The third night of AJ Perez's wake was held at the Christ the King chapel in Green Meadows.
This marked the first time that AJ's mother, Marivic, spoke to the media regarding the death of her son.
She was joined in this interview by TV host Ali Sotto, a mother who also lost her son (Miko Sotto) when he was just 21 years old.
Both Miko and AJ's corneas were donated to the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines. One cornea of AJ was given to an eight-year-old boy while another was given to a 28-year-old man.
Mr. Gerry Perez was with AJ when the fatal accident took place in Tarlac last April 17, 2011.
During the wake, he told PEP: "Puyat na puyat ako kasi ayaw kong matulog. Coz everytime I close my eyes, yung nightmare parang ano... Ang hirap. When I attempt to go to sleep, nai-imagine ko yung [accident]."
Mr. Perez showed the bruises on his left arm that he sustained during the accident. He recalled that AJ was sleeping when the bus and their van collided.
A few hours before his death, AJ had posted this message in his Twitter account: "On the way home already from Dagupan. Long drive ahead. Thanks to everybody who watched."
Senator Jinggoy Estrada (left) arrived at the Christ the King chapel before the novena started just before 8 last night. Jinggoy worked with AJ in the 2008 Metro Manila Film Fest entry Magkaibigan.
With Jinggoy (right) is his friend, designer Paul Cabral.
Starbox host Ali Sotto said that AJ can become a "poster boy" for cornea donation, like her son Miko Sotto who died in 2003.
She said in an interview that night: "I'm telling Marivic that
this [cornea donation] might be a way for her to also find some meaning. Minsan, senseless kasi
nandito ka, ang sakit, ang aga-aga para mawalan ka ng anak."
(First row, from left) Andi Eigenmann, sisters Megan and Lauren Young, as well as Carla Humphries (second row, third from left) comforted each other over the loss of one of their own.
Lauren, seen here covering her face, had tears that wouldn't stop falling as she told PEP what she will miss most about AJ: "Yung pagiging makulit niya and we would open up to each other. He knew most of my secrets...secrets that I don't even share with my sister. Ang dami naming pinagsamahan, we basically grew up together. We experienced life together...its ups and downs. We both made mistakes at nagdadamayan kami. All my memories of AJ were good memories. I never had a bad memory with AJ."
Matt Evans was one of the last persons to see AJ alive. The two were part of the Kapamilya Karavan show in Dagupan organized by ABS-CBN's Regional Network Group.
Aside from Matt, other Kapamilya stars present at the Dagupan show were comedienne Kitkat and child star Zaijian Jaranilla.
Dino Imperial says that, among the Gigger Boys, he, AJ and Chris Gutierrez have their own tightly knit subgroup. Asked for his fondest memory of AJ, Dino had a difficult time choosing any particular incident because, he said, there were many "wild" moments.
Grand Dame Gloria Romero attended the third day of the wake. Her grandson, Chris Gutierrez, is a close friend of AJ. In fact, Chris and AJ vacationed in Boracay just last week.
Even if Roxanne Guinoo has not worked directly with AJ, she took the time to drop by the wake. The mass that night was officiated by Fr. Roque de Costa.
Carla Humphries was one of the celebrities who paid their last respects to AJ. Also spotted that night were John Prats and former Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus housemate Josef Elizalde.
Two flat screen TVs were set up outside the Christ the King chapel to play interviews and TV specials featuring AJ. They also showed the reactions of stars to the death of AJ. The fans appreciated this presentation.
