Veteran actor and director Manny Castañeda has passed away, according to Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chairperson Joey Reyes.
Reyes who became Castañeda's best friend and co-director expressed his mourning on Monday, July 1, through a Facebook post.
"We were eight years old when we met. We missed a number of years between the final years of grade school and high school. But we made such a big deal about how we found each other again at the canteen in De la Salle College then ..."
"And we were inseparable since that time, all throughout college ... until we both ended up teaching then finding our place in the insane world of show business."
"We have been friends for sixty-one years ... and how you have left. Honestly, I do not know how it is going to be without my best friend just sitting out there ready to bitch it out with me. We may have our differences in political beliefs, we may have our arguments but we were there for each other ... all the way."
"No, it is not going to be the same. But His Will Be Done. I know you are now having a major time giving an update to Don and Khryss and all our friends who are having eternal coffee breaks in the Great Beyond. And I know that where you are ... you will on the lookout for me, Erick Vidania, Cal Lim, Cristina A. Rodriguez, Raymund Barcelon, George Lim... everybody in our close knit circle."
Reyes continued, "I never told this you when you were around because I knew you would just cringe and tell me to shut up --- but you are such a great part of my life because you are my irreplaceable BFF."
Meanwhile, the director's post did not mention his friend's cause of death.
Castañeda appeared in the films Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas (1986), Oro Plata Mata (1981), and Aliw (1979). He also appeared in the TV series Makiling and Ang Probinsyano on FPJ.
He directed the films Shame (2000), May Isang Pamilya (1999), and Sa Kabilugan ng Buwan (1997).
