Veteran actress Amalia Fuentes, the ‘Elizabeth Taylor of the Philippines,’ passes away

https://www.facebook.com/bearofparadise/posts/10157559204369770

The Philippine entertainment industry has lost one of its stars on Saturday, October 5.

Amalia Fuentes, the legendary movie star dubbed as the “Elizabeth Taylor of the Philippines,” passed away at the age of 79, according to her grandson Alfonso Martinez. Alfonso is the son of Amalia’s daughter, Liezl Martinez, who passed away in 2015 after battling breast cancer.

“It is with great sadness that I together with my siblings Alyanna and Alissa, inform you that our Grandmother, Amalia Amador Muhlach has taken her last breath this morning in the Philippines,” Alfonso wrote in a Facebook post.

“She is now reunited with her husband Joey Stevens, our mother Anna-Lissa Martinez and her ex-husband, our Lolo Bobby. We have prayed for nothing but peace for her and now she can finally rest. Our family only asks that you respect our privacy during this time and join us in praying for her soul,” he added.

Alfonso did not disclose further details about his grandmother’s passing but Amalia’s nephew, former child star Niño Muhlach told DZMM that the veteran actress succumbed to cardiac arrest at 4 a.m.

“Dinala po siya sa (She was brought to) St. Luke’s [Medical Center] nung three or four days ago, tapos nagkaroon ng multiple organ failure tapos lagi siyang nagse-seizure kahit nasa ICU (intensive care unit) (then she had multiple organ failure and she always had seizures even though she was in the ICU),” he said.

Following a ‘heart attack’ when she was in Korea, Niño shared that his aunt had been “paralyzed” and “bedridden” for the past four years.

Meanwhile, Alyanna and Alissa, remembered their grandmother in their Instagram posts.

“My beautiful Lola is now reunited with my mama. rest well Lola. I love you so much,” Alissa wrote.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Nhm7Npml5/

Alyanna, on the other hand, wrote a short caption, saying, “Mama & Lola reunited.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3NnFeEFop-/

As of writing, Amalia’s family has yet to announce details of her wake.

Amalia began her movie career when she and fellow actor Juancho Gutierrez won as “Mr. & Ms. Number One” of Sampaguita Pictures. They were launched into stardom through the 1956 film “Movie Fan.” Amalia and Juancho were paired in several movies, including “Rodora,” “Pakiusap,” and “Ang Senyorito at Ang Atsay.”

She was also paired with Romeo Vasquez in “Pretty Boy,” “Bobby,” and “Bilanggong Birhen,” among others. Their tandem became one of the top loveteams during their time and later on married each other.

Amalia bagged the best actress award from Famas for her role in “Ibulong mo sa Hangin” in 1966, and in the 1973 Manila Film Festival for “Pag-ibig Mo Bukay Ko!”