As the song written by Rudy's good friend Tirso Cruz III was heard all over the chapel, a large portrait of the late action superstar with his distinct warm smile greets friends and visitors at the entrance.

Like Daboy's wife Lorna Tolentino, Rudy's manager Lolit Solis carried herself stoically during the five-day wake.

"Kasi nakita ko ‘yong hirap niya para talagang accepted ko ‘to," Lolit shared with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) during the first day of Daboy's wake at the Heritage Park in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

But hours before Daboy's burial, Lolit's brave façade started to cave in. Though she never cries in public, Lolit was overwhelmed with grief.

Daboy's son Ralphe sets his own mourning aside to entertain relatives and friends who came in droves to pay their last respects to his dad.

Many unsung heroes were at Daboy's wake and one of them was character actor King Gutierrez.

Doing all the dirty work, King helped in maintaining security and making sure that everything was in order, particularly for the throngs who came to view their idol for the last time.

Veteran actress Boots Anson Roa delivered the responsorial psalm at the necrological service.

Boots fully understands Lorna's pain in losing a husband to cancer. Last year, August 29, her husband Pete Roa, aside from battling glaucoma and diabetes, succumbed to stomach cancer.

During Rudy's last birthday party, March 3, held at the William J. Shaw Pavilion of the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City, actor Ricky Davao was in his usual performance level.

"Para ‘to sa ‘yo pareng Daboy," Ricky told the birthday boy before proceeding to sing a number.

When Rudy passed away on June 7, Ricky was among those who came on the first day of the action hero's wake.

Fr. Sonny Ramirez delivered the homily at the necrological mass. Acknowledging Rudy's strong will to fight the dreaded disease, Fr. Sonny also pointed out that Daboy's fighting heart had no choice but to surrender to fate.

Fr. Sonny advised Rudy's family to be strong and asked Daboy's sons Ralphe and Renz a favor: "Alagaan ninyo ang mommy ninyo."

He also turned his attention to Rudy's firstborn, Mark Anthony, with ex-partner Alma Moreno, asking Mark to emulate his father's love for his family.

Emerging from one corner, actor Gabby Concepcion lined up with friends and family during the final viewing.

Gabby's ex-wife Sharon Cuneta attended the eulogy the night before. Some onlookers and spectators hoped, but in vain, to also catch a glimpse of Sharon during the funeral.

Actress Isabel Granada silently attended the necrological service.

Former action star and now public servant Jestoni Alarcon arrives together with wife Lizette in time for the necrological service.

Rudy's former partner Alma Moreno was all praises for Daboy, whom she described as "mabait" and a genuine friend.

The couple Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto arrive for the necrological mass.

Former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada once cited Rudy as a possible successor to the throne of Action King Fernando Poe Jr. But more than just Rudy's acting skills, according to Erap, was a wonderful person and one of the few who supported him during his lowest times.

Senator and fellow action star Bong Revilla saw Daboy during his last moments. Together with co-senator Jinggoy Estrada, Bong was at Rudy's bedside on the eve of June 7.

Bong went home to take a rest but immediately instructed his driver to turn back after he was informed by Jinggoy that Daboy had heaved his last breath.

Like any true friend, Phillip Salvador was ever present throughout Daboy's five-day wake.

Phillip cited Daboy's positive outlook in the face of hardships as an inspiration.

Overwhelmed with sadness over the worsening condition of Rudy's health, Tirso Cruz III wrote a song for his friend, "Awit ni Daboy."

 

Tirso's wife, Lyn Ynchausti, recalled that on the evening after visiting Daboy at the hospital, she noticed her husband's restlessness.

 

"Gusto kong gumawa ng song na parang si Rudy ang gumawa para kay Lorna at sa mga anak at mga kaibigan niya," Lyn recounted Tirso telling her.

Lorna expressing her gratitude to the officiating priests after the necrological service.

(L-R) Gina Alajar, Amy Austria, and Lyn Ynchausti openly shed tears during the necrological service, unable to contain their grief.

"Sayang nga. Nakapanghihinayang dahil nakita ko, siya ang pinakasinsero at siya ang pinaka-may puso sa mahihirap," said ex-president Joseph Estrada of Daboy.

Rudy ran for public office as mayor of Quezon City in 2001 but he lost to Sonny Belmonte.

Friends, family and loved ones of Daboy all lined up to pay their last respects to the "Action Prince."

TV host and actress Kris Aquino personally volunteered to ABS-CBN bigwigs to cover the entire burial ceremony as a way of extending her love and support to Daboy and his family.

Rudy's coffin was draped with the Philippine flag. The beloved action star was buried on June 12, the same date that the country's independence from Spain was proclaimed in 1898.

A horse-drawn carriage brings Rudy to his final resting place.

Hordes of people came to accompany Rudy on his final march.

Now a young widow, Lorna holds hands with sons Renz (left) and Ralphe (right) for physical and emotional support.

The horse drawn carriage as it waits for the arrival of Daboy's remains.

 

The horse stopped in its tracks a few times, apparently intimidated by the number of people who participated in the final march.

The Gutierrez family came in full force to be with Daboy for the last time. In this photo, Eddie Gutierrez and his sons Raymond and Richard oblige an interview while their mom Annabelle Rama looks on.

After his difficult growing-up years, Mark Anthony Fernandez was able to straighten out not only his personal life but also his relationship with his dad.

Mark is grateful that he was able to "rediscover" his ties with his dad before he passed away.

Friends of Rudy gathered around to set free white pigeons as their send-off gift to Rudy on his final journey back to God. As some people observed, the gesture was a fitting symbol of Daboy's liberation from pain and earthly suffering.

The bereaved family bids goodbye to Daboy before the sealing of the crypt.

Members of the press, particularly the photographers and camera crew, kept to one side of the burial grounds. Tight security prevented them from covering the burial at point-blank range.

Daboy was accorded a gun salute as his body was laid to rest.

Lorna tenderly places a flower inside the unsealed crypt while holding the folded Philippine flag that had draped Daboy's casket.

Daboy's marble tomb is bedecked with flowers strewn by the mourners.

As the tomb is carefully being sealed, Lorna and her sons are a picture of grief and desolation. Lorna controls her emotions up to the last minute—a pillar of strength for her sons and all the mourners.

Daboy's good friend Jinggoy Estrada offers a silent prayer for his departed buddy.

Jinggoy loves to tell stories about how Daboy stayed with him and his family during the time they were ostracized by the public, when his father stepped down as the country's president amid allegations of corruption.

Gabby Concepcion places a flower inside Daboy's tomb.

United by grief, Daboy's former partner Alma Moreno and his wife Lorna Tolentino console each other.

Despite the fact that their relationship failed to work out, Alma and Daboy maintained a good friendship built around their son Mark Anthony.

Jinggoy and Lorna share a light moment as she gently comforts the crestfallen best friend.

"Sa mga anak naman niya na si Rafraf at si Renz, at si Mark, ay huwag nilang pabayaan si Lorna, lalo na ngayon na talagang napakasakit na mawalan ng mahal sa buhay. Ano man ang kailangan nila, dito lang kami...Handang handa kaming magbigay ng tulong hangga't kailangan nila kami," Jinggoy assured Daboy's bereaved family.

After a courageous, hard-fought two-year battle against periampullary cancer, action superstar Rudy Fernandez finally achieves the peace and serenity his worn-out body deserves.

"Our brother Rudy Fernandez has just gone home to heaven," Fr. Sonny Ramirez eulogized during the necrological mass.