Cardiac arrest—this was ultimately caused by multiple organ failure, according to the family of movie, stage actor, and singer Cocoy Laurel. These were complications stemming from an accident that occurred during a stage play back in the early 2000s, where part of his spinal column was crushed.

Cocoy refused to undergo surgery because he had trauma from a previous experience in a hospital and with doctors. At first, he was still able to manage. But over time, complications began to emerge. Cocoy’s last public appearance was when he visited the wake of his former love team partner and close friend, Nora Aunor, this past April. It was evident even then that he was already struggling to walk.

Yet despite the difficulty, he insisted on attending the wake of his former on-screen partner, the Superstar Nora Aunor, to pay his final respects and say goodbye to a beloved friend. Coincidentally, both Cocoy and Nora were born in 1953 and both passed away in the same year—2025. What an emotional coincidence. Now, they have both bid farewell—perhaps reunited wherever they are now.

This Tuesday and Wednesday, there will be a public viewing of Cocoy’s remains at The Heritage Park in Taguig City. And on Thursday, June 19, he will be laid to rest following a mass at the Sanctuario de San Antonio Parish in Makati.

Cocoy’s passing has brought sorrow to many—his loved ones, friends in showbiz, and fans. Among those mourning are his relatives Denise and Franco Laurel, as well as Lea Salonga, Lotlot de Leon, and many others. Grief has poured out at the wake of this former matinee idol.