Image: Instagram/@lynncruz525
MANILA, Philippines — Tirso Cruz III celebrated his birthday at home with family as the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine remains to be in effect.
The veteran actor, 68, dedicated a message to his late son TJ on Instagram Wednesday, April 1, to mark the occasion. Cruz has been writing posts for his son since he succumbed to cancer in November 2018.
“Sadly, it is my second birthday that I will be celebrating without you,” Cruz said.
Of his birthday wish, he wrote, “I thank God, hope they find a cure or vaccine for this COVID-19 soon. People are really having a hard time.”
Cruz’s wife, actress Lynn Ynchausti, recalled on Instagram Thursday how she and her family spent the day together. “I wore my shirt with TJ’s pic so he could still be part of our celebration,” she said.
The couple and their two kids, Brodie and Djanin, shared meals together, and Djanin baked a chocolate cake for her dad.
Cruz and Ynchausti also had their own “zumba party.” “And hopefully, we can do this [every day] to keep ourselves healthy since Zumba is a good exercise especially during this time of ECQ,” she said.
“Amidst what is happening around, we still get to smile on my husband’s 68th birthday. Thank you Lord! Thank you Jesus!” Ynchausti added.
The year before, she and her kids threw her husband a surprise party attended by some of his fellow actors like Christopher de Leon and Ricky Davao.