Megastar Sharon Cuneta took to Instagram to pay tribute to award-winning actress Cherie Gil, one of her close friends in showbiz, who passed away in New York City on Friday, Aug. 5
On Instagram on Aug. 6, Sharon uploaded of a collage of video with Cherie. Her caption wrote: "The Industry has lost one of the very best actors it has ever produced. I have lost a part of myself no one can ever replace."
Sharon and Cherie became close when they appeared together in the 1985 blockbuster movie "Bituing Walang Ningning." In the film, Sharon plays a movie fan who is groomed to bring down the career of her idol, portrayed by Cherie. The movie is best remembered for the iconic line “You’re nothing, but a second-rate trying hard copycat!” which Cherie uttered to Sharon.
Fans of Cherie offered their prayers and condolences in the comment section of Sharon's post:
"Ate Sharon, lost is never easy. God will always be your comforter in your midst. Always take one moment at time. You will eventually recover and still honor Ate Cherie’s memory."
"You will be missed ms. Cherie gil, our Lavinia "
"RIP Ms. Cherie... and stay strong Ms. @reallysharoncuneta ...ang daming nawala ngayon taon na ito na halos lahat malalapit sa puso mo. Prayers for you po "
"She's an icon! Both of you are. I will dearly miss my favorite kontrabida. Rest in peace Ms. @macherieamour"
"Iconic scene.. nobody ever forgets! Rest peacefully Ms. Cherie... magaling talagang artista silang mag anak di matawaran ang acting. GOD BLESS YOUR.SOUL...."
Sharon said she will miss Cherie as she flew to New York with the heavy heart.
"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," said Sharon in her lengthy letter. Her full post:
"I flew to New York early yesterday with a heavy heart, still forcing it to hang on to that sliver of hope of God performing a miracle & allowing you to pull through this.
"I am eternally grateful to Him for giving us the few hours we spent together...the love&words yet again exchanged in person...the knowledge that the friendship forged when we were very young was stronger&would only keep getting so.
"You told me about your tree to heaven outside of your apartment window, which I didn’t get to see. We said “I love you”&I said I’d see you again today...& 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.
"I cannot process it. It seems so unfair. It will never be the same without you. I will never be the same without you. I told you that you had to fight, please, because you couldn’t leave me & that you were my partner, that there is no one like you...You said yes. But God took you home, took all your pain away.
"I will never get to feed you ice chips again. Or share most everything else with you. Your kids are strong & love you so much. Mike & I won’t have to keep our talks about you a secret anymore, like we did while taping our show.
"But I don’t know how we would want to. I thank God I was with your Dad&Mom&R&all your kids to ‘see you off’ -but I am not happy. My heart is in pieces again & now I dunno how to put it back together anymore-because among the many loved ones I have lost these past few years, you were &always will be one of my most loved...a most important part of my life & my history. Of my heart.
"I love you so very much. It is the end of an era now that you’ve left us... What will I do without you now, Love? My true screen partner, a true friend, ninang of Simone...I miss you so terribly & know it will only get worse. 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."