The news spread through various forms of Philippine media very slowly.

I heard over the television, then the radio, that teen idol Rico Yan, whose latest movie Got to Believe became a local hit, died while on holiday at the Dos Palmas Beach Resort in Palawan island.

Word has it that he succumbed to a severe asthma attack. He was admitted to the Palawan Adventist Hospital, but I suppose the doctors there could not save him.

There is currently a news blackout on this. No formal statements as to the cause of death have been released yet.

However, it is being said that when Rico’s best friend and movie buddy Dominic Ochoa tried to wake him up at 9:00 A.M. today, his body was already cold. Clarifications on this will be made as more news trickles into the media.

I hope that wherever Rico is now, he is at peace.

Philippine show business is never peaceful, when you think about it.