Rudy "Daboy" Fernandez, 56, beloved Manila Actor-producer
ZapRat
Kaye Villagomez
June 7, 2008
http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR20080607126769.html
Actor-producer Rudy "Daboy" Fernandez, 56.
The entire show business mourns the loss of an action icon, a reliable
actor, and above all a friend in the demise of Rudy Fernandez who
succumbed to periampullary cancer early Saturday (June 7) morning. After
a long, difficult but bravely-fought battle against cancer, Daboy (his
showbiz nickname) passed away at age 56.
His wife Lorna Tolentino did not only stay by Daboy’s side through it
all; she fought the battle with him. But as they all say, losing the
battle does not mean losing the war. The action superstar has long won
his war, contributing so much to the industry since the 1970s.
Close friend and Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. told the media last
Saturday at the Heritage Park in Taguig where Daboy’s remains lie that
they (including Daboy’s other close friends Sen. Jinggoy Estrada,
Phillip Salvador and Tirso Cruz 111) last spoke with him at 5:30 a.m. on
Saturday. “Then we went our separate ways to go home. But when we got
home, we got a call informing us he had passed away so we immediately
went back to his house right away.” Sen. Bong added that his friend
“looked peaceful and the family decided to have an open casket. It was
also Rudy’s request that he will not be cremated.”
Fernandez’s remains lie at The Heritage Park in Taguig City. Chapels 7
to 10 have been allocated for his wake to accommodate those who’d wish
to pay their last respects to the action star, including his fans. But
Tirso Cruz, III requested the fans to keep the wake orderly. There will
be mass every 8 p.m. from Saturday to Wednesday. On Thursday, June 12,
Daboy’s remains will be interred at the Heritage Park after a
necrological service. Tonight, Fr. Gerry Orbos will say Mass.
After several trips to the US for the latest medical breakthroughs to
treat the cancer, Fernandez and Tolentino made their final attempt after
the actor’s last birthday on March 3. What was supposed to be a
month-long trip was cut short when Fernandez decided to come home to the
Philippines after doctors in the US told him so. Upon arrival on May 4,
Daboy immediately was brought to the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital
where he was confined for almost a month. On May 10, Fernandez’s
colleagues in show business organized a healing mass at the Christ the
King Church in Quezon City.
It was said that Fernandez asked for morphine the night before he died,
complaining of intolerable pain. According to the National Cancer
Institute’s Dictionary of Cancer, Periampullary cancer is a cancer that
forms near the ampulla of Vater causing an enlargement of the ducts from
the liver and pancreas where they join and enter the small intestine.”
Daboy made his film debut at the age of three, appearing in “Luksang
Tagumpay” in 1956. From child actor, he did several teenage parts,
signed to a contract by Sampaguita Pictures in 1970. In the mid-70s,
Fernandez did his breakthrough role in the action genre with “Bitayin si
Baby Ama” in 1976. He went on to star in hit box-office films like “Ang
Leon, Ang Tigre at ang Alamid (1979),” and “Markang Bungo,” where
Fernandez said the classic Tagalog film line “Trabaho lang ito, walang
personalan.” (“It's just work, nothing personal”). The said dialogue was
cited among the most memorable quotes in Philippine cinema by QTV's “Ang
Pinaka” television program. He went on to star in the sequel of that
film “Markang Bungo 2” in 1995 and was cast in the lead biopic roles for
Filipino politicians Vincent Crisologo and Ping Lacson. He also
portrayed 70s actor Eddie Fernandez in the film “Lagalag: The Eddie
Fernandez Story.”
When the decline of production of actions films hit the industry,
Fernandez started working for television starring in the following GMA7
shows the docu-drama “Kassangga;” “Da Boy, en Da Girl” opposite Rosanna
Roces; the light drama/action series “Twin Hearts” and the underwater
fantasy prime timer “Atlantika,” his last acting stint.
Fernandez proved his acting mettle with two Film Academy for Arts and
Sciences (FAMAS) Best Actor awards for “Batuigas...Pasukuin si Waway”
(1984) and “Victor Corpuz” (1988) among many other acting awards and
nominations from various recognition-bestowing bodies including the 2008
Ulirang Artista Lifetime Achievement Award from the Philippine Movie
Press Club (PMPC) and the Film Academy of the Philippines FPJ Lifetime
Achievement Award.
Other memorable films include “Makahiya at Talahib,” “Bilangguan Walang
Rehas,” “Teteng Salonga ng Tondo,” “Tatak Angustia,” “Sa Init ng Apoy,”
“Pepeng Shotgun,” “Ulo ng Gapo,” “Sumuko Ka na Ronquillo,” “Kunin Mo ang
Ulo Ni Magtanggol,” “Idol,” “Somewhere,” “Anak ng Tondo,” “Bilang Na ang
Oras Mo,” “Tatak Munti,” “Tatak ng Yakuza,” “Lumuhod Ka Sa Lupa,”
“Vigilante,” “Ipaglalaban Ko,” “Ayaw Matulog ng Gabi,” “Kung Kailangan
Mo Ako,” “Kuratong Baleleng,” “Itataya Ko Ang Buhay Mo,” and “Wag na Wag
Kang Lalayo.” His last film was the action/comedy “Hula Mo Huli Ko” with
Rufa Mae Quinto in 2002.
Fernandez tried politics in 2001 and ran for mayor of Quezon City under
the banner of the Puwersa ng Masa of former President Joseph Estrada but
was defeated by then-House Speaker Sonny Belmonte of the People Power
Coalition.
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