When the news broke out that actor Romano Vasquez was dead very early morning last week, memories of him in mind started cascading.
I’ve known Romano, Romonito Romano Anacan Dila in real life, for almost twenty years when he was just new in the late Master Showman German Moreno’s youth-oriented GMA Network TV show, “That’s Entertainment.”
He was friendly and hip.
At the time, Romano was paired off with oozing with sex appeal Shirley (the former Charlotte de los Santos when she was a member of popular writer, PRO-Manager and TV host Boy C. de Guia’s “StarBrighters”).
For a while, Vasquez had a respite from showbiz only to make headlines as a Guest Relations Officer (GRO) in a gay bar. The controversy stirred the local entertainment industry but only for a few moments the news died a natural death.
In between showbiz assignments, Romano was active in the George Sison group, Temple of Love, Peace and Prosperity. As a matter of fact, he was the one who tagged me along one Sunday afternoon to the spiritual session (Marissa Delgado, Ernie Garcia, Juan Rodrigo, the late Production Designer Edel Templonuevo, the late actress Tita Muñoz) being held in George’s Makati sanctuary along Pasong Tamo Extension.
I saw Romano on the set of controversial Fil-Briton filmmaker Jowee Morel’s film “When a Gay Man Loves” where the actor played a very important role.
That’s why make-up artist Jun Inocencio was grieving when Romano died because they had a very memorable rapport during the shoots of the film.
When Romano figured in a spat with—if I remember it right—a neighbor or a peer, I went to see him at the Parañaque General Hospital where he was confined while suffering pain from wounds and bruises.
After those happenstances, I seldom saw the actor but I knew he was staying at Cavite City already.
Until the news of his death.
Romano died of cardiac arrest at his home in Cavite City with his wife Alma Panuelo Dila and children Anne (Alma’s daughter from a previous liaison), Albert (an adopted son) and their biological kids Sky and Raven.
Vasquez was cremated on January 29, 2022 after he was kept vigil for one week at the Imperial Crown Funeral Service (formerly Herald Funeral Service) at Purok 6, Barangay De Ocampo in Trece Martirez City in Cavite.