AFTER THE EARLIER
false report on his passing last week, we’re sad to report that favorite FPJ villain Paquito Diaz passed on March 3 at their home in Daraga, Albay, after he was taken home from the Estevez Memorial Hospital in Albay the day before. Born on May 28, 1937 as Francisco Bustillos Diaz, he was a basketball player for the FEU Tamaraws when recruited in the movies and started playing villain roles in the early 60’s, followed by his younger brother, Romy Diaz, who passed earlier than him. He won the FAMAS best supporting actor award in 1965 for “Ang Mananandata” of FPJ. His best films for us as contravida to FPJ are “Alupihang Dagat”, “Totoy Bato”, “Hindi Pa Tapos ang Laban”, “Muslim Magnum .357”, “Ang Probinsiyano”, He also played leads in action-comedies like “Walang Matigas na Tinapay sa Mainit na Kape”, “Bayadra Bros.” (spoof of Viagra) and “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” He was last seen in “Pakners” (2003), also one of the last films of FPJ which he did with Efren “Bata” Reyes. He had a stroke in 2004 and underwent brain surgery that left him comatose for a while. When he recovered, he was a mere shadow of his former ebullient persona when featured in the GMA-7 show “Wish Ko Lang” where former co-stars feted him. His two kids, Cheska and Joko, also joined the movies. To the Diaz family, our condolences and let’s all pray for the repose of his soul.
