All Souls Day 2025: Honoring the celebrities we have lost this year

November 2 ------ The loss of a beloved causes a void that can never be filled. In the case of celebrities, it leaves a mark both on those who have admired them and on the industry that housed their legacies.

But even long after they are gone, their radiant stars will continue to shine through those whose lives they have inspired. To mark All Souls Day, let us look back at some of those we have lost this year.

Local Celebrities

Gloria Romero

Gloria Romero, an award-winning actress dubbed the Queen of Philippine Cinema, died in January at the age of 91. The screen veteran’s career spanned decades, starring in several films, including “Dalagang Ilocana,” “Tanging Yaman,” and “Magnifico.”

Margarita Fores

Renowned celebrity chef, restaurateur, and owner of several high-end food joints, Margarita Fores, died in February. She was 65 years old.

Matutina

Evelyn Bontogon-Guerrero, best known for her role as Matutina in the hit 1970s sitcom “John en Marsha,” passed away in February at the age of 78. Months prior to her passing, Matutina bared her long battle with osteoporosis, which had left her in a wheelchair. The veteran comedian had also revealed that she had been undergoing dialysis three times a week for nine years.

Pilita Corrales

Dubbed Asia’s Queen of Songs, Pilita Corrales touched the hearts of many with her hits “Kapantay ay Langit,” “A Million Thanks to You,” and “Dahil Sa’yo,” among others. The veteran actress-singer died peacefully in her sleep last April with no lingering illness. She was 85.

Nora Aunor

Superstar and National Artist Nora Aunor died of acute respiratory failure in April, just a month before her 72nd birthday in May. Known for her moniker “Ate Guy” and “La Aunor,” Aunor headlined several critically-acclaimed movies, including “Minsa’y May Isang Gamu-Gamo” (1976), “Bona” (1980), “Himala” (1982), “Bulaklak sa City Jail” (1984), and more recently, “Mananambal” (2024). Aside from acting, Aunor also had a singing career, being named the champion of the singing contest “Tawag ng Tanghalan” in 1967.

Hajji Alejandro

Hajji Alejandro died of complications due to stage 4 colon cancer in April. He was 70 years old. Prior to his death, the OPM singer’s battle with colon cancer was made public by his longtime girlfriend Alynna Velasquez. Alejandro started his entertainment career in the 1970s and became popular as the “kilabot ng mga kolehiyala (college crush).” He is best known for his songs “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” “Nakapagtataka,” “Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan,” “Panakip-Butas,” “If I Were Man Enough,” and “May Minamahal.”

Jiggly Caliente

Drag superstar Jiggly Caliente gained widespread recognition after joining the American reality competition “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” She died in April at the age of 44 due to an undisclosed reason.

Ricky Davao

Dubbed an “actor’s actor,” Ricky Davao had proven his versatility in a wide range of entertainment genres, from hard drama to action to even comedy. He started his showbiz career as a stage actor, then as a dancer, before transitioning to acting. He later dabbled in directing and was behind the TV series “The Seed of Love” (2023), “Nagbabagang Luha” (2021), and “Dahil sa Pag-ibig” (2019). Davao had silently battled cancer before his passing in May. He was 63.

Amay Bisaya

Comedian Roberto Reyes, who used the screen name Amay Bisaya, rose to fame for his sidekick roles in Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) films. He died on May 8 at the age of 67.

Freddie Aguilar

Freddie Aguilar was an OPM icon who wrote songs with social themes such as “Bayan Ko,” “Katarungan,” “Magdalena,” “Pangako,” and “Luzviminda,” among many others. He was best known for his 1970s hit song “Anak,” which was released in over 50 countries, translated into 29 languages, and re-recorded in over 100 versions. Aguilar died of multiple organ failure while confined at the Philippine Heart Center. He was 72.

Red Sternberg

“T.G.I.S.” star Red Sternberg died in May, just three days before his 51st birthday. He passed away after suffering a heart attack. Stenberg portrayed the role of Kiko in the 1995 youth drama “T.G.I.S.,” and also starred in the films “Cool Bulol,” “Laging Naroon Ka,” and “My Pledge of Love” before migrating to the United States.

Cocoy Laurel

Screen and stage veteran Victor D. Laurel, popularly known as Cocoy Laurel, died in June at the age of 72. Laurel headlined numerous films, some of which are those with his onscreen loveteam partner and close friend Aunor. The pair starred in “Lollipops and Roses,” “Lollipops and Roses at Burong Talangka,” and “Impossible Dream.” Cocoy was also a notable member of Repertory Philippines, where his biggest roles in theater include the Engineer in “Miss Saigon” and Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables.”

Lolit Solis

Veteran showbiz columnist and talent manager Lolit Solis died on July 3 after her long battle with kidney disease. She was 78. Aside from being an entertainment columnist and a talent manager, Solis made a name in the showbiz industry as a show host. She had stints in the now-defunct talk shows “Startalk” and “CelebriTV.”

Fritz Ynfante

Fritz Ynfante gained prominence as a music, theater, film, and TV director. He died at the age of 84 of “natural causes” at his home on July 21.

Bayani Casimiro

Comedian Bayani Casimiro Jr. died of cardiac arrest in July at the age of 57. He was best known for his role as Prinsipe K in the 1980s TV sitcom “Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!”.

Francis ‘Jun’ Posadas

Veteran filmmaker Francis “Jun” Posadas was known for his work in action, drama, and adult films during the 1980s and 1990s. “Itlog,” “Kaulayaw,” “Tampisaw,” “Bakat,” and “Kerida” were among his works that earned him a familiar name among bold film audiences. Posadas died in August. He was 76.

Emman Atienza

The sudden death of Emman Atienza, the youngest daughter of TV host Kim Atienza, was confirmed by her family last Oct. 24. The young social media personality, 19, reportedly died at their home in Los Angeles, California. Emman’s family, through a statement, underscored her mental health journey and how she had been vocal about it. “Emman had a way of making people feel seen and heard, and she wasn’t afraid to share her own journey with mental health. Her authenticity helped so many feel less alone,” the statement read.

Source: inquirer.net