Judy Ann Santos
For many years, he acted like a father to me,” said Judy Ann Santos of Alfie Lorenzo, who managed her showbiz career for 32 years. The veteran entertainment columnist passed away on Tuesday morning at age 78.
At Alfie’s wake in Arlington Memorial Chapels, Quezon City, on Wednesday night, Judy Ann told the Inquirer: “He was there during the most important times of my life, as well as of my brother Jeffrey’s—during Christmas, New Year and even on special occasions at school.”
Judy Ann, who is married to TV host Ryan Agoncillo, said: “Lucho (their son) was born at the time when we were already having problems as talent and manager. But I made sure that Tito Alfie was the first person, [other than my immediate family] to meet Lucho. I had him fetched at his house and brought to ours when I came home from the hospital. I had promised him that and I made sure to keep it.”
Judy Ann said she also made sure to follow Alfie’s interment requests. The veteran writer was cremated at 9 p.m. that night. His remains were brought to Pampanga, his home province, yesterday.
“If we had our way, we would not have him cremated, but it was his wish,” Alfie’s sister Ligaya said. “Alfie said he didn’t want people looking into his casket and taking pity on him, especially those who hated him when he was still alive.”
Ligaya added that her family was thankful to the Santoses for making sure that Alfie got what he had wished for. “He also said that he wanted to die peacefully and quietly. He didn’t want us, his family, to be bothered by taking care of him. I guess, in that aspect, God really favored him.”
Alden Richards
GMA 7 actor Alden Richards said Alfie considered him “one of his wards, even without any talent contract.” He added: “When I met Tito Alfie for the first time, there was an instant connection. Even though he had a reputation [for being feisty], I felt comfortable around him.”
Alden recalled: “After press conferences, he and I would have our own session that would last for an hour or two. He kept telling me to ‘always look back,’ to never forget the people who stood by me when I was still a nobody. That advice was valuable, because it came from someone who had been in this industry for a long time.”
Filmmaker and producer Perci Intalan could not help but smile while recalling his fondest times with Alfie. Perci said Alfie had scolded him, talent manager Annabelle Rama and Peachy Guioguio (TV5 PR executive), for not inviting him to some of the events they had organized for TV5.
“He made us sit with him for two hours while he yelled and yelled. It was funny because he would get angry, and then laugh and eat with us, then get angry again. We didn’t mind because that’s just how he was like,” Perci said. “He was feared by many in the industry, but we loved him. We knew him as a genuine and sincere person—and also a very vocal one. We will miss him.”