Daily Tribune (Philippines)

Less talk, more prayers for Rico Yan

Solis said that while it’s okay to have the late actor living in Claudine’s heart after all the years that had passed, it’s ‘icky’ to have her keep talking about it

- BY LOUISE LIZAN @tribunephl_lou

The greatest love is one that never dies.

For actor Claudine Barretto, it’s still Rico Yan who lives in her heart — almost a decade after his death. Rico died at age 27 of cardiac arrest from hemorrhagi­c pancreatit­is in 2002.

“Mahal ko pa rin siya. Hindi nawawala ’yon. I think, hindi nawawala ’yung love kapag namatay na ’yung tao. Kahit hindi na kami, nandoon pa rin (I still love him. It won’t change. I think love remains even when your loved one dies. We’re no longer together, but our love remains),” Barretto said on the YouTube channel of her friend, Janelle Jamer, when asked about Rico.

Rico and Claudine officially became a couple in 1998 but broke up in 2002, weeks before the actor’s sudden passing.

She added, “Lalo pa yatang lumalabas kung ano ang nararamdam­an mo talaga towards the person kapag nawala na yung tao, ’di ba (One’s true feelings toward a loved one shows expecially when the person is gone, right)?” What Claudine regrets is not having spent more time with Rico. “Sana nandun ako nung nangyari yung dapat sana ay hindi nangyari (I could have been there during the incident which should not have happened),” she said.

Conversati­on piece

But talking about Rico as a conversati­on piece is too much, when prayers and visiting his grave is enough to honor his memory, said showbiz columnist Lolit Solis in an Instagram post. “Parang hindi ko maisip kung bakit hanggang ngayon kailangan pang

isabit ang pangalan

ni Rico Yan kay

Claudine Barretto (I can’t imagine the need to keep associatin­g Rico Yan’s name with Claudie Barretto),” Solis said.

Rico and Claudine officially became a couple in 1998 but broke up in 2002, weeks before the actor’s sudden passing.

Solis added that Claudine’s memory of Rico should be kept to herself: “Matagal na panahon na iyong naganap sa kanila, at kung merong memories na dapat i-treasure mas maganda siguro na gawin ito in private (Their relationsh­ip happened a long time ago and as for the memories that should be treasured, it would be best to remember them in private).”

Lolit said she doesn’t think Rico’s family will appreciate this kind of reminiscin­g about their son. It’s like opening old wounds, she pointed out.

While it’s okay to have Rico live on in Claudine’s heart, it’s “icky” to keep talking about it, opined Lolit. “Let us pray for Rico to rest in peace and give his family peace of mind. Love his memories, but just keep it in your heart.”

 ?? PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF IG/CLAUBARRET­TO CLAUDINE still loves former lover RicoYan. ??
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF IG/CLAUBARRET­TO CLAUDINE still loves former lover RicoYan.
 ?? PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA ?? CLAUDINE and Rico Yan starred in the 2002 romcom ‘Got 2 Believe.’ It was Yan’s last film.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA CLAUDINE and Rico Yan starred in the 2002 romcom ‘Got 2 Believe.’ It was Yan’s last film.

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