Vetran actor Rudy “Daboy” Fernandez on Saturday breathed his last at 6:15 am in his home in White Plains, Quezon City. The good-natured man, who has won the hearts of moviegoers in 1976 when he did the film Bitayin si Baby Ama, died of ampullary cancer which he bravely fought for two years. He was 56.

His wife and actress Lorna Tolentino, sons Ralphe and Renz, and the family’s good friends Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla, Phillip Salvador, Amy Austria and Tirso Cruz 3rd were beside him during his last moments.

Estrada said Fernandez’s condition took a turn for the worst on Friday night when his blood pressure started to drop to 60/40.

Revilla said the attending physician advised them to take some rest since most of them stayed awake the whole night. But when he got home, he received a text message asking him to go back to his friend’s house.

“When I returned to Daboy’s house, he already passed away. When I saw him, there was no tinge of pain in his face, only a faint smile,” Revilla said.

Austria, who has been a source of emotional and spiritual strength for her good friend Lorna, had only good words for Fernandez.

“Daboy was brave throughout. His faith never faltered. He understood and accepted everything. He surrendered everything to God. He is now in a much better place where there is no more pain, only love and peace,” she said.

The American Cancer Society defines ampullary cancer as a special type of cancer that can develop where the bile duct and pancreatic duct come together and empty into the duodenum. Because ampullary cancers develop very near the common bile duct, they often block the bile duct while they are still small and have not spread far.

Rudy started acting at a young age and was directed by his father in the movie Emily. He starred in several unforgettable bioflicks like Pasukuin Si Waway, Victor Corpuz, Bingbong: The Vincent Crisologo Story, Lagalag: The Eddie Fernandez Story and The Ping Lacson Story.

Fernandez’s remains are now at The Fort’s Heritage Park chapel and he will be laid to rest on Thursday.  

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