The news of the tragic death of award-winning and iconic actor Ronaldo Valdez had left a lump in my throat.
Based on the sketchy report of the Quezon City Police Department (QCPD), the cause of death of Ronaldo--Ronald James Dulaca Gibbs in real life--was alleged suicide by shooting.
How could a gentle person as Ronaldo do such a horrible act?
According to the police authorities, the cause of the alleged fatal shooting was depression due to prostate cancer which he went under the knife for in December last year.
The entire showbiz knew he was sick but he didn't appear to have been bothered.
Just last month, award-winning multimedia writer, actor, director and producer Frank G. Rivera saw him wheelchair-bound at the Manila Hotel but no traces, said Frank, of agony and hopelessness were painted on the actor's face.
Valdez, Rivera said, was even the one who broke the ice during their meeting.
The writer said he didn't notice Ronaldo at once.
"Oh, Frank!" was Valdez's call.
Indeed, committing suicide wasn't in Ronaldo's character.
I had many encounters with Valdez especially after the late entertainment writer Gil E. Villasana in the early 80s had told cub reporters like us--including Lhar Santiago, Obette Serrano, Roland Lerum, Danny Vibas, Vic P. Sabado, among others--that Ronaldo had a very colorful life gallivanting around Quiapo during his teenage life.
The actor was a Tondo-bred guy who was down-to-earth and approachable.
Having said that, Ronaldo was in a class of his own which was certainly different from the league where Dante Rivero, Ricky Belmonte, Dindo Fernando, among others, hailed from.
It's because he was introduced as Ronaldo Valdez by Rosas Productions--an independent movie outfit--of one of the Queens of Philippine movies Susan Roces.
Had it been Sampaguita Pictures or Leaknows Productions or even LVN Pictures as his launching pad, it had to be more glitzy but true to form, Ronaldo took the simple yet challenging path.
From there on, he was a different breed of an actor until he interacted and mingled with the so-called big studio syndrome.
In my early days of movie reporting, I would be introduced to Ronaldo as a talent of independent productions like Essex Films, Velarde and Associate Productions, Sining Silangan and a lot more.
Since he was a real gem of a talent, he was sought after by major companies like Viva Films, Regal Films, Star Cinema etc.
During his days with campy and maverick filmmaker Danny Zialcita, I would always run around with him.
If not on the set, I would pay him a visit at their digs in Mandaluyong City where he and wife Maria Fe Ilagan stayed. Maria Fe is the sister of the late actress Liberty Ilagan, wife of restaurateur Rod Ongpauco.
Adjacent to Ronaldo and Maria Fe's house was and still is the ancestral house of the late Robert Arevalo and Barbara Perez.
You see, Robert's forebears were the Ilagans.
The place is a big compound owned by the broad Ilagan clan of show business.
National Artist for Film Gerardo de Leon, better known as Gerry de Leon, was Maria Fe and Liberty’s and therefore, Ronaldo is the maestro's son-in-law.
These people breathed and lived the tinsel world--except Maria Fe who didn't pursue film acting but her genes are reeking with artistic fervor.
Rod is the uncle of actress Heart Evangelista.
Of course, siblings Janno and Melissa Gibbs are Ronaldo and Maria Fe's children.
Before they separated, Ronaldo and Maria Fe were a perfect couple. I could see their joy and happiness rearing for Janno and Melissa.
At that time, Janno and Melissa weren't in the movies yet
They were simply schooling.
Ronaldo was the one working and Maria Fe was a homebody.
Their abode was literally a "ghost town," empty of people when Ronaldo was at work, Janno and Melissa were in school.
Whenever I was around, I could feel the filial love inside the place.
Ronaldo was a perfect host in the house.
He was attentive to his visitors.
His voice--rounded, pleasant--filled the air.
When I was running a series on serious actors for Artista Magazine (when the late entertainment writer Arthur Quinto had moved in to Jingle Clan Publications to concentrate on its numerous fanzines) I took over his reign.
I would always be at the Ilagan residences since Robert was also in the category.
Maria Fe was always in the background or simply, incognito, but he introduced me to her although she would prefer to be inside the room when I was around.
Ronaldo was a perfect gentleman.
That's why I easily understood and empathized with his manager Jamela Santos' claim that her relationship with his "Pepe" (yes, she called him on that pet name basis) was very unique only a few lucky individuals could relate.
There was love but it was the platonic one.
Even if her eulogy was peppered with seemingly romantic expressions, it was purely in the ideal level of human passion.
It was understandable affection, not necessarily sexual.
You could glean on the sincerity of Santos in the middle of talks that it wasn't the prostate illness that prodded Ronaldo to end his life but allegedly his separation from Maria Fe.
Jamela was candid about her feelings for her client.
She added dimension to the narrative.
Jamela fought tooth and nail against the perpetrators of the trigger video that circulated on social media where it showed Ronaldo still sitting on a chair with his right temple showing a wound.
Santos didn't mince words so he called on the authorities to stop the inappropriate video on which the QCPD took immediate action.
Ronaldo treasured friendship so much.
Actress Pilar Pilapil could attest to this. "Isang invite ko lang kay (Just an invite on) Ronaldo, he would come," said Pilar.
La Pilapil has proven this time and again, for one, when she launched her first published autobiography book "A Woman Without a Face."
Until now, people in the know are skeptical about the sudden twists and turns of events surrounding Valdez's death.
MJ Balagtas Balbino--movie director Jose "Kaka" Balagtas' daughter who was assistant director of the recently shown film "Ikaw at Ako" which starred Ronaldo and Boots Anson Roa--would attest to the jolliness of Ronaldo before the grim scene.
"Ang saya-saya pa nga raw katrabaho ng Ronaldo, sabi ng anak ko. Last month lang 'yon (According to MJ, he was very happy working with her. That was just a month ago)," volunteered "Kaka" at the 64th birthday of Beth Jones, mom of actress Angelica Jones held at Meugay Bar along Timog Avenue.
Showbiz denizens remembered their fondness of Ronaldo.
Shorts: Amazing Diva Armie Zuniga will be the guest singer at the Villasanta Get-Together on December 30, 2023 at the Lopez, Quezon Credit Cooperative (LQCC) in Lopez, Quezon with Hipakyu Band and comedian-balladeer Nilo de Castro, also known as Bokyo. It's a whole day affair...Asia's Sentimental Songstress Imelda Papin made the members and officers of the Katipunan ng mga Artista ng Pelikulang Pilipino at Telebisyon (KAPPT) happy when she tendered a Christmas party for them at the Robinsons Trade Hall in Novaliches recently. Imelda captivated the audience not only with her generosity but her singing prowess as well. She sang "Iniibig Mo ang Iniibig Ko," one of her signature songs and an adaptation of "You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling" to the delight of the crowd. The Actors Guild President had promised a more prosperous Christmas party next year.
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