Celebs pause to remember their idols

Before we get caught up in the frenzy of the long Halloween break, let’s turn our thoughts to All Souls Day and the dearly departed celebrities who have touched our lives in more ways than one. We may not have known them personally, but they will always live in our hearts forever.

Needless to say, for me it’s Michael Jackson. His child-like wonder and his putting love first in all that he did have never ceased to inspire me to do the same amid the chaotic show-biz circus. MJ’s songs make up the soundtrack of my la vida emotera y loca.

Here’s to all those celebrities who went ahead, yet will always be immortal because of the incredible legacy they left behind. Even in their absence, we can still feel their presence.

AMALIA FUENTES: “I would like to say Liz Taylor although I’m wary about what readers will say since I’m always being compared to her. But I’m really her lifelong fan. I can’t think of any other celebrity whose death has made a great impact on me. I met her in London after watching her in the play ‘The Little Foxes.’ I really think she is the last of the great movie stars of her era. Even after her death, she remains larger than life.”

CESAR MONTANO: “Daboy and Johnny Delgado, two of the few sincere and true people in the industry. Most of the time they were mistaken as snobs but they were just being frank and transparent. I respect them both as actors. It was so hard for me to accept their deaths. They have a huge influence on me as an actor and as a person. They will forever be a part of Cesar Montano.”

KRISTINE HERMOSA-SOTTO: “Michael Jackson. His life has always been a mystery to everyone. No one really knew him as a person. But almost all the songs he wrote show his passion and spirituality. And that’s what matters most. I think MJ lived a good life.”

JANICE DE BELEN: “Steve Jobs. I’m a great fan of Apple. When my kids told me he died, I felt so sad. I thought I was going to cry.”

ALBERT MARTINEZ: “Michael Jackson. I grew up with his songs. From ‘Ben,’ which I used to name my first pet chicken at 6 years old, to ‘One Day in Your Life,’ which was my anthem when I had my first broken heart, to ‘Rock with You’ which was the music playing when I had my first dance with my then GF and now my wife, Liezl.”

KIM ATIENZA: “Ka Ernie Baron. He handed me over his life passion and trivia throne live on TV a month before he died. If not for him, I would not be the Kuya Kim that I am now. I remember him telling me before he died, ‘Kim, mahalin mo ang trabahong minahal ko ng buong buhay ko.’ I’d like to believe his dying on my birthday was more than coincidence. His death sort of gave birth to the ‘Kuya Kim’ in me.”

MR FU: “I remember covering the untimely death of Ms Nida Blanca. I was a police reporter then. I could not believe that such a heinous crime could happen to a well-loved and respected star. She happens to be one of my fave actresses. I got really affected. Right after I did my story on her, I went to the salon for a haircut to release my stress before going to my next coverage. Na-tensyon ako! May ganon?”

MARK BAUTISTA: “Rico Yan. Even if he was from a rich clan and had good education, he remained humble and reachable to the masa. When I leave this planet, I want to inspire millions of people and create a huge impact in their lives the way Rico did.”

ZOREN LEGASPI: “President Cory Aquino. I was blown away by how the Filipino people respected and loved her and how our country stood by her side till she was buried to show the world that we are proud and capable of having a decent and loving president.”

Epic series

GMA 7’s ground-breaking epic series, “Amaya,” airing weeknights after Iglot,” continues to win the hearts of TV audiences. Its phenomenal ratings on the weeknight prime time race speaks for itself. That’s why it has been extended for 11 weeks.

The plot thickens as the epic serye enters its second book with new characters to spice up the exploits of the warrior-princess heroine portrayed by Marian Rivera. Joining the cast are Aljur Abrenica as Dayaw, Amaya’s new protector, Yasmien Kurdi as Apila, a female priestess who secretly admires Dayaw, and Ronnie Lazaro as Posaka, chief warrior and Dayaw’s brave father. In today’s parlance, “Amaya” is really “Epiiiiiiiic!”

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