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| Photo credit to Roimhie Damian for his scribbled art showcasing the La Primera Contravida Cherie Gil (May 12, 1963-Aug 5, 2022) |
As a Filipino who grew up watching her great acting prowess as a "kontra bida", truly it is with deep sadness to know that Cherie Gil or Evangeline Rose Gil Eigenmann has passed away.
I was browsing my phone that afternoon of August 5, when I chance upon the news of Cherie's passing at Rappler. The news has shaken my peace, that made me browse one social media site to another. But it was the confirmation of Cherie's nephew, actor Sid Lucero that put a stop to my quest.
Every day since Friday, I would read more about Cherie Gil and a lot more other Filipino people have somehow been touched by the so-called La Primera Contravida, even those people who would not ring a bell to their names are giving tribute to Cherie Gil.
I for one was very fortunate to have experienced the kindness of the veteran kontrabida when in early 2000 she agreed to guest live for free at Radio Veritas studio, which at the time was located in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City beside the infamous Mystique Disco. I remembered there was no lengthy discussion when I asked her if she could grace our program then. In fact she came that day way ahead of time and brought with her then her young children Bianca and Raphael. Indeed, it was a great memory to recall that once upon a time during my prime I got to meet in person Cherie Gil and got to see that unguarded side of her as an actress and a mother. The daughter of showbiz icons Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil who now lives in the US, has succumbed to breast cancer at the age of 59.
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| Photo credit to Rappler |
Meanwhile, it was not so long ago that I posted on July 22, the condition of the '80s Asia's Sprint Queen Lydia De Vega who at the time was in need of prayers and financial assistance following her battle with breast cancer. Sadly, again as I am engrossed in reading and browsing today, I once more chance upon the news of De Vega's passing at the age of 57.
Definitely, I am not just being sentimental, but these people Cherie Gil and Lydia De Vega were icons that I grew up with since I was born in 1974, technically, they were just a decade away from me and my generation. De Vega was once my idol, someone I looked up to when I was also making a name for myself in school as a volleyball athlete, and now, she too, is gone.
Also, Australian pop singer Olivia Newton-John who made a name in the '70s through her hit songs "Hopelessy Devoted To You, Xanadu and Sam" among others, also died of breast cancer at age 73, on August 8 at her ranch in Southern California. The singer has been battling the big-C since Sepember 2018.
Thus, this series of deaths takes me back to what Cherie and other people would always say as to what legacy we all could leave behind. So while we can, while you still have a chance, be kind to others as you do not know the battles they are fighting.