Fans, friends continue to flock to Daboy's wake

MANILA, Philippines - Fans and friends in the politics and entertainment industry continue to troop to The Heritage Park in Taguig City to pay their last respects to the late actor Rudy Fernandez, GMA's Unang Balita reported Tuesday morning. GMA News' Ian Cruz reported that the family and relatives of Fernandez continue to accommodate those who wanted to bid goodbye to the late actor up to the wee hours of the morning. The report said the family expects more fans and friends to arrive Tuesday as it will be the second to the last day they will be seeing Fernandez. The wake will be open to the public until 1 p.m. Wednesday. The interment on Thursday will be a private affair. Among those who went to Fernandez's wake Monday were Maricel Soriano; Susan Roces; Amy Austria; Gabby Concepcion; Quezon City Rep. Vincent 'Bingbong' Crisologo; lawyer Felipe Gozon, GMA president, chairman and chief executive officer; his wife Teresa Gozon; and former President Joseph Estrada. Fernandez portrayed the life of Crisologo in a 1991 movie "Bingbong: The Vincent Crisologo Story". Crisologo said that even after the movie, the friendship between him and Fernandez continued. "Tatawagan niya ako sa Pasko, kukumbidahin niya ako sa bahay niya. Napaka-thoughtful niya na kaibigan (He would call me during Christmas, invite me to go to his house. He was a very thoughtful friend)," Crisologo said of Fernandez. For her part, Roces said: "Itinuturing ko siyang (Fernandez) parang nakababatang kapatid. Naging malapit siya sa aking asawa. Wala akong naringgan ng kahit anong masamang bagay na ginawa si Rudy (I consider him as my younger brother. He was close to my late husband. I’ve never heard anything bad against him)." Estrada said: "It's very hard on our part because I have known Rudy since the time na he was only five years old and noong siya ay naging artista, pinupuntahan niya ako palagi. Humihingi ng payo sa akin (when he became an actor, he always sought my advise)." For his part, Gozon said: "Si Rudy ay isang kinikilalang artista sa buong Pilipinas at talagang siya ay mararamdaman ng mga nanonood na malaki ang mawawala sa industriya (Rudy is a well-known actor in the Philippines and the public will surely feel the loss of the entertainment industry)." Fernandez's best friends - Senators Jose 'Jinggoy' Estrada and Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr and Philip Salvador - were also at the wake to assist the family. "Konting araw na lang e saka kailangan ko siguro tanggapin na wala na nga si Rudy (We only have a few days to be with him. I need to accept that he is no longer with us)," Jinggoy said. "Magmi-meeting muna kami...paghahandaan 'yung para sa necrological sa Wednesday at syempre dun sa Thursday (We will meet to prepare for the necrological services on Wednesday and interment on Thursday)," Revilla said. - GMANews.TV