Notable Pinoys Who Died in 2008

A list of some famous or distinguished Filipinos who died in 2008.

• Eduardo Hontiveros, S.J., 84, Jesuit priest and musician. Composer of several popular Filipino liturgical hymns, was dubbed as the Father of Filipino Liturgical Music. Compositions include Papuri sa Diyos, Ama Namin and Pananagutan. (Jan. 15)
• Crisologo Abines, 60, politician. Congressman representing the 2nd District of Cebu from 1987 to 1998, Cebu chairman for the United Opposition in 2007 (Jan. 28)
  

• Billy Balbastro, 67, lawyer and entertainment columnist. Wrote for Abante and Abante Tonight, president of the Philippine Movie Press Club from 1982 to 1985. Host of Showtime with Billy on DZMM (Feb. 2)
  
• Pedro Baban, 93, Army general and World War II veteran. The first Igorot to be promoted to General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Feb. 2)
  
• Larry Cruz, 66, journalist and restaurateur. Through his LJC Restaurant Group, opened among others Café Adriatico, Cafe Havana, Bistro Remedios, and Abe, named after his father, the writer E. Aguilar Cruz. Former publisher, Metro Magazine (Feb. 4)
  
• Stella Goldenberg Brimo, 96, classical pianist and professor. Member of the Goldenberg clan prominent in pre-war Manila society. Soloist of the Manila Symphony Orchestra. First dean, and later Dean Emeritus of University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music. Retired to Quebec. (Feb. 6)
  
• Victor Dominguez, 72, politician, congressman representing the Lone District of Mountain Province from 1987 to 1988; 2004 until his death. (Feb. 8)
  
• Tino Reynoso, 62, Philippine Basketball Association player from 1975 to 1980. Played for Toyota, Utex, Seven Up and Mariwasa, brother of Big Boy Reynoso. (Feb. 29)
  

• Carol Varga, 79, actress frequently in villainous roles. 1954 FAMAS Best Supporting Actress for Guwapo, best known as the villain in 1953 film version of Dyesebel (Mar. 4)
  
• Joseph Marañon, 73, politician, governor of Negros Occidental from 2001 until his death (Mar. 13)
  
• Rafael Recto, 76, politician, Member of Parliament from 1984 to 1986, prominent Marcos loyalist after EDSA revolution, son of one senator (Claro) and father of another (Ralph). Competed in two Olympics in shooting. (Mar. 17)
  
• Chito Madrigal-Collantes, 86, socialite and businesswoman who also dabbled in acting and TV hosting, well-known for philantrophic activities. Her death led to a bitter battle over her estate involving her niece, Sen. Jamby Madrigal. (Mar. 25)
  
• Toti Fuentes, 55, jazz pianist based in the U.S. since 1978. Recorded and performed with such American notables as Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole and Julie Fordham, as well as with Pilita Corrales and Apo Hiking Society. Also a composer. (Mar. 27)
  
• Nemesio Prudente, 81, educator and political prisoner. Longtime president of Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Imprisoned during Marcos administration, survived two assassination attempts during Aquino administration. (Mar. 28)
  
• Venicio Escolin, 87, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from 1981 to 1986. Longtime law professor at the Ateneo School of Law (Mar. 29)
  

• Myra Lopez, 37, news executive. Chairperson of the board of BizNews Asia magazine. Daughter of journalist Tony Lopez. (Apr. 1)
  
• Luis "Golem" Silverio, 71, golfer. Arguably the best amateur Filipino golfer to date. Winner of the 1966 Philippine Open, played in two U.S. Masters tournaments in Atlanta, Georgia. Won seven individual titles in Putra Cup campaigns (Apr. 7)
  
• Olivia Cenizal, 81, film actress most famous in the 1950s. Twice nominated for the FAMAS Best Actress award. (Apr. 14)
  
• Lucia "Aling Lucing" Cunanan, 80, Pampanga-based cook credited with first popularizing sisig in the 1970s. Dubbed as the Sisig Queen, established the "Aling Lucing" restaurants. Her husband was tagged as the main suspect for her murder. (Apr. 16)
  
• Lou Salvador, Jr., 66, film actor. 1950s matinee idol tagged as the "James Dean of the Philippines". In several films directed by his father, Lou Salvador. (Apr. 19.)
• Loreto Paras-Sulit, 99, author. Among the first noted Filipino writers of short fiction in English. Most productive literary period from 1927 to 1937. Later served for several decades as a ranking official of the Philippine National Red Cross (Apr. 23)

• Jose Feria, 91, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from 1981 to 1986. Author of several noted law books, Former dean of the UST Faculty of Law. Delegate to 1971 Constitutional Convention (May 8)
  
• Henry Canoy, 84, businessman and media mogul. Established Cagayan de Oro's first radio station in 1952, his network of stations soon grew into the Radio Mindanao Network (May 16)
  
• Al Aboitiz, 48, businessman. Member of the Aboitiz clan, executive of several family-owned businesses, including as COO of the Davao Light and Power Company. Found dead in his bedroom from a gunshot wound to the head (May 17).
  
• Crispin Beltran, 75, labor leader and politician. Former cabbie who became head of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, elected to Congress as a party-list congressman in 2001. Detained on rebellion charges in 2006 later voided by the Supreme Court. Died from an accidental fall. (May 20)
  
• Dommy Ursua, 72, flyweight boxer massively popular in the 1950s. Nicknamed "Toy Bulldog", twice contended for a world title while cheered on by Philippine presidents. Died in abject poverty. (May 25)
  
• Dolly Aglay-Elona, 40, journalist. Financial correspondent for the Philippine Star and Reuters (May 26)
  
• Dante David, better known as Howlin' Dave, 52, radio DJ. Most associated with DZRJ, credited with popularizing Pinoy rock in the 1970s, as well as new wave and punk rock in the 1980s. Hailed by Pepe Smith as "the best rock DJ the Philippines ever had". (May 26)
  
• Romeo Brawner, 72, jurist and Commission on Elections Commissioner. Served 10 years at the Court of Appeals, eventually becoming Presiding Justice. Appointed to the COMELEC in 2005, served briefly as acting Chairman shortly before his death (May 29)
  

• Rudy Fernandez, 56, actor. Among the most popular action film stars of the 1970s and 1980s, twice named FAMAS best actor. Starred in several hit biopics, including Huwag Bitayin si Baby Ama and Markang Bungo. Unsuccessfully ran in 2001 mayoral race in Quezon City. Died after a very public battle with cancer. (June 7)
  
• Danilo Lagbas, 56, politician. Representative from the First District of Misamis Oriental from 2004 until his death. (June 8)
  

• Abbo de la Cruz, 55, film actor and director. Under the name 'Rico Mambo', directed such films as Totoy Mola (July 22)
  
• Gilbert Perez, 48, TV and film director. Frequently associated with ABS-CBN, for which he directed several drama and fantasy series. Also directed the films Jologs, Dreamboy, and Supah Papalicious for Star Cinema. (July 16)
  
• Gilbert Perez, 76, fashion designer and newspaper columnist. Said to be a favorite of Imelda Marcos and Chona Kasten. Wrote the "Manila at Large" column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer for 18 years until his death. (July 22)
  

• Jose Blanco, 76, painter. Noted folk artist from Angono. Favored murals and distinguished for his pastoral scenes. A nominee for National Artist. (Aug. 14)
  
• Lucrecia Kasilag, 90, composer. Popularly known as Tita King, her musical compositions were noted for fusing Eastern and Western elements. Longtime president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, named as National Artist for Music in 1989. (Aug. 16)
  
• Felipe Natanio, better known as Mang Pandoy, 63, street vendor who shot to fame after being featured in a televised debate during the 1992 presidential campaign as the face of poverty. Later hosted his own TV show Ang Pandayan ni Mang Pandoy, died in poverty (Aug. 28)
  
• Zorayda Sanchez, 57, TV and film comedian. Became famous in the 1980s after she parlayed her homely looks for comedic effects. A mainstay of Going Bananas and of Regal film comedies. Later dabbled in journalism. (Aug. 28)
  

• Fidela "Tiya Dely" Magpayo, 87, radio host whose career lasted 68 years. Dubbed "The First Lady of Radio", credited for popularizing Filipino music in the 1940s. Later best known for her on-air advice show on DZMM and DZRH. An active broadcaster until the end of her life, died several days after suffering a stroke while on air. (Sept. 1)
  
• Pacita Madrigal Warns Gonzalez, 93, socialite and politician. Won election to the Senate in 1955 as the second ever woman Senator and the first female to top the senatorial elections. Career derailed by scandal, defeated for re-election in 1961. Sister of Chito Madrigal-Collantes, who died in March. (Sept. 12)
  
• Cirio H. Santiago, 72, film director. Five-decade long directing career peaked in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of English-language films in association with Roger Corman, Jonathan Demme and other Hollywood notables. Idolized by Quentin Tarantino, who based some characters from the Kill Bill series from Santiago's films. (Sept. 26)
  

• Khryss Adalia, 62, film and television director. Mostly active in television work for GMA Network, also an occasional actor. (Oct. 13)
  
• Alfredo Evangelista, 82, archaeologist. Credited with discovering in 1989 the Laguna Copper Plate Inscription, the oldest writing ever found in the Philippines, as well as the 5,800 year old burial site in Duyong Cave, Palawan. Former head of the Anthropology Division of the National Museum, which he would also serve as its Deputy Director. (Oct. 18)
  
• Armando Manalo, 88, writer and diplomat. Short-story writer beginning in the 1950s, later joined the diplomatic corps. Essayist and columnist for publications such as the Philippine Free Press, the Manila Chronicle, the Manila Times and the Manila Standard. (Oct. 28)
  

• Butch Cleofe, 58, lawyer. Longtime chief legal counsel and corporate secretary of the Philippine Basketball Association. (Nov. 16)
  
• Eulogio Borres, Sr., 91, politician. The longest serving mayor of Cebu City, from 1963 to 1966 and from 1968 to 1979. Active in the political opposition against the Marcos regime. (Nov. 19)
  
• Armand Fabella, educator and businessman. Secretary of Education of the Philippines from 1992 to 1994. Longtime president of the family-owned Jose Rizal University. Member of the Board of Directors of UCPB and PCIB banks and other corporations. (Nov. 27)
  

• Manuel Yan, 88, army general and diplomat. AFP Chief of Staff at age 48, the youngest ever to serve that post. Served 21 years as a diplomat, later becoming Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs. Credited with negotiating the 1996 peace treaty with Nur Misuari's MNLF. Grandfather of matinee idol Rico Yan, whom he outlived. (Dec. 4)
  
• Marky Cielo, 20, actor and dancer. Of Igorot descent, came to fame in 2006 as the winner of the GMA talent competition StarStruck. Starred in several GMA tv series, including Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan. Cause of death reportedly yet unrevealed, though initially reported to have died in his sleep. (Dec. 7)
  
• Didith Reyes, 60, singer. Called the "Jukebox Queen" in the 1970s, famous for her sultry voice and temperamental personality. In a notorious incident, once accidentally exposed her breast during a live television performance. Won the Gold Prize and Best Performer award in the 1977 Tokyo Music Festival. (Dec. 10)
  
• Bobi Valenzuela, art curator. Best known as the influential curator of Hiraya Gallery, staged several important art exhibitions in the 1980s and 1990s. (Dec. 12)
  
• Guillermo Cua, 58, accountant and politician. Party-list congressman for Coop-NATCO from 2004 until his death. Chairperson of the Committee on People's Participation (Dec. 17)
  
• Narciso Bernardo, 71, basketball legend. Named in 1998 to the All-Time Mythical Five of Philippine Basketball by the PBA. Played in four Philippine Olympic basketball teams from 1960 to 1972. Superstar guard in the MICAA in the 1960s. Later elected as Mandaluyong City councilor. (Dec. 23)
  
• Ricardo Manapat, 55, author. Anti-Marcos activist, best known for his expose on crony capitalism, Some Are Smarter than Others. Director of the National Archives during Ramos and Arroyo administrations, made news in 2004 when he revealed controversial and highly questionable documents challenging the citizenship of Fernando Poe, Jr. (Dec. 24)