Celebrities arrive as Rudy Fernandez is laid to rest

(Update) MANILA, Philippines - A personal hero who will be remembered forever. This was how former President Joseph Estrada described actor Rodolfo "Rudy" Fernandez, who was laid to rest Thursday afternoon after succumbing to periampullary cancer last Saturday at the age of 56. Fernandez was laid to rest at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City. He was survived by his three sons, actor Mark Anthony Fernandez, with former partner Alma Moreno; and two sons Ralph and Renz, with actress Lorna Tolentino. Present at the burial, aside from his Rudy's family and Estrada, were his best friends Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr and Philip Salvador, Robin Padilla, Susan Roces, Tirso Cruz III, Edgar Mortiz, Ricky Davao, Efren Reyes. Among those who bid Rudy goodbye were Annabel Rama, twins Richard and Raymond Gutierrez, Eddie Gurierrez, Ruffa Gutierrez, Rizal Vice Gov. Jestoni Alarcon, Pagsanjan Mayor George Estregan Jr, Gabby Concepcion, Jude Ejercito, Boots Ansons-Roa, Fanny Serrano, Lani Mercado and Lolit Solis. "This is a great loss to the movie industry. This is especially sad for us because he was not only a fellow actor but a true friend of the family, especially to my son Jinggoy," Estrada said. The former president believes that it is fitting that Fernandez is being buried on Independence Day because to his family, friends and fans, "he was a personal hero who will be remembered forever." Fans Radio dzBB's Tuesday Niu reported that Fathers Sonny Ramirez and Larry Faraon led four other priests in officiating the funeral Mass. The report said Ramirez, in his homily, asked Rudy's family to be strong and quoting a Bible verse, said that one has to be broken into pieces in order for God to work in him and make him whole again. The same radio report said Fernandez's fans who were not allowed inside the Heritage Memorial Park were seen peeking on the fence to catch a last glimpse of their idol. A separate GMA Flash Report said some of the fans were disappointed as they missed their last opportunity to see their idol. The fans, who were wearing shirts bearing a picture of Fernandez, said they came all the way from the provinces. Fernandez's casket was brought from the chapel to the tomb by a horse-driven hearse. Before the late actor's casket, which was draped with a Philippine flag, was put inside the tomb, a 12-gun salute was given. Fernandez was reportedly a reservist in the Philippine Navy. Rudy is also an adopted member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1972. There was also a bag piper playing during the funeral rites. The funeral rites ended past 3 p.m. Chemotherapy Before his death, Fernandez had underwent chemotherapy sessions, radio-frequency-ablation treatment on the liver and even radiation. He also underwent a Rexin-G therapy. Daboy, as how Fernandez was fondly called by friends in the movie industry, was born on March 3, 1952. He was the son of film director Gregorio Fernandez. He started his active film career in 1970 while he was still a student at the University of Santo Tomas. Based on a profile posted on Wikipedia, Fernandez signed a contract with Sampaguita Pictures in 1970 and first featured in a movie "For Your Mama" (1970), then paired with Connie Angeles in "Sweet Matutina" (1976). Fernandez made his breakthrough as an action star with "Bitayin si Baby Ama" (1976). His viability as an action star was further enhanced with the box-office success of "Ang Leon, Ang Tigre at ang Alamid" (1979). Beginning with "Baby Ama," a biopic of a well-known Filipino criminal, Fernandez has specialized portraying true-to-life characters. One of his notable action films was "Markang Bungo" (Skull Mark) in 1992 , based on a true story where he portrayed the well-known Baguio City police officer Bobby Ortega. It was in this film that Fernandez' most popular Tagalog line, "Trabaho lang ito, walang personalan (It's work only, nothing personal)" was first heard. In 1995, the sequel "Iligpit si Bobby Ortega, Markang Bungo 2" (Execute Bobby Ortega, Skull Mark 2) was released. Aside from portraying a real police officer, he was cast in the lead roles for the biopics of Filipino politicians Vincent Crisologo and Panfilo Ping Lacson. Fernandez portrayed the life of Crisologo in a 1991 movie "Bingbong: The Vincent Crisologo Story". In an interview with GMA News when he went to the wake, Crisologo said that even after the movie, the friendship between him and Fernandez continued. Awards In the film "Lagalag: The Eddie Fernandez Story," Rudy starred as Eddie Fernandez, a Filipino actor during the 1970s and the father of Pops Fernandez. Fernandez also starred in the GMA Network sitcom "Da Boy, en Da Girl," opposite Rosanna Roces. He also played a supporting role in other TV series in GMA like "Twin Hearts" and "Atlantika." He was also the host of the docu-drama "Kasangga." Fernandez won two FAMAS Best Actor awards for the action films "Batuigas...Pasukuin si Waway" in 1984 and "Victor Corpus" in 1988. He received the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) 2008 Ulirang Artista Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th Star Awards for Movies. Also, he received the Film Academy of the Philippines FPJ Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2001, he ran for Quezon City under former President Joseph Estrada's Puwersa ng Masa but lost to Feliciano Belmonte Jr. - GMANews.TV