The Queen of Philippine Cinema Gloria Romero, a timeless icon. Prior to Gloria Romero ‘s 91st birthday last December, she was already in and out of the hospital, close family friend and designated family spokesperson Butch Francisco said. The mood was celebratory, but one could sense a feeling of foreboding, Francisco told INQUIRER.
net in an interview. He hosted the simple celebration at her home in his usual cheerful fashion, and the family enjoyed their moment with their beloved matriarch, even though her health had greatly deteriorated last year. Come New Year’s Eve, she was rushed to the hospital anew after she refused to eat, and was obviously in pain.
She spent three weeks in the hospital, and the waiting was just as painful for Francisco, who was close to Romero like a son. In fact, Francisco considered her to be his second mother, taking him under her wing when his own mother left for the United States, and then when he moved to New Manila in 2018 and lived just a few streets away. As a friend not just of the award-winning actress, but also of her lone daughter, Maritess Gutierrez, Francisco was present in almost every family gathering, and was in fact in the family’s inner circle.
“Ayaw nya ng birthday party, pero natuloy na lang yan. I hosted it. Kasama ako sa planning.
Ingat na ingat kami na baka madulas (She didn’t want to have a birthday party, but it still pushed through. I hosted it, I was part of the planning. We were careful not to accidentally spil.
