WHEN Claudine Barretto said never forget him, the fans really never did.
Late actor Rico Yan has been dead for over 22 years but people famous and ordinary, young and old, can’t seem to get over the matinee idol that visiting his grave has become a recent viral trend on Tiktok.
Over the past days, videos of people coming over to his grave to visit, pay respects make rounds on social media, especially Tiktok. One particular video showed a guy walking around embracing his tomb and even placing his hand on his name plate as if talking to the late actor in silence.
As of writing, the original video can no longer be found but users reposted the video.
Not everyone however found amusement in making content out of the late matinee idol. Many social media users expressed disappointment to those who used the actor for views.
Some called to give the actor peace.
Others however who went to his grave loved the peaceful ambiance in the actor’s final resting place and gave their reasons why they will come back, again and again.
Among the most common comments too are Gen Zs, who weren’t even born yet or who were just born at the time of the actor’s death are engaged too.
“Ang lala ng likes at engagements kay Rico Yan lately sa tiktok. Pati Gen Z, involved. Nakakaloka,” a post on X (formerly Twitter) said.
Rico’s impact
The teen culture of the ‘90s would not be complete without Rico Yan. His emergence in the mid decade has captured an entire generation from the moment he came out as the iconic face of a men’s product line until he did his last movie “Got To Believe” in 2002 just before his death.
Whether or not one is into showbiz or not at that time, it was impossible not to know Rico Yan. With his handsome face, arresting appeal, intelligence and his unforgettable dimples, it was just impossible not to love him.
His face was in every billboard, magazine cover, movie, teleserye and even notebook covers – a trend among ‘90s kids.
Sadly, the ‘90s crush ng bayan met his untimely death on March 29, 2002 while vacationing with showbiz friends in Dos Palmas resort in Palawan. According to autopsy reports, he died of cardiac arrest due to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis.
