Isabel Granada: A life well-lived

Isabel Granada’s death was the sad news that greeted Manila on this gloomy Sunday. According to Granada’s cousin, Joseph Rivera, the actress died on Saturday Nov 4 6 p.m. Qatar time “with the comfort of the family”. Isabel Granada was 41.

Rivera later posted the official statement of Arnel Cowley, Granada’s second husband:

“It is with great sadness that my wife Isabel Granada has peacefully passed here in Doha Qatar. She has been a fantastic wife, mother and daughter. She always did her best in everything she did, whether it be in front of a camera or sports. I would also like to take this time to thank the Filipino community in Doha for giving their full support throughout this difficult time for myself and the family.

Baby..wherever you might be..just always remember that I LOVE YOU. and I miss you very much.”

In the latest "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" episode, Cowley narrated that they flew to Qatar on October 18 upon an invitation to Granada to be a spokesperson at the Philippine Trade and Tourism Conference.

He mentioned that Isabel actually performed well but how, the following Tuesday, October 24, she complained of a headache upon waking up.

“I said to her, ‘Do you wanna take something?’ She said, ‘No, no, not at the moment. I’m fine.’ We got dressed and we were picked up by some people that we knew [to go to a fan meet]. And then, up until that, she was talking. She said she felt dizzy. Her exact words were ‘Ay! Nahihilo ako,’ and then she collapsed without warning.”

Isabel Granada was born in the Philippines and was quickly brought to Spain, where she was raised by her Spanish mother, whom we all know as Mommy Guapa, and her Filipino father, Humbert Granada.

She returned in the ‘80s, quickly became a commercial model, and soon, entered show business via "That’s Entertainment".

Granada was successful in showbiz: She had projects upon projects, recorded an album, and even won a Best Supporting Actress award at the Famas in 1998, for her work in “Ligaya Ang Itawag Mo Sa Akin.”

But outside show business, Granada’s life was full, too. She was a licensed pilot, to begin with, and in 2002, she married Jeric Aguas and soon became a mother to Hubert.

The couple separated but Granada soon found love a second time in the person of businessman Arnel Cowley.

Says Cowley in KMJS, the Qatar trip was also a celebration of sorts: “It was actually our 2nd year anniversary so we were really looking forward to come to Qatar, sa Doha na mag-celebrate ng anniversary namin. We were looking forward to getting away from Manila and spending a little bit of time dito sa Qatar…but unfortunately she collapsed and here we are, in this situation now.”

Granada collapsed due to an aneurysm, a condition that seems to be hereditary in their family. She fell into a coma and, a week later, passed away.

Her remains will be brought to the Philippines on Wednesday. — LA, GMA News