I was with singer-actor Janno Gibbs for a big event in Cebu recently, and he gladly accepted the interview regarding his father, the late Ronaldo Valdez.

“It’s his birthday on Nov 27. May I ask if you could publish this interview on his birthday? I would also like to ask for prayers for my dad from your readers, Giselle. We miss him a lot, especially his grandkids, who were really close to him. They were all Lolo’s girls and boys.”

I asked the talented actor-singer-composer, now a director and producer, if he went through the process of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. 

“I think my sister Melissa went through the whole process. As for me, there was no denial and bargaining because I was the one who rushed him to the hospital. He was still alive, going to the hospital. His words were already inaudible, but I seemed to have understood. We spoke and said our goodbyes. He wanted to leave. He was in extreme pain in the past few months. Going back to the process of grief, the anger part I did experience but not towards my dad but how the police handled the investigation and towards the speculative vloggers who needed content.

"The depression happened on the second day of his wake. On the first day, as the eldest of the Gibbs, I had to function as the head and mover of the family. I was there in the police station and the morgue, and I fixed his funeral. But on the second day of his wake, I was not able to attend anymore. Doon na ako bumigay and nilabas ko lahat ng nararamdaman ko. I guess my healing came very fast because I knew he was in a better place and that he was not in pain anymore. The interviews with people I trusted were also healing. I was able to talk about my dad, and talking about him had a healing effect on my heart. Our family trip to Japan after his funeral was also healing because we were there as a family, remembering what a great person my dad was. 

"Do you know that he visited my mom, Melissa and Bing in their dreams? He looked very handsome and told them he was ok and they should not worry about him anymore. I never dreamt about him because I ask him not to every day when I talk to him. Matatakutin kasi ako. With the final process of grief, which is acceptance - yes, I have accepted his death and have healed. But every day I miss him. The week before the unfortunate incident, I was in Canada for a concert tour and even planning a Gibbs concert with my Viva Artists road manager in Canada with him and Bing and the kids. We were even listening to my duet with him in the roadtrip in Canada. I even stopped by a store that day to buy him a jacket so he could wear it for the promo of our movie Itutumba ka ng Tatay Ko. But he could never wear that jacket nor promote our film anymore. I pray that the Filipino people will never forget what a great actor he was. Please pray for him on Nov. 27.  He would have turned 77," Janno recounts with teary eyes. 

Janno continues to host a talk show entitled Men’s Room every Friday with comedian and author Stanley Chi on Channel One at 9 p.m.