Not only is the whole country or the international community mourning the death of one of their sons, the entire CALABARZON is saddened by the loss of one of its revered citizens from an honorable family.
The provinces of, especially, Batangas, Laguna and Quezon are still crying over the departure of their beloved scion.
Victor Laurel, an important member of an illustrious family, is gone.
The Laurels are not only entrenched and famous in Batangas, they are popularly known anywhere, everywhere.
Victor, also noted by his pet name Cocoy, died recently of cardiac arrest due to multiple organ failure, not cancer as erroneously reported.
Laurel was a stage, movie and television actor who is credited as a perennial love pair to the late National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor.
Victor and Nora were teamed up in the memorable movies such as "Lollipops and Roses," "Lollipops and Roses at Burong Talangka" and "Impossible Dream."
But before he was paired off with Aunor, Laurel was initially partnered with Vilma Santos (Nora's arch rival popularity and acting) in "Ofelia at Paris" and jumpstarted to musical "Disco Fever" and rom-com "Pinay, American Style" after the three starrers with La Aunor.
Cocoy started his acting career onstage, particularly with Repertory Philippines, in such hits as "Pippin," "Plaza Suite and Doña Rosita," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Evita," "The Elephant Man," "Guys and Dolls," among others.
He was featured in the Australian edition of "Miss Saigon" as the devilish Engineer.
Aside from Batangas Province where a lot of Laurels were raised and continue to reside, Quezon is also their bailiwick.
In Aloneros alone, a barangay of Guinayangan bounded by Tagkawayan, there are many Laurels including the maternal kinship of 1979 Miss International Melanie Marquez.
Melanie's middle name is Laurel.
What is the affinity of Laguna Province to Victor and the Laurels?
A Laurel estate, owned by the family of Cocoy, is located in San Pedro City.
Situated in the hilly part of Holiday Hills in Barangay San Antonio, the Salvador H. Laurel Museum and Library is nestled in the vast tract of land.
The cultural heritage presents the invaluable socio-political and cultural contributions in memorabilia of former Philippine Vice-President Salvador Laurel, father of Victor.
This repository of artifacts which also serves as a vacation house is also a refuge of the Laurels who seek peace and comfort in these troubled times.
Cocoy used to frequent the place when he wanted to be alone.
His sister Iwi Laurel-Asencio with daughter, singer Nicole Laurel Asencio, visit whenever they need to breathe fresh air.
Actress Denise Laurel, another niece of Victor, drops by the serene home to recharge energy after absorbing the bustling noise of show business.
You see, Cocoy was the kid of the old block of the art field which his mom, stage actress Celia Diaz-Laurel bequeathed to him and his kin.
On his political side, he was a grandson of the former Philippine President Jose Laurel.
Cocoy's remains were inurned at the Sanctuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City.
He was 72.
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