Director-comedian Phillip Lazaro passes away

Director and veteran comedian Phillip Lazaro has passed away. He was 52 years old.

Lazaro's nephew, Chico Lazaro Alinell, confirmed the news to GMA News Online Monday. He said Phillip died of multiple organ failures at around 8:30 a.m. on Monday.

“I never saw Tito Phi breathing again. Seeing him so helpless was my last memory of him and it breaks me apart,” he said through Facebook Messenger.

Chico said he visited Phillip on Sunday at his flat. He said he noticed that his uncle “had a hard time breathing.”

“From that moment, I kissed his forehead and said my goodbye, told him to always pray, and how much I love him,” Chico recalled.

If he could talk to his "Tito Phi" this time around, Chico said he would have this to say: “A thousand words won’t bring you back, I know because I’ve tried. Neither will a thousand tears, I know because I’ve cried.”

Maxine Alinell, Phillip’s niece and Chico’s sister, added that they will release details about the wake. The family also “appreciates all the love and sympathy from all of his friends and colleagues.”

In a 2017 episode of “Tunay na Buhay,” Phillip revealed he wanted to be a priest and lawyer when he was younger.

“Religious kasi kami, unang-una. Mom ko, sobrang religious. Lagi kaming nasa church. And then my dad is an architect slash engineer. Matalino, very articulate. I want to be like him,” he said.

Phillip started as a stand-up comedian at a comedy bar called The Library in Manila. Among the shows he starred in are “Villa Quintana” and “Anna Karenina.”

As a director, meanwhile, he worked on GMA Network’s “Full House Tonight,” “Widow’s Web,” “Prima Donnas,” and “Nagbabagang Luha,” among others.

Rest in peace, Phillip. —KBK, GMA News