Rudy Fernandez: His Last Movie and TV Show!

Popular Filipino movie action star Rudy Fernandez died Saturday-June 7, 2008 at the age of 56. His film credits numbering to over 100 movies which include mostly true-to life action films on notorious criminals and police characters like "Waway" and "Baby Ama", and other memorable true-to-life films about the exploits of former Police General and now Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, former Police General and now-Senator Panfilo Lacson, and former NPA leader and Army General Victor Corpuz. Fernandez is a proud recipient of numerous Best Actor awards among which are from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), the Film Academy Awards (FAP), and the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC).

Known for his nickname "Daboy" in the movie industry, he was first diagnosed to be suffering from pancreatic cancer in 2006 and had undergone a successful medical operation in a reputable Philippine hospital. However, after several years due to complications, "Daboy" was diagnosed to be suffering from ampullary cancer, a rare disease. "Daboy" and his actress-wife Lorna Tolentino also travelled to the United States and Japan to seek medical treatment for the actor's illness. After several months of therapy and treatment abroad, foreign doctors advised the actor's family to continue treatment in the Philippines.

His last movie acting stint was the action-comedy "Hula Mo, Huli Ko" with Ruffa Mae Quinto in 2002. When movie productions declined, he shifted to television and starred in GMA-7 shows like the docu-crime drama "Kasangga", the comedy sitcom "Da Boy en Da Girl" opposite Rosanna Roces, and lately the GMA prime timers "Twin Hearts" and "Atlantika," his last TV acting stint.

I first met "Daboy" in person in 2003 inside a popular fitness gym in Manila right after his regular workout exercise. He was physically fit and very healthy during that time. I was introduced to him by veteran film director Romy Suzara-- known in the movie industry as "Direk Romy"-- who wanted to cast "Daboy" in the starring role of his new project 5 years ago. "Direk Romy" and "Daboy" have had history of box office hits in many previous action movies they have done together.

I was one of writers of the creative team for "Spirit Questor"-- an action-drama-fantasy film based also on a true-to-life story which Director Suzara submitted as an official entry to the "Manila Fim Festival 2003", usually held every June and later to the "Metro Manila Film Festival 2003", usually held every December-- under Direk Romy's buddy-producer Red Sun Productions. Movie productions in the Philippines continue to decline during that time and due to escalating cost of movie production, Direk Romy's new film producer wanted the support of some government subsidy and tax deductibles which are extended only to official entries of film festivals.

In both instances, the project was not selected as one of the competing entries because the jurors preferred the big established production outfits like Regal, Viva and Star Cinema. The script was paid to the writers but the film was never produced to this date until the demise of its supposed lead actor. If it was made into film in 2003, it could have been tagged as "The Last Memorable Film of Rudy (Daboy) Fernandez!"