Cardiac arrest ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ng dating aktor at singer na si Victor “Cocoy” Laurel.
Kinumpirma ng nakababatang kapatid ni Cocoy na si David Laurel na pumanaw ang actor-singer dahil sa cardiac arrest dulot ng multiple organ failure noong Sabado, June 14, 2025.
Si Cocoy ay 72.
Ayon kay David, nagsimula ang sakit ni Cocoy nang sumakit ang likod nito makaraan ang isang pagtatanghal niya ng musical play na The Miraculous Virgin of Caysasay noong 2005.
Nang ipasuri ito sa doktor, napag-alamang nagkaroon ng debilitating spinal injury si Cocoy na naging dahilan para mahirapan siyang tumayo at maglakad.
Dito na rin daw nagsimula ang mga kumplikasyon sa kalusugan ni Cocoy.
Lahad ni David: “He already had a back problem. But he was not yet doubled over.
“He could walk normally, no limp. He would sit up straight for some time.
“He was okay. But as it grew over time, that’s when I think the complications came in.”
Dahil sa mapanganib na kondisyon ni Cocoy, pinayuhan daw ito ng doktor na sumailalim sa surgery. Ngunit mariin itong tinutulan ng aktor dahil sa takot, bunsod ng trauma.
Pahayag ni David: “He was traumatized by an experience and didn’t trust doctors.
“He was prescribed some painkillers, but over time, they wouldn’t help the pain anymore.”
Former matinee idol Cocoy Laurel died at the age of 72 on June 14, 2025.
Photo/s: Facebook
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karamdaman noon ni Cocoy, sinabi ni David na nanatiling masayahin at positibo sa buhay ang kanyang kapatid.
Ibinuhos daw nito ang nalalabing oras sa paglilingkod sa simbahan, pagpipinta, at pagtuturo ng kanta.
David Laurel Shares Fondest Memories with Cocoy
Bukod sa pagiging mabuting kapatid, inalala rin ni David kung paano umano naging mabuting anak si Cocoy sa kanilang mga magulang.
Sina Cocoy at David ay mula sa Laurel political and showbiz clan, bilang dalawa sa walong anak ni dating Vice-President Salvador “Doy” Laurel at ng theater actress na si Celia Diaz-Laurel.
Nakatatak na sa history ng Philippine electoral politics na si Doy Laurel, ang kinikilalang lider ng oposisyon kay Ferdinand Marcos Sr., ay nagparaya kay Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino sa 1986 snap elections.
Dahil sa political sacrifice na ito ni Doy Laurel, tumakbo bilang standard bearer ng oposisyon si Cory Aquino, nanalo ito, at natanggal si Marcos Sr.
Ayon kay David, malaking bahagi si Cocoy sa political campaign ng kanilang ama noon.
“The secret weapon ni Doy Laurel si Cocoy Laurel.
“He was the one who blazed the trail, the political campaign trail of Doy Laurel from 1965 onwards.
“Lahat ng kampanya, Cocoy was there, breaking the ice. He was there singing, playing his guitar in the interlands… morning to evening he will be there, on the campaign trail.
“And that just showed us how dedicated he was to help my father in his service to the country,” lahad ni David sa panayam niya sa YouTube vlog na Showbiz Tita.
Dahil sa pagmamahal ni Cocoy sa musika, naibabahagi raw niya ito sa iba sa tuwing nakakahawak siya ng mikropono at nakakasampa sa entablado.
Pagbabahagi ni David: “Here’s the nice thing about Cocoy…
“Can you imagine, you’re in a foreign land, you’re in a foreign country, and you’re in a public place, and all of a sudden, somebody stands up — that would be him — and starts singing out of nowhere.
“I remember when we were in Italy at that time, we were eating in this restaurant, my dad’s favorite restaurant, and all of a sudden, he starts singing ‘Volare.’
“You can see the rest of the people, the tourists, sing with him.
“There was no prompting who would sing with us, no, and he would sing with the musicians.
“They knew his pitch, they would play with him, and play for him, and then he would sing outright.
“And everybody would start singing also with him. So, the power that he would generate from just music.”
Dagdag pa niya: “And I remember another one.
“It was when we were in the cruise… we were in this dining hall, and there were some foreigners there. I think they were Dutch.
“Tahimik lahat. Everybody’s eating, dining…
“Kokoy goes up to the microphone and starts singing.
“And in ten minutes, you see these people, these foreigners, dancing on the table. They stand on the table and start dancing.
“The rapport that he had with people who did not even know him… and this went on through the night.”
IWI LAUREL HonorS cocoy’s memory
Pinatunayan din ng isa pang nakababatang kapatid ni Cocoy, ang ’80s singer na si Iwi Laurel, kung gaano kabuting kapatid at anak ang namayapang actor-singer.
Hindi raw ito kailanman nagdamot na ibahagi sa iba ang kanyang talento.
Pahayag ni Iwi: “Cocoy is very, very generous with his gifts in general, his talent, his time.
“And he loved to teach us whatever he learned from voice, everything… painting.
“So, as early as seven years old, he started teaching me how to sing. He was our mentor.
“My first voice teacher and coach and everything and acting. He was just very generous with himself and his time.
“He’s very loving, very gentle.”
Nakatakda ang inurnment ng cremated remains ni Cocoy Laurel ngayong Huwebes, June 19.