Claudine Barretto honors Rico Yan on his 22nd death anniversary | Images: Instagram, @claubarretto/Screengrab from ABS-CBN Star Cinema, YouTube
Claudine Barretto remembered her ex-boyfriend and former love-team partner, the late matinee idol Rico Yan, on his 22nd death anniversary.
On Friday, March 29, Barretto posted an Instagram reel, a video edited by a fan that shows an image of her visiting Yan’s grave, their pictures together as a couple, as well as a clip of one of her interviews where she talked about her request to their fans to never forget the actor.
“March 29, my heart stopped (heart broken emojis) #alwaysandforever,” wrote the actress in her caption.
In the comments section of her post, fans thanked Barretto for remembering the late actor after so many years, saying what they had was an “unconditional love.”
“I don’t believe it when other people say that unconditional love doesn’t exist in this world. Seeing how much you love Rico even after 22 years is the real evidence of your undying and unconditional love for him. We love you both Claudine and Ry!” wrote one netizen.
“Thank you for being with us on the days we needed things like this – love; it helps. Today feels heavy but this gives us light and comfort. May you also feel the love from/of his fans,” said IG user love.rccy.
Image: Instagram/@claubarretto
Image: Instagram/@claubarretto
Aside from Barretto, Yan’s sister, Tina, also penned a tribute for her brother as she recalled the painful memory of his passing.
“Today happens to be the same day Rico left 22 years ago, on Good Friday. I can’t help but re-live that painful moment. It was a Thursday evening in San Francisco, when I received the tragic heart-breaking news. I spent the whole day on Good Friday in the U.S. immigration office to get my travel parole so I could rush home. It was the longest flight of my life, that’s for sure. And upon arriving Manila to face everything head on, the void was just too real,” she wrote.
“Good Friday will always be a scar that I can never erase. God knows how much I miss you – all the laughs, the chats, the video games, the midnight snack time and fine, all the pranks and flying kicks to my face too. Keep on watching over us here!” added the actor’s sister.
Image: Instagram/@tinamarieyan
Twenty-two years ago today, Yan died while on a Holy Week vacation at the Dos Palmas Resort in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. He was found dead in his hotel room by his friend, actor Dominic Ochoa. As revealed in the autopsy later on, he died of cardiac arrest due to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis. He was 27 years old.
He appeared in the shows “Mula sa Puso,” “FLAMES,” and “Saan Ka Man Naroroon,” and movies including “Got 2 Believe” and “Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita.”
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) also looked back on the death of the actor, as it broke the “white noise” during the Holy Week season in 2002.
That’s why Rico Yan’s death left such an imprint on our collective consciousness—one of the biggest matinee idols of the time dying so suddenly on Holy Week. The TV stations had to break the news. https://t.co/uArjk1up0s
— ross tugade (@rosselle) March 28, 2024
TODAY IS MARCH 29
22 years since Rico Yan passed away while on a vacation during Holy Week. You will always be remembered and loved by many! 🤍pic.twitter.com/IdQ1b7Zgrz
— ALTKapamilyaChannel (@AltKapamilyaCH) March 28, 2024
in tribute to rico yan’s 22nd death anniversary today, you will always be remembered 🤍🕊️ pic.twitter.com/A4FO0WAfiX
— yeki (@sjywin) March 28, 2024
happy birthday in heaven, rico yan!
you would have been 49 years old today. pic.twitter.com/hI1Dc6r18C
— manic pixie dani girl (@denielemein) March 13, 2024