PUMANAW na ang New York-based award-winning actress at singer na si Cherie Gil (Evangeline Rose Gil Mesa) noong August 5 nang umaga at age 59.

Si Cherie ay bunso sa tatlong anak (and only girl) ng mag-asawang Eddie Mesa at Rosemarie Gil. Kapatid ni Cherie sina Michael de Mesa at Mark Gil na sumakabilang buhay na rin nung September 1, 2014 sanhi ng liver cirrhosis.

Si Annabelle Rama ang unang nagbalita nito sa kanyang Instagram account nung August 5. Kinumpirma naman ito ng isa sa mga pamangkin ng actress, ang actor na si Sid Lucero.

Naiwan ni Cherie ang tatlong anak, ang kanyang panganay na si Jay Gil (by a previous relationship) at sina Raphael at Bianca Rogoff, by ex-husband of 14 years, ang kilalang Israeli international violinist and conductor na si Rony Rogoff, who are based in New York.

May lumabas ding balita na nagkabalikan umano ang dating mag-asawang Cherie at Rony nang ito’y bumalik ng Amerika.

Award-winning actress

TAONG 1985 nang manalo si Cherie Gil ng kanyang unang acting award mula sa Metro Manila Film Festival awards night as Best Supporting Actress para sa pelikulang “God…Save Me”. Four years later in 1989, muli siyang pinarangalang Best Supporting Actress from the same award-giving body para sa pelikulang “Imoral”.

In 2000, muli siyang nakapag-uwi ng Best Supporting Actress trophy sa MMFF para naman sa pelikulang “Sugatang Puso”.

In 2015, she was awarded Best Actress for the movie “Mana” ng Madrid International Film Festival and another Best Supporting plum para sa pelikulang “Citizen Jake’ mula sa Star Awards for Movies ng PMPC in 2019.

The actress is notably known sa kanyang mga nagawang pelikula tulad ng “Oro, Plata, Mata,” “Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan,” “Sana, Bukas Pa ang Kahapon,” “Imortal,” “Bituing Walang Ningning” kung saan tumatak sa publiko ang linyang “You’re nothing but a second rate trying hard copy cat” where she played the character of Lavinia Arguelles at si Sharon Cuneta naman bilang si Dorina Pineda.

Nariyan pa ang iba pa niyang mga classic movies tulad ng “Sugatang Puso,” “Palimos ng Pag-ibig,” “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas,” “Rosenda,” “Working Girls” at marami pang iba.

Ang pelikulang “Tia Madre” ay last movie na nagawa ni Cherie in 2019. Last TV series naman niya ang “Legal Wives” sa GMA where she played the role of Zaina Guimba, the mother ng character na ginampanan ni Dennis Trillo na si Ismael Makadatu. Hindi na niya ito natapos nang bumalik siya ng New York kung saan siya binawian ng buhay dahil sa sakit na cancer.

Sharon lubhang naapektuhan ng pagkamatay ni Cherie

SAMANTALA, isa sa matinding naapektuhan sa pagkamatay ni Cherie Gil ay ang kanyang best friend na si Sharon Cuneta.

On her Instagram account, Sharon posted noong August 5: “I flew to New York early yesterday with a heavy heart, still forcing it to hang on to that sliver of hope of God performing a miracle & allowing you to pull through this.

“I am eternally grateful to Him for giving us the few hours we spent together… the love & words yet again exchanged in person… the knowledge that the friendship forged when we were very young was stronger & would only keep getting so…”

“You told me about your tree to heaven outside of your apartment window which I didn’t get to see.”

“We said ‘I love you’ & I said I’d see you again today… & you raised both arms and gave me the thumbs up with both hands. Then barely eleven hours after I left you, I was awakened by his call saying you had passed… I leave New York now with a much heavier heart than ever before… because now I am leaving YOU with the knowledge that I will NEVER see you again… I cannot process it. It seems so unfair.”

“It will never be the same without you. I will never be the same without you. I told you that you had to fight, please, because you couldn’t leave me & that you were my partner, that there is no one like you… You said yes… My heart is in pieces again & now I dunno how to put it back together anymore-because among the many loved ones I have lost these past few years,you were &always will be one of my most loved…a most important part of my life & my history.Of my heart.I love you so very much.It is the end of an era now that you’ve left us…What will I do without you now, Love? My true screen partner,a true friend, ninang of Simone…”

“But God took you home, took all your pain away. I will never get to feed you ice chips again. Or share most everything else with you. Your kids are strong & love you so much.”

“Mike (Cherie’s brother, Michael de Mesa, Sharon’s co-actor in “Ang Probinsiyano”) & I won’t have to keep our talks about you a secret anymore like we did while taping our show. But I don’t know how we would want to. I thank God I was with your Dad & Mom & R & all your kids to ‘see you off’ -but I am not happy.”

“I miss you so terribly & know it will only get worse.Be at peace in God’s loving arms,my Cheech…I’ll see you again someday. I will love you with all my heart, forever.Thank you for everything.”

Ronnie napawalang-sala sa graft

MASAYA ang actor, director, film producer, former Actors Guild president at dating chairman ng Optical Media Board (OMB) na si Ronnie Ricketts dahil pagkatapos ng 12 taong legal battle sa verdict ng Sandiganbayan for graft and corruption, ni-reverse ito ng Korte Suprema on his favor and he is finally acquitted from charges.

Last Thursday, August 4, Ronnie took to Facebook para ibahagi ang kanyang kasiyahan at pasasalamat.

“I welcome the decision of the Honorable Supreme Court which reversed the verdict of the Sandiganbayan against me, and acquitted me of graft charges filed against me as former Optical Media Board (OMB) Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer.

“All my actions as OMB Chairperson and CEO were undertaken in pursuit of its mandate, and only had public interest in mind. Kapakanan lang po ng mamamayan ang aking ipinaglaban.

“This decision of the Supreme Court truly upholds the rule of law, andstrengthens my faith, and the faith of all who fought with me, in our justice system.

“I thank my loving wife Mariz, my family and friends, and all in the industry who supported me throughout this challenge. I also acknowledge Atty. Howard Calleja, and the rest of the team in Calleja Law Office for their persistence, hard work and dedication so that justice and truth will prevail. Itinuturing ko na kayong sarili kong pamilya.

“Most of all, I thank God for His guiding Hand, mantle of protection, and His provision of good, capable and well-meaning people throughout this journey. Sa patuloy Niyang gabay at tulong, lalo ko pa pong sisikapin na makatulong nang maayos para sa kinabukasan ng bayan.

“Muli, maraming-maraming salamat po sa tiwala, suporta at pagmamahal.”

Nag-share din sa FB ang misis ni Ronnie, ang actress-host na si Mariz Ricketts ng kanyang mensahe:

“This long battle is finally over. God is just, loving and merciful. Thank you for believing and praying with us. Our family felt every bit of your love and support. As a wife, you all got me through this and gave me the courage to be strong for Ronnie…Thank you.

“To my husband, I will always stand by you and love you through thick and thin, in good and bad times, through joy and sorrow, I love you forever”.

Ang mag-asawang Ronnie Ricketts have been married for nearly three decades since 1993 and they are blessed with two grown-up daughters na sina Marella at Raechelle.

Bukod sa pagiging actor, director at producer, si Ronnie ay isa ring martial artist. He started his acting career in the early `80s. The last movie na ginawa niya ay ang biopic ng kilalang doctor na tumakbo sa pagka-bise presidente nitong nakaraang halalan na si Dr. Willie Ong, ang “I, Wil: The Doc Willie Ong Story” in 2020.

Ayon kay Ronnie, bukas pa rin umano silang mag-asawa sa kanilang acting career.

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