"I love you." These were Johnny Delgado's favorite words to his friends and, most especially, to his family when he was still alive. "He was always the sweet, bubbly and helpful person," his friends attest.
Johnny Delgado died peacefully last November 19 at 1:00 p.m., after two years of battling lymphoma, or cancer of the immune system. He was 61. He died with his immediate family—wife Laurice Guillen and daughters Ana and Ina Feleo—beside him.
Delgado's wake was held at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine in New Manila, Quezon City. His interment was held at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City last November 24.
Friends and relatives came to pay respect to one of the finest actors in Philippine showbiz on the last night of Johnny's wake.
During the last night of the wake, November 23, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) saw the following big names in the entertainment industry:
ABS-CBN Channel Head Cory Vidanes and National Artist for Film director Eddie Romero; film and television directors Edgar "Bobot" Mortiz, Cathy Garcia-Molina, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Gil Portes, Maryo J. delos Reyes, and director-actress Gina Alajar.
Most of the actors and actresses at the wake were Johnny's contemporaries, or younger stars who had worked with him:
Christopher de Leon and wife Sandy Andolong, Tirso Cruz III with his whole family, Sharon Cuneta, Aga Muhlach, Lou Veloso, Luz Valdez, Amy Austria, Isabel Rivas, Lorna Tolentino and son Raphe Fernandez, John Estrada, Willie Revillame, Jericho Rosales, Pops Fernandez, Derek Ramsay, Roxanne Guinoo, Smokey Manoloto, Mariel Rodriguez, Baron Geisler, Angelu de Leon, Anjo Yllana, Rez Cortez, Sharlene San Pedro, Nikki Bagaporo, Ignatius John "Igi Boy" Flores, Milagros "Miles" Ocampo, Ricky Davao and Al Tantay.
The mass was celebrated by Father Jerry Orbos, SVD. Tirso Cruz helped by leading the eulogy with his guitar, together with Al Tantay.
FRIENDS PAY TRIBUTE. Edgar Mortiz related his unforgettable moments with Johnny. "I will truly miss him," the teary-eyed Direk Bobot said while reminiscing times with Johnny. He said he treated Johnny like his own brother and always said "I love you" to him. Bobot also offered the American Pop Standard, "I'll Be Seeing You" to Johnny, with Tirso on guitar.
Christopher de Leon also shared his funny stories of Johnny Delgado. His first anecdote was about Johnny's habit of improvising his lines: "Johnny loves adlibbing so much that he gets lost on the main focus of a story. One time, instead of saying 'Sisibol ang bagong araw,' Johnny said, 'Bukas, sisibol bungang araw.'"
Johnny was a fun guy to be with, recalled Boyet, who enjoyed being with Johnny and his siblings. Johnny once saved his life while they were scuba diving in the '80s.
Being adventurous, they tried swimming in a diving spot in Anilao, Batangas, called "stairs." It was getting dark at 5:30 p.m., and they decided to swim 120 feet below. But while swimming downwards, Boyet suddenly hyperventilated and started to panic. Johnny came to his aid while he was panicking and was about to punch him. But Boyet nabaged to calmed down while Johnny brought him to the shore.
Johnny asked him if he was all right. He nodded his head to say yes. Then Johnny exclaimed, "Anak ng tupa naman, o! Pinanerbyos mo 'ko!"
"It's an honor for me... it's an honor for us to be part of Johnny's life, for him to be very close to Sandy and I. He was very protective as a brother," Christopher said in closing. He sang Skylark's "Wildflower" afterwards for Johnny.
