"He Will Be the Next Rico Yan" by Francis Xavier Pasion on Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 3:02am

Around ten years ago, I was still a member of the Synergy Group of ABS-CBN, I don’t know why I was invited to this “big audition” or presentation of new Star Magic talents. All the ABS-CBN bigwigs were there. A very young AJ PEREZ introduced himself. To me, he was just a normal, goodlooking boy seeking stardom. But I distinctly remember Direk Olive Lamasan’s remark after he stepped out of the room. “He will be the next Rico Yan.”

That statement stuck with me. So I was curious if somehow this prediction would come true. I noticed that he was being primed by ABS-CBN to stardom.

I had the opportunity to work with him in SABEL only this year. He struck me as very intelligent but very shy person. He was someone who values his education.  He just recently graduated from DLSU and would soon enter college.  His father was always with him and very supportive of him.

He knew he had to improve on his acting. He needed to be more “mature.” He needed more experience to convey more depth in acting. He was humble enough to admit that. I told him once, you know, Direk Olive Lamasan once said that you will be the next Rico Yan. He smiled and said: “Wow, talaga po?” I said yes. He said, a lot of people are comparing him to Rico Yan. He said he will try his best to live up to their expectations.

Here was a young man who had so many dreams and had so much potential going for him.  April 16, 2011, I watched the MMK episode of his co-star JESSY MENDIOLA in SABEL and I remembered our SABEL family. The SABEL set was one of the happiest sets because we were made to stay on location for a week. WE bonded with the cast and crew.  He also was the first to discover the affordable espadril shoes in Liliw Laguna which made the entire crew want to buy those shoes.

And then I saw the trailer of the next MMK episode. It features him.
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I was sleeping already when I received a phone call from a friend. It was already 2AM, Palm Sunday, April 17.
AJ PEREZ is dead. I was shocked.
To say that I am saddened is an understatement. I dont know at first how to react.
Then I remembered again the first words given to him by Direk Olive: "He will be the next Rico Yan."
And I had the goosebumps.
What made the comparison even uncanny was both deaths happened during Holy Week.
Both are also La Sallians.

I will miss this young actor whose first text message to me was (after the SABEL party): “Hi direk, got your no. from Jessy. Just wanted to say thank you for everything (and for the shirt). Hoping to work with you again.” And I texted him one time while he was judging in SHOWTIME, I told him not to be too serious in judging the contestants, he texted “Mahirap kasi ako iplease. Haha!”  And then I congratulated him on his graduation.

REST IN PEACE beautiful soul.
We will miss you.
We know you are at peace with your Creator now.

 

AJ PEREZ, left; me and co-star in SABEL, Jessy Mendiola