Artist CJ de Silva-Ong passes away at 36

Visual artist, creative director, podcaster, CJ de Silva-Ong has died at 36 years old.

In a Facebook post Tuesday morning, her husband, the author Wincy Ong, announced CJ had suffered two strokes in the ICU before passing.

“She fought to the very end,” Wincy said in his tribute to his wife.

“She was a loving wife to me, a loving cat-mom to our cats Andres and Max, and a loving daughter to her parents and uncle,” he added.

According to Wincy, CJ loved the advertising industry so much and described her as a "passionate" executive creative director.

“She used her talents in illustration and painting in championing causes close to heart,” he said.

CJ was more prominently known as a Promil Gifted Child back in the '90s, and Wincy made sure to mention this in his tribute. 

"But from the many people who visited the hospital or sent in a message or two, I learned that CJ was a gift herself to the people who came to know her," he said.

Last week, CJ had an aneurysm, which Wincy publicly shared in a Facebook post. Asking for prayers, he revealed her coiling surgery following the aneurysm "was not successful so another procedure will be implemented."

In his tribute, Wincy said he will remember his wife "for the kindness she brought to people."

Sharing her wish of having a "fun and not so serious" funeral, Wincy invited their friends to "celebrate her 36 amazing years here on this planet by filling it with things that made her happy--music, conversations, coffee, and good food."

CJ’s wake will be held at The Heritage Park in Taguig City from June 20 to June 22. Her cremation service will be held on June 23, Sunday.

Christiana Jade, or CJ, held several solo art exhibits through the years and was also part of group shows held in spaces such as the Ayala Museum and Whitespace Gallery in Makati City.

Some of CJ’s most memorable works were illustrating the Palanca Award-winning children’s book, Ang Ikaklit sa Aming Hardin, written by Bernadette Villanueva Neri, and The Itchyworms’ album cover, “After All This Time.”

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Wincy, and the rest of their family.

— Nika Roque/LA, GMA Integrated News