MANILA, Philippines — Veteran actor and thespian Menggie Cobarrubias on Wednesday night posted a simple “Good bye” on his Facebook account. The following morning, his wife Gina Jorge Cobarrubias confirmed that the actor, 66, had passed away.
“Goodbye my love. Thank you for the 30 wonderful years. I love you,” she said on Facebook Thursday. “Dear God please give me the strength to be able to face this very difficult moment of my life.”
His death was also announced by a relative, Patricia Prudon, who said in a now-deleted post that he died from pneumonia complications. She said it had yet to be confirmed if he had contracted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Film Development Council of the Philippines chair Liza Diño shared Thursday an online exchange they had last Sunday about his illness, where he said he had had a fever for three days. He also disclosed that he was advised to take a COVID-19 test.
“When you told me about your situation, naramdaman ko yung fear mo (I felt your fear), but despite that, you managed to say to me how you appreciate me. Ganon ka selfless (That’s how selfless you are),” she recalled.
According to a Facebook post of actress Lui Quiambao Manansala on Wednesday night, Cobarrubias was in critical condition and that they were waiting for the results of a coronavirus test he took on Tuesday.
Cobarrubias starred in ABS-CBN teleseryes “Make It With You” and “The Killer Bride,” as well as in the 2018 award-winning Cinemalaya film “Kung Paano Hinihintay ang Dapithapon.”