Celia Diaz Laurel, wife of former Vice President Salvador Doy Laurel, thespian, arts advocate, philanthropist, passed away last night, July 12, at 8:30 p.m. from complications of a stroke. She was 93 and had lived a long, beautiful life that touched many others.
Last May 29, Celia launched her book My Lives Behind the Proscenium, on Facebook Live, a book dedicated to the characters to whom Celia attributed her growth as a person, a woman, and actress.
Even with eight children—Victor (Cocoy), Stella, David, Larry, Suzie, Iwi, Lynnie, and Kristipi—and a busy politician husband, Celia has written several books; became an accomplished painter with a book chronicling her many works; a stage actress; and later in life, as a production and costume set designer. She would go on to have 50 portrayals on stage, with nearly 80 plays she costume- and production- designed.
She contributed greatly to the country’s flourishing arts and culture scene, where she would be one of the pioneers.