Quezon City, Philippines (September 1) – On August 5 it was reported that Philippine horror film icon, Lilia Cuntapay suffered from a spinal cord illness making her unable to walk. She sought help from her friends in the films industry to raise money for her treatment.
On August 20, Lilia Cuntapay – known as the Queen of Philippine Horror Movies – died at the age of 80 in the house of her son, Gilmore Cuntapay, in Pinili, Ilocos Norte.
Lilia Cuntapay left three children – Gilmore, Magdalena and Elma. Lilia adopted the three but treated them as her own and the children reciprocated even as they left home to pursue their own dreams and have their own families. Lilia never married.
Before Lilia Cuntapay died, blockbuster director Antoinette Jadaone launched an online campaign called “#OplanTulunganSinanayLilia” because the director saw the video posted by the Cagayan Provincial Information office on Facebook that showed Lilia was appealing for financial assistance for her medical needs.
Many people mourned Lilia’s death especially her relatives and celebrity friends. Social media was soon filled with outpourings of condolences and grief.
Netizens gave thanks to the “Queen of Philippine Horror Movies” because her roles definitely made a mark in every movie that she became a part of – her roles will never be forgotten. She left a mark in every movie she was on. Lilia got her big break portraying a spooky nanny to Kris Aquino’s baby in Regal Film’s Shake, Rattle and Roll 3 in 1991.
Lilia had her first lead role in the 2011 indie “mockumentary” movie entitled “Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay” described as a bittersweet fictional account on her life as a Philippine showbiz extra, where she was awarded as the Best Actress award in Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival. She played as a fictionalized version of herself. She was also nominated as a Best Actress in 35th Gawad Urian Awards. Her last film appearance was in the Film “My Bebe Love #KiligPaMore”
Lilia Cuntapay will surely be missed and will never be forgotten.
(written by Allyssa Ruiz, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Vince Alvin Villarin)