Filmmaker and National Artist Eddie Romero, 88, passed away on Tuesday, May 28, due to cardiopulmonary arrest.
Eddie was hailed as National Artist for Cinema and Broadcast Arts in 2003 and was known for his films, which dealt with issues on Philippine culture and politics. Among his films are “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon,” “Kamakalawa,” “Banta ng Kahapon,” “Manila, Open City,” ‘Intramuros,” “Noli Me Tangere” and “Aguila.”
Eddie was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year. According to an interview with the national artist’s son and director Joey Romero in “Saksi” on Tuesday, his father’s health began deteriorating last month.
“After the diagnosis, he took treatment very well, performing his duties, attending meetings for Mowelfund, the Film Academy. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin functions niya until recently lang talaga, it was sudden na wala na siyang appetite to eat. We had to put a tube in his stomach to help him be fed,” Joey said.
Joey added that Eddie also had a tube on his stomach to help with his feeding when his health deteriorated. Eddie passed away at 8:55 PM on Tuesday.
“MRI also showed na there was a blood clot in his brain. Tonight, bigla-bigla na lang, the cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest,” he said.
“Noong May 23rd, I was in DFA kasi there was a special screening of his movie [“Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon”]. The day before that I even told him na ako na lang magiintorduce ng movie. Nung screening na, tinext ako ng nurse niya to say na there was blood coming out of his nose and sa tube sa tiyan niya. So I told them na i-rush na siya sa emergency and I will see him there. Tumakbo ako sa emergency. I hear on the road na ia-ICU raw kasi nakapikit na. Pagdating ko sa emergency, he opened his eyes, sabi ‘Joey, saan ka galing?’ Sabi ko ‘Sa DFA, kasi showing ang movie mo.’ Sabi niya, ‘May nanunuod ba?’ Sabi ko marami. Then he smiled then he closed his eyes. Every now and then, kapag binubuksan ang mata, sumsagot naman,” he said.
Their family plans to hold the wake at the Mount Carmel Shrine in New Manila, Quezon City. According to Eddie, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts plans to hold a necrological service in Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Sabi ng doctor, ‘Daddy artist ka talaga, gusto mo pa talaga makita ang sunset.’ So sabi niya, ‘You want to see the sunet?’ Sumagot pa ang daddy ko, ‘Not now.’ After that, he went to sleep that day, hindi na siya nagising,” Joey recalled.
28 May 2013Eddie Romero’s son recalls memories of his dad