Stars honor Eddie Garcia on first night of wake
Family and friends of Eddie Garcia attend the first night of his wake at the Heritage Park in Taguig City on June 21, 2019. PHOTO by Krissy Aguilar/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Stars, politicians, and fans trooped to the wake of multi-awarded actor-director Eddie Garcia on Friday at the Heritage Park in Taguig City.
The late actor’s family opened his wake to the public starting Friday afternoon. A Mass was held, and several eulogies followed from his colleagues and close friends.
GMA actor Alden Richards, who worked with Garcia in the 2011 fantasy drama film “Ang Panday 2,” said the late actor is a perfect model for the youth.
“Isa po talaga siyang magandang halimbawa sa aming mga kabataan (He is a role model for the youth),” Richards said. He also read a poem by Brian Patten titled “So Many Different Lengths of Time.”
Sunshine Dizon likewise, gave words of love to the late actor. She worked with Garcia in the series “Kung Mawawala Ka,” “Little Nanay” and the highly acclaimed Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2018 entry “Rainbow’s Sunset.”
Dizon shared that she will remember Garcia for his endless stories full of lessons and sometimes inserted with his signature antics.
“Paalam Tito Eddie. Maraming maraming salamat sa inspirasyon at sa iyong hindi mapantayang kontribusyon sa industriya at sa aming mga personal na buhay (Goodbye, Tito Eddie. Thank you very much for the inspiration and your contributions to the industry and our personal lives),” she added.
Multi-awarded actor and director Ricky Davao, on the other hand, narrated his first encounter with the veteran actor.
“I met Tito Eddie when I was about 10 years old. And my first impression? Akala ko bading siya (I thought he was gay). Kasi kasama ko ang father ko, sabi niya, ‘Carlota!’ (Because I was with my father and he said, ‘Carlota!) And my father, Charlie Davao, said, ‘Eduarda!’” Davao shared.
Davao also extolled Garcia’s skills not only as an actor but also as a director.
“Sobra po ang respeto ni Tito Ed sa kanyang mga artista na dinedirek. Kasi artista din siya.
Alam niya kung paano maghandle ng actor to get the best performance from them (Tito Ed had great respect for actors and actresses he directed because he was also an actor. He knows how to handle actors to get the best performance from them),” he said.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III shared Garcia’s quirks, recounting one of his memorable moments with the actor while aboard a float for movie promotions.
“Yung mga t-shirt ni FPJ [Fernando Poe Jr.] nakabalot ng plastik at pinamimigay namin. Inaabot namin yan habang dumadaan kami (We were giving away FPJ’s shirts wrapped in plastic),” Sotto recalled.
“Hawak niya yung t-shirt. Sabi ko, ‘Anong ginagawa mo?’ ‘Inaabangan ko ‘yung mga nakahubad. Inaabangan niya ‘yung mga nakahubad talaga at binabato niya sa dibdib. ‘Isuot mo yan!” he added, leaving Garcia’s family and friends laughing.
(He was holding the shirts I and asked him, ‘What are you doing?’ He said, ‘I was looking for those without clothes on.’ He’ll throw the shirts and tell them, ‘Wear that’)!
Other personalities who visited the first night of Garcia’s wake include Coco Martin, Gloria Romero, Tirso Cruz III with his wife Lynn Ynchausti, Tony Mabesa, Jestoni Alarcon.
Also present were Gardo Versoza, Rez Cortez, Mark De Mesa, Bianca Manalo, Yassi Pressman, Harlene Bautista, Khalil Ramos, Gabbi Garcia and Gil Cuerva.
Garcia’s wake will be open to the public until Sunday, June 23. (Editor: Eden Estopace)
