PIO CANDELARIA, visual/graphics artist, theater actor, filmmaker/producer, chef, community advocate, died in San Francisco today, August 17, 2014 of heart attack. It is with heavy heart that I talk of the sudden passing of a dear friend, PIO CANDELARIA today, August 17, 2014 at 11 am at the San Francisco General Hospital. It was a mutual friend, Ferdinand Morales, who sent an inbox message here on fb early this afternoon that the hospital called him about its intent to reach the next of kin; we decided to go the hospital post-haste, thereupon learned from the doctors assistant the circumstances of his death. According the assistant, Pio came to the emergency room this morning a bit after 10complaining of severe chest pains; a few minutes later, he complained of difficulty of breathing, then had to be done assisted breathing, went into arrest, immediately gave CPR but was not revived. (From my vantage, he must have died of massive myocardial infarction or heart attack.) So very sudden. The hospital likewise informed us it was able to contact the sister in the Philippines. With his passing, the SF Filipino community has lost a tireless community advocate; though largely unknown to many, his work with the seniors and Filipino veterans is immeasurable, having been involved as board member of the Filipino American Council and volunteer for different social service organizations. However, it is his art and knowledge and love for Filipino culture which made our friendship strong. Since the start, he has been a loyal supporter of my group, FACINE - doing poster design and layout of information materials, ushering in the FACINE events, as well as my optimist friend - but despite the adverse conditions of his life in the US, he did manage to accomplish a lot: Formed a media company named The Filament which produced the full-length documentary on Filipinos in Louisiana, MANILA BAYOU, as well as a few short films, my own favorite, DANCE EVERY SUNDAY AFTERNOON; Completed a certificate program in digital art as well as painting at the SF Art Institute; and Graduated in a culinary course at the City College of San Francisco. At the time of his death, he has worked as cook/chef for two dining restaurants. Months before his death, we were planning to have an art show of his most recent artworks hopefully by the end of this year, as well as make plans for film projects - his long-aborted script on a woman veteran and her daughter (he wanted Nora Aunor to play the veteran since he had written it in Bicol) (he informed me, he submitted this to Cinemalaya) and another one, on his life as a chef which he planned to do with a friend-filmmaker here in SF. Rest in peace, my dear friend and comrade. Thank you for your friendship. You will be missed.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 05:55:02 +0000
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