In the past two years, we have lost family members, friends, health care workers, first responders, employees, colleagues, neighbors, and thousands of unnamed workers who fought against COVID-19.  We will forever be grateful for their sacrifices and remember the memories they shared with us.

Here, we list in alphabetical order some of the personages we lost in the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 and commemorate their legacies.

Hundreds more died while fighting the virus, especially our healthcare workers, and we will have a separate list of these pandemic heroes in a future issue.

2020

Fidel Agcaoili, activist and revolutionary involved in the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front, on July 23 in Utrecht, Netherlands due to a pulmonary arterial rupture, which caused massive bleeding, at the age of 75.

Heherson “Sonny” Alvarez, former senator and former Minister of Agrarian Reform (1986-87) and Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (2001-2002), on April 29 due to complications from COVID-19, at the age of 81.

Dr. Aileen San Pablo Baviera, science professor, former dean of the UP Asian Center and Philippines’ top China expert, on March 21 due to COVID-19, at the age of 60.

Domingo “Menggie” Cobarrubias, television and movie actor, 2014 Best Actor awardee at QCinema International Film Festival for his performance in Mauban: Ang Resiko, on March 26 due to COVID-19, at the age of 66.

Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, former chair of San Miguel Corporation, on June 16 due to heart failure and pneumonia, at the age of 85.

Fulgencio “Jun” Factoran, Jr., lawyer, human rights activist and former Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources under President Corazon Aquino, on April 5 due to a longtime illness, at the age of 76.

Gilda Cordero Fernando, writer, visual artist, fashion designer and publisher, on August 27, at the age of 90.

Gilda Cordero Fernando (Source: Palanca Awards)

Eddie Ilarde, politician, radio and television host of programs such as “Kahapon Lamang”, “Student Canteen,” and “Darigold Jamboree,” on August 4 due to natural causes, at the age of 85.

Ramon “Mon” Jimenez, advertising executive and former Secretary of Tourism under President Benigno Aquino, on April 27, at the age of 64.

Alfredo Lim, police officer-turned politician as Mayor of Manila (1992-1998 and 2007-2013) and senator (2004-2007), on August 8 due to COVID-19, at the age of 90.

Anita Linda aka Alice Buenaflor Lake, actress who became the oldest at 74 to win the FAMAS Award for Best Supporting Actress in Ang Babae sa Bubungang Lata and at 83 was named Best Actress in the 10th Cinemanila International Film Festival for her role in Adela, on June 10 due to difficulty in breathing, at the age of 95.

Madam Auring aka Aurea Elfero, actress and fortune teller to famous personalities like Imelda Marcos and Nora Aunor, on October 30, at the age of 80.

Alan Ortiz, leader in finance, banking and industries such as water and power utilities, and president of the non-profit Philippine Council for Foreign Relations, on March 23 in Paris due to COVID-19, believed to be the first Filipino to die of the ailment abroad.

Sonny Parsons aka Parsons Agliam Nabiula, Jr., actor, singer, director, politician, and member of the Hagibis, an all-male song-and dance group in the late ‘70s, similar to the Village People, on May 10 due to a heart attack, at the age of 61.

Angelo Quinto, Filipino American Navy veteran, on December 26 due to complications after being knelt on the neck by a police officer three days earlier in Antioch, California, at the age of 30.

Edgar Quizon, actor and son of Dolphy, on December 15 due to pneumonia, at the age of 63.

Prudencio Regis, general of the Philippine National Police until his retirement, on March 24 due to COVID-19, at the age of 94.

Ramon Revilla, Sr., former senator and actor known as “Hari ng Agimat” (King of Amulets) in Philippine films, on June 26 due to heart failure, at the age of 93.

Fr. Fernando Suarez, Catholic priest who performed faith healing in the Philippines and abroad, on February 4 due to a heart attack suffered while playing tennis three days before his 53rd birthday.

Domini Torrevillas, STAR columnist and former editor of Panorama magazine, on December 28, at the age of 80.

Dr. Renato S. Velasco, associate professor in political science in U.P. and former Cabinet member, on April 4 due to COVID-19, at the age of 66.

2021

Jose Abueva, political scientist, administration scholar and former UP president from 1987 to 1993, on August 18, at the age of 93.

Resurreccion Acop, medical doctor who was a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd district of Antipolo, on May 28 at age 73, due to complications from COVID-19.

Rita Gerona Adkins, Filipino American freelance journalist, on December 14 in Falls Church, Virginia, at the age of 91.

Tarhata Alonto-Lucman, politician and Maranao royalty who was the first female governor of Lanao del Sur, on February 26, at the age of 94.

Benigno S. Aquino III, popularly known as PNoy, Philippine president from 2010 to 2016 and son of politician Benigno Aquino and President Corazon Aquino, on June 24 due to renal disease, secondary to diabetes, at the age of 61.

President Benigno S. Aquino III (Source: New York Times)

Herminio Aquino, businessman and former vice presidential candidate, on July 31 due to complications from cancer, at the age of 72.

Zenaida “Nini” Quezon Avanceña, human rights advocate and daughter of former president Manuel Quezon, on July 12, at the age of 100.

Zenaida “Nini” Quezon Avanceña (Source: CNNPH)

Minda Azarcon, pianist, opera singer, composer, movie and stage musical director, conductor and music educator in Vallejo, California, on November 19 due to heart problems, at the age of 84.

Carmen “Baby” Barredo, theater actress and producer, co-founder of Repertory Philippines, on May 23 due to multiple organ failure caused by sepsis, at the age of 80.

Heber Bartolome, folk and rock singer, composer and poet, on November 15, at the age of 73.

Kitchie Benedicto-Paulino, television director and producer for nearly four decades, on August 4, at the age of 74.

Fr. Joaquin Bernas, Jesuit priest, constitutional lawyer, professor and Dean Emeritus at the Ateneo Law School, on March 6 due to an infection, at the age of 88.

Sixto Carlos, Jr., revolutionary activist, theater, and cultural worker, environmental advocate, on September 5 due to leukemia, at the age of 74.

Sixto Carlos, Jr. (Source: When In Manila)

Ester Chavez, TV and movie actress and Queen of Filipino radio drama, on May 31, at the age of 93.

Naty Crame-Rogers, actress, drama teacher, writer, producer and researcher, on February 1, at the age of 98.

Romulo De La Cruz, Catholic Archbishop of Zamboanga, on December 10, at the age of 74, after suffering a stroke the year before.

Claire De La Fuente, singer dubbed as the Karen Carpenter of the Philippines with her jukebox hit, “Sayang,” on March 30 due to cardiac arrest arising from complications of COVID-19, at the age of 62.

Bert De Leon, television director of “Eat Bulaga” and “Bubble Gang,” on November 21 due to COVID-19 after suffering a heart attack in July where he underwent an angiogram and angioplasty, at the age of 74.

Neil Doloricon, social realist painter, printmaker, social critic, cartoonist and educator whose art championed the underdog in Filipino society, on July 16, at the age of 64.

Max Edralin, journalist and public relations icon who went to jail in 1955 in defense of press freedom, on October 15, at the age of 89.

Jose Jaime “Nonoy” Espina, journalist and former chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, on July 7 after battling liver cancer, at the age of 59.

Ben Farrales, known as the “Dean of Philippine Fashion” and for his Muslim-inspired ternos, on March 6 due to prostate cancer, at the age of 88.

Tony Ferrer aka Antonio D. Laxa, actor and film director and producer, tagged as the James Bond of the Philippines for his Tony Falcon role in the Agent X-44 series, on January 23 due to heart illness and diabetic complications, at the age of 86.

Roque Ferriols, a Filipino Jesuit and philosopher, known for his pioneering advocacy in using Filipino for teaching philosophy, on August 15, at the age of 96.

Romy Gacad, photojournalist and a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, on October 30 due to cancer, at the age of 62.

Pablo P. Garcia, former governor of Cebu from 1995 to 2004, on August 18, at the age of 95. His sons, Marlon and Nelson, died a week apart in September 2020.

Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gaston, Commission on Human Rights Chairman, on October 9 due to COVID-19, at the age of 57.

Eddie Go, banker and former head of PBCom, ChinaBank, Philbank, AsianBank and UCPB, on September 16, at the age of 83.

Tomas “Buddy” Gomez, former Press Secretary under President Corazon Aquino (1990-1992), on July 22 while on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail in Galicia, Spain, at the age of 86.

Wally Gonzalez, guitarist and proponent of Pinoy Rock, leader of the Juan de la Cruz Band, on July 23, at the age of 71. Months earlier he had suffered a stroke that rendered him weak and unable to move and he also tested positive for COVID-19.

Andrew Gotianun, Jr., eldest son and namesake of the late patriarch of the family behind Filinvest Development Corporation, on May 21 from a non-COVID malignant illness, at the age of 69.

Laura Hermosa, actress and radio voice talent, mother of Tessie Tomas, on March 16 due to renal failure, at the age of 92.

Crispulo Icban Jr., editor-in-chief and publisher of Manila Bulletin, on April 5 at the age of 85.

Bree Jonson, visual artist famous for painting flora and fauna, on September 18 of asphyxia, at the age of 30 in a resort in La Union.

Domingo Landicho, poet, novelist, editor, dramatist, actor who wrote close to 60 book titles, on July 29, at the age of 82.

Celia Diaz Laurel, theater icon and wife of former Vice President Doy Laurel, on July 12 due to complications from a stroke, at the age of 93.

Jessie Lichauco, Cuban-born American-Filipino philanthropist and wife of diplomat Marcial Lichauco who turned their home into a makeshift hospital during the Battle of Manila in WWII and who was granted Filipino citizenship by President Benigno Aquino in 2013, on November 1, at the age of 109.

Danilo Lim, general who was incarcerated at Camp Crame from 2006 to 2010 for rebellion charges and an attempted coup d’etat and served as Chair of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from 2017 until his death, on January 6 due to cardiac arrest after testing positive for COVID-19 on December 29, at the age of 65.

Reuben Lista, president of the Philippine National Oil Company and former commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, on August 31 at age 74, from complications related to COVID-19.

Ricky Lo, entertainment writer, commentator and TV host, on May 4 due to a stroke, at the age of 75.

Lola Iska aka Francisca Susano, considered the oldest person in the world who lived in Negros Occidental, Philippines, on November 22, at the age of 124.

Criselda Lontok, beauty queen-turned-fashion designer, on September 22, due to cardiac arrest at the age of 81.

June Pagaduan Lopez, psychiatrist, pioneer and leader in torture rehabilitation and human rights defender, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005, on November 20 of cancer at the age of 70.

Bienvenido Lumbera, poet, critic, dramatist, National Artist of the Philippines and Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communications, on September 28 due to complications from a stroke, at the age of 89.

Arturo Luz, visual artist, printmaker, sculptor designer, art administrator and National Artist for the Arts, on May 26, at the age of 94.

Fr. Eliseo Mercado, Jr., priest and peace educator from Mindanao who worked on defending human rights, poverty alleviation and social reforms, on May 23 from a heart attack, at the age of 72.

Mario Miclat, writer and educator, on April 3 due to COVID pneumonia exacerbated by myocarditis and fatal arrhythmia, at the age of 71.

Manuel “Manoling” Morato, former chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), on July 30 due to complications from COVID-19, at the age of 87.

Virginia Moreno, writer, poet and playwright, on August 14, at the age of 98.

Toto Natividad, action director of hit movies such as “Ang Siga at ang Sosyal” and “Ping Lacson Story,” on April 27 due to complications from COVID-19, at the age of 64.

Orestes Ojeda, actor and leading man who starred in “Scorpio Nights” and “Manila by Night,” on July 27 due to pancreatic cancer, at the age of 68.

Leticia “Lolita” Olalia-Hizon, founder of Pampanga’s Best, a brand known for its tocino and other meat products, on October 2 due to renal failure, at the age of 84.

Gary Olivar, former activist, writer, and economic spokesperson of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, on June 29 due to a heart attack in his sleep, at the age of 68.

Emilio Mario “Lito” Renner Osmeña, Jr., grandson of President Sergio Osmeña, former governor of Cebu and former presidential contender, on July 19 from COVID-19, at the age of 82. His wife, Annette, also died from complications of the virus two weeks later on July 31.

John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña, grandson of President Sergio Osmeña and former senator from Cebu, on February 2 due to complications from COVID-19, at the age of 86.

Elly Pamatong, lawyer, politician, and declared nuisance candidate in two presidential elections (2004 and 2010), on July 24 due to cardiac arrest, at the age of 78.

Ricardo Po, Sr., billionaire, founder and chairman emeritus of Century Pacific Food, on October 11 due to complications arising from surgery, at the age of 90.

Adelina Santos Rodriguez, first woman mayor of Quezon City from 1976 to 1986 and 2016 Tandang Sora awardee, on September 30, at the age of 101.

Lilia Quindoza Santiago, poet, academic, and writer of the Palanca award-winning novel, Ang Kaulayaw ng Agila, on February 15 in Virginia where she was a consultant to the National Foreign Language Center of the University of Maryland, at the age of 72.

Adi Baens Santos, visual artist, illustrator, writer and photographer whose works reflected sociopolitical realities, on November 24 of a heart attack, at the age of 78.

Vic Sison, one of the Philippine football’s best goalkeepers, on October 14 due to COVID-19, at the age of 84.

Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, politician, activist and social worker who served as Secretary of Social Welfare and Development under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001 to 2005) and President Benigno Aquino III (2010 to 2016), on September 19 due to renal and heart failure after contracting COVID-19 the month before with her husband and 13 other family members, at the age of 68.

John Eric Swing, community activist and Executive Director of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) in Los Angeles, California, on June 28 due to pneumonia and an ischemic stroke caused by COVID-19, at the age of 48.

Jan Catherine Sy, equestrienne and granddaughter of the late SM tycoon Henry Sy, Sr., on March 18 due to sepsis, at the age of 29.

Ramon Y. Sy, prominent banker and vice chair of the Asia United Bank, on September 17, at the age of 91.

Bienvenido Tantoco, ambassador and co-founder of luxury retailer, Rustan’s, on July 6, at the age of 100.

Bienvenido Tantoco (Source: Tatler Asia)

Kerima Tariman, poet, researcher, journalist,and revolutionary, on August 20 in a clash between the New People’s Army and the Philippine military in Negros Occidental, at the age of 42.

Kerima Tariman (Source: Philippine Collegian)

Nestor Torre, writer, editor, film and television director, scriptwriter, theater actor and media critic, on April 6 due to complications from COVID-19, at the age of 78.

Luis Villafuerte, politician and former Governor of Camarines Sur, on September 8, at the age of 86.

Natividad “Nena” del Rosario Villanueva, child piano prodigy who made her debut at age 12 at the Carnegie Hall, on June 4, at the age of 85.

Amelita Villarosa, former representative of the lone district of Occidental Mindoro and Deputy Speaker in Philippine Congress, on May 30 due to aneurysm while undergoing treatment, at the age of 78.

Victor Wood, jukebox king, actor and politician, on April 23 due to COVID-19 complications, at the age of 75.

Source: Google and Wikipedia

The Magazine

In Memoriam

2020

2021

Positively Filipino | Online Magazine for Filipinos in the Diaspora

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