Movie industry in mourning

By Nickie Wang / Manila Standard Today
09 June 2008

Movies depict life, and not all movies finish off with happy endings. Rudy “Daboy” Fernandez’s script had ended after the sunrise of June 7. At the age of 56, he passed away at 6:15 in the morning. He was surrounded by his loving wife Lorna Tolentino and sons Renz Marion and Raphael.

After being diagnosed two years ago with pariampullary cancer, a rare and an aggressive form of illness, Rudy, with wife Lorna, had traveled to the US several times to obtain treatments to prolong his life. With great courage, Rudy battled the punishing effect of the cancer to his entire body system, yet the fatal illness had trounced his courage that he had to succumb to his sad yet peaceful demise.

Rudy’s death is a fact that Lorna had to unwillingly accept. The actress who never left her husband’s side until his last breath issued a statement two days before Rudy’s death that she’s ready to accept her husband’s sad fate.

Rudy was confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center for a month before he was brought home where his family, closest friends and relatives watched over him agonizingly and reluctantly as they waited for his fadeout.

Their home on Joeylane Street in White Plains in Quezon City was filled with grief with the presence of Rudy’s closest friends like Senator Jinggoy Estrada, actors Tirso Cruz III and Amy Austria, who gave way to Rudy’s immediate family during his last moment. Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, another close pal of Rudy, left the Fernandezes’ residence two hours before Rudy expired. Tirso was fighting back his tears when he had an interview a few hours after Rudy’s death saying that two or three weeks before, he and his wife had to do the ocular for the action star’s burial place.

Rudy’s final wish was to be laid to rest at the Heritage Park in Taguig City and to have all his fans allowed to visit his wake and be given free shuttle service. The action hero is getting this wish as his supporters flock his wake at the Heritage Memorial Chapels and Crematorium at The Fort in Taguig City when it was opened for public visit on Saturday afternoon.

Daboy, the action hero

Rudy started his stint in showbiz at the age of four, his debut film was Luksang Tagumpay (1957) directed by his father, the late actor-director Gregorio Fernandez. He then rose to fame with Bitayin si Baby Ama (1976), Ruther Batuigas... Pasukuin si Waway (1984) and Victor Corpuz (1987). These are the films that gave Daboy acting awards from Famas and Film Academy of the Philippines.

Rudy was known for his portrayal of true-to-life characters like Markang Bungo, in which he became famous for the tagline: “trabaho lang ito, walang personalan,” and movies like Ping Lacson: Supercop, (2000) and Lagalag: The Eddie Fernandez Story (1994).

With his movies where he usually played the hero who fights for the rights of the downtrodden, a hero who topples the villains, a loving father and a husband, an actor who supports his colleague, and a person who struggled to fight his personal obstacle, Rudy Fernandez served as an inspiration to many people in and out of showbiz. And just like his movies, from oppression and defeat he would rise to victory. He was defeated by an illness, yet inspired millions with his courage to face his Creator.