Son, colleagues of Didith Reyes mourn her death

MANILA, Philippines — Friends and relatives of the late Didith Reyes (Helen Sta. Maria in real life) on Thursday expressed sadness and disbelief over the sudden death of the 70’s "Jukebox Queen." In a television interview, Claire dela Fuente admitted that up to now she could not believe that her bosom friend and contemporary has passed away. "During our heydays akala mo wala nang katapusan ang kanyang kasikatan, ang kanyang kagandahan… Lahat kami naiingit sa kanya eh kasi siya yung pinaka alaga, siya yung pinaka maganda. (I thought her stardom would never end. We all envy her because she had everything.) I mean she has the most distinct voice… All of a sudden you can deteriorate pala," dela Fuente said in an interview with GMA News' Marvin Tomandao. In tears, De la Fuente even lamented that she could have done more to help Reyes prior to the latter's death. Reyes was found dead early Wednesday, three days after she admitted she was sideswiped by a vehicle. Region 4-A police head Chief Superintendent Ricardo Padilla said Reyes at the time had bruises in the body, and claimed she had been sideswiped. But at the time she said the injuries were not serious. Reyes, 60, passed away in a shanty somewhere in Biñan, Laguna. Her remains now lie at Mt. Carmel Chapel in Quezon City, with the date of intermittent yet to be set. Meanwhile, singer Imelda Papin also expressed shock over Reyes’ demise. Papin suspected that Reyes’ death could have been caused by her depression after her career took a downfall. "Yun ang cause ng kanyang downfall, yung depression, very emotional na tao (The cause of her downfall is depression. She was very emotional)," Papin said. According to dela Fuente, there were so many comeback projects for Reyes. But perhaps, it came too late. Still, dela Fuente called on her contemporaries to come together and pay tribute to the diva one last time before Reyes is finally laid to rest. "Nung nabubuhay siya (when she was still alive), I was not able to (do) that. In my own little way this is my tribute to her," she said. "Sana sa huling mga oras niya bago natin siya dalin sa huling hantungan makapagbigay naman tayo ng kahit konting ganda kay Didith (I hope we can pay tribute to her before she is finally laid to rest)," she added. Meanwhile, the only son of Reyes, Arvy, who was saddened by the incident shared dela Fuente’s sentiment. He also said that he has asked his mother’s forgiveness for all his shortcomings. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV