’s other son, Mark Anthony, also made sure his
mother, actress Alma Moreno, was cared for.
Fernandez’s closest friends
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., actors
Phillip Salvador and Tirso Cruz 3rd helped carry his coffin to his
final resting place after Father Larry Faraon and Father Sonny
Ramirez gave their final blessings. Tolentino’s best friends Amy
Austria, Sandy Andolong, Lyn Ynchausti-Cruz, Gina Alajar and make up
guru Fanny Serrano quietly made sure that the proceedings will be as
smooth and stress-free for the bereaved family.
Among the most notable
personalities who attended the funeral were former President Joseph
Estrada who came with his daughter Jackie and his son-in-law Beaver
Lopez. When asked by The Times for a comment, Estrada said, “I
feel so sad, but this is something we cannot change. I’ve told
Lorna that she can come to me anytime, for anything, especially when
it is about her family. Rudy and his family are very close to my
heart.”
Also spotted were Susan Roces,
Marilou Abaya, Laurice Guillen, Johnny Delgado, Eddie Gutierrez and
his entire family including Tonton Gutierrez, Fernandez’s relative
Robin Padilla, Raymart and Claudine Santiago and actor Gabby
Concepcion.
|
