THE local entertainment industry is mourning again with the passing of three actors in a row last week.
Movie, stage, and TV actor Domingo Landicho died on Wednesday morning last week while controversial actor Mel Francisco passed on Monday a few hours after Orestes Ojeda.
“Nakakalungkot naman. Namamatay na lahat ang mga guwapo noong araw (It’s sad. All the good-looking guys in the past are already gone),” quipped former singer and actress Nina Sara on the death of Mel, her former lover and father of her two beautiful daughters, and Orestes, a male sex symbol during his heyday.
Ojeda, Luis Pagalilauan in real life, died of pancreatic cancer at 68.
“I'm very sad to know that my co-star in ‘Scorpio Nights’ and good friend Orestes Ojeda passed away. He was a gentleman, polite and kind. Please pray for him,” said Anna Marie Gutierrez, the lead actress of the controversial film on the crime of passion, which also starred Daniel Fernando at Peque Gallaga’s helm. Anna Marie is in the US.
“RIP Louie, aka Orestes Ojeda, one of my favorite leading men in the 80s. You made great contributions in your life-from the movie industry to the art world. Safe travels and nice working with you, Louie. My condolences to the family,” declared 1982 Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Maria Isabel Lopez, Orestes’ perennial screen partner in several movies including the grotesque “Dingding Lang ang Pagitan.”
Maria Isabel is currently in the US with husband-lawyer Jonathan Melrod at the time of Ojeda’s demise but she is praying for the repose of his soul.
“I will miss him dearly,” said Lopez.
Maribel and Orestes shared the same passion for the visual arts, she as a painter and he as an art dealer.
Meanwhile, Daniel Fernando, Anna Marie and Orestes’ fellow star in “Scorpio Nights” praised the deceased’s generosity and kindness when they were doing the film, which catapulted the now governor of Bulacan province to superstardom.
“Mabait na tao si Orestes. Hindi ko siya makakalimutan (Orestes was a good person. I cannot forget him),” said Daniel.
Ojeda, although very private in his life Louie, was married to Diane Ramirez, sister of sibling-actors Marlon and Jenny Ramirez but they split after several years of marriage. Diane who was working with Regal Films in the late seventies met Louie in the company when he was doing films for Mother Lily, owner of the production.
Meanwhile, movie writer Mike Herrera corrected the wrong personal information on the death of Orestes.
“According to Luis Ojeda's family, Orestes turned 68 last June, mali ‘yung info sa Google na January 1956 siya ipinanganak (so the Google entry that he was born in January 1956 was wrong),” said Mike.
A vigil for Ojeda’s remains were held by his kith and kin at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City.