AJ Perez was a beloved actor, model, and singer from the Philippines who sadly passed away on April 12, 2011. The cause of his death was a vehicular accident that occurred in Tarlac province in the Philippines. His death left millions of fans mourning his loss and wondering what had caused the tragic accident. This article will explore the details surrounding AJ Perez’s death and examine what happened that fateful day.
Who Is AJ Perez?
Antonello Joseph Sarte Perez (February 17, 1993 – April 4, 2011) was an actor from the Philippines. He was a member of Batch 13 of ABS-Star CBN’s Magic. In the 2009 miniseries Your Song Presents Underage, he portrayed one of the main characters. In 2010, he landed his first starring role in a primetime television series with Sabel. At 12:01 a.m. on April 17, 2011, he was killed in a car accident in Moncada, Tarlac, at the age of 18.
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What Happened To Perez?
On April 17, 2011, Perez had just completed a performance in Dagupan and was returning home with his father and four others in an ABS-CBN service van. The van’s driver attempted to pass a tractor-trailer on the MacArthur Highway in Barangay San Julian, Moncada, Tarlac but collided with a Partas provincial passenger bus.
At 12:10 a.m., he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Rayos-Valentin Hospital in Paniqui, Tarlac. Initial reports indicated that he died from “multiple head injuries.” However, the autopsy revealed that his broken ribs had pierced his heart and lungs, resulting in his death.
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Perez’s Funeral
On April 17–18, 2011, Perez’s funeral was held at the La Salle Green Hills chapel before he was transferred to The Christ the King Parish on Greenmeadows Avenue in Quezon City on April 19–26, 2011. President Benigno Aquino III attended the final night of the wake for Perez. On April 26, 2011, Perez was interred at the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque. The casket reportedly contained his favorite blanket, a pair of rubber shoes, and a watch he gave to his younger brother.
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Perez Family’s Generous Gift to Blind Singer
After his mother saw Fatima Soriano’s interview with Boy Abunda on The Bottomline with Boy Abunda, Perez’s family desired to donate his corneas to the blind singer. However, Soriano’s doctor explained that this was not possible, as only corneas can be transplanted, and Soriano’s problem was with her retinas. The corneas of Perez were eventually donated to a man aged 28 and a boy aged 8.
The Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines honored Perez posthumously as the foundation’s poster boy in August 2011. The Perez family and the recipients of the actor’s corneas attended the event.
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Brother Commemorates AJ Perez’s 9th Death Anniversary with College Graduation
The actor’s brother paid AJ Perez a heartfelt tribute nine years after the actor passed away in a car accident. Angello Perez, holding the actor’s portrait while posing for his graduation photo, stated that since AJ’s passing, he has made it a point to dedicate all his achievements to his late sibling. Yesterday, April 17, AJ’s brother shared the message with his followers on Instagram.
Angello will graduate from Ateneo de Manila University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
“You would have been a college graduate by now. This year, I’d like to believe that we are graduating together, and I will be thinking of you when I receive that diploma.Thank you for always being my inspiration”
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Angello and his family have remembered AJ on every significant occasion. On February 17, AJ’s birthday, the actor’s brother did not forget to wish his “kuya” (older brother) a happy birthday by displaying a throwback photo of them together. Angello said:
“You never failed to make me smile, even on the bad days,” “Missing you a little more today. Happy birthday kuya.”
Last Christmas, the Perez family also celebrated the holiday together, remembering to include AJ even in their family picture in front of the Christmas tree.