By: Jade Veronique V. Yap 

Veteran actress Cherie Gil passed away on Friday, August 5. She was 59. 

Her talent manager Annabelle Rama broke the news on social media, saying, "Cherie Gil just passed away at 5 p.m. today. Please pray for her."

A few hours later, her nephew, actor Sid Lucero confirmed the news through a series of Instagram posts. 

"I love you;) big hug:) #bugluv," the actor wrote in a caption, followed by a video of a crying emoji he drew from his phone. 

Based on her recent Facebook posts, Cherie had been receiving treatment at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. 

Born Evangeline Rose Gil Eigenmann, she was the daughter of showbiz icons Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil and the sister of Michael de Mesa and the late Mark Gil. 

Born to an illustrious family of actors, she was thrust into the public spotlight at nine years old, playing supporting roles as a child. She has since appeared in numerous films such as "Manila By Night," "Oro Plata Mata," and "Sonata." 

With a career spanning nearly 50 years, Gil earned the moniker "La Primera Contravida" (The Prime Villain) because of her talent as an actress, which landed her numerous antagonistic roles. 

She was best known for her iconic role as Lavinia Arguelles in the 1985 film "Bituing Walang Ningning," where she uttered the iconic line, "You're nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!" to Dorina Pineda, Sharon Cuneta's character.

Gil, regarded as one of the best actresses of her time, has received numerous honors, including a FAMAS Award, the Ani ng Dangal Award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Metro Manila Film Festival's Hall of Fame for Best Supporting Actress. She has also received the Best Actress honor at the 2015 ASEAN International Film Awards. She also took up the Best Lead Actress in a Foreign Language Film prize at the 2015 Madrid International Film Festival in the same year. In addition, she won the Best Supporting Actress prize at the 42nd Gawad Urian Awards in 2019 for her performance as "Citizen Jake."

Tributes for the star poured through the internet. 

On Saturday, August 6, megastar Sharon Cuneta, one of Gil's closest friends in the industry, took Instagram to honor the late actress. 

In an Instagram post on Saturday, actress Sharon Cuneta said she flew to New York early yesterday to visit Cherie Gil.

"We said, "I love you," and I said I'd see you again today… and you raised both arms and gave me the thumbs up with both hands. Then barely eleven hours after I left you, I was awakened by his call saying you had passed…I leave New York now with a much heavier heart than ever before…because now I am leaving YOU with the knowledge that I will NEVER see you again," Cuneta wrote in a caption.

"Be at peace in God's loving arms, my Cheech… I'll see you again someday. I will love you with all my heart, forever. Thank you for everything," the actress added.

Former Vice President Leni Robredo also paid tribute to Gil. 

In a Facebook post, Robredo remembers the late actress with "gratitude for the support during the last elections."

"Remembering Cherie Gil with love and admiration for her invaluable contributions to Philippine cinema and the entire country. We also remember her with gratitude for the support during the last elections.
Our deepest sympathies to her family. May they find comfort in the collective love and grief of everyone who loves Cherie," Robredo said. 

Gil was among the celebrities who vocally supported the former VP on her election bid as President in the 2022 National Elections.