IN COPIOUS tears daw si Lorna Tolentino when she learned about the death of Liezl Martinez noong mismong araw ng pagyao nito (around 6:30 am nitong Sabado).
Were they childhood playmates tulad ni Senator Grace Poe? No. Were they contemporaries noong pumasok sila sa showbiz? Hindi rin.
Ayon kasi kay Ms. LT, hinding-hindi raw niya malilimutan ang kabutihang-loob ni Liezl when the latter toured her and husband Rudy Fernandez sa unang biyahe ng mag-asawa sa San Francisco, USA. Ipinagbubuntis daw noon ni Liezl ang kanilang pangay ni Albert Martinez na si Alyanna. Puring-puri pa nga ni Ms. LT kung paanong magandang magbuntis si Liezl.
Samantala, Liezl’s death came as a shock sa manager ni Ms. LT na si Lolit Solis. Kuwento ng TV host-manager, January this year nang magkita pa raw sila ni Liezl (who sat as one of the members of the MTRCB) sa censors office.
Wala raw sa itsura ni Liezl that she was in suffering (late 2008 when she was diagnosed she had breast cancer. Her left breast had to be removed). “You’re looking good!” bati pa ni ‘Nay Lolit kay Liezl.
Meanwhile, umaga ng araw noong malagutan si Liezl ng hininga (she died in her sleep) ay kinukulit daw siya ng isang radio program (kung saan ‘Nay Lolit reports via phone patch) tungkol sa pagkamatay ng kabiyak ni Albert. But the TV host-manager declined.
Nais daw niya kasing igalang ang kahilingan ng pamilya Muhlach, most specially Liezl’s mom Amalia Fuentes, na ibalato muna sa kanila ang mga oras following Liezl’s death. That explains why public viewing at the Heritage Chapels was not allowed until Sunday.
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
