Friends and family paid tribute to Anthony Linsangan, Camille Prats’ late husband in a necrological service at the Heritage Park funeral home last night, September 26.
The mood was solemn and yet quite uplifting. Gian Magdangal, Kris Lawrence, and Vincent Bueno (who, like Camille, are talents of manager Arnold Vegafria) sang their tributes. Anthony's cousin Katherine Serrano and Gary Valenciano also performed for the family.
In her eulogy, Camille said she still doesn't understand why Anthony had to leave them so early, but added that she knows her husband is now in a safe place.
“Hindi ko pa rin naiintindihan kung bakit kailangan mo kaming iwan ng ganito kaaga. You promised me we would grow old together and I held on to that promise,” she told Anthony. “But I know, wherever you are now, you're already happy. You're already in a safe place. No more pain, no more worries, and no more fears.”
She described the situation as “surreal,” adding that she never imagined she would have to give a eulogy to her husband.
“I was promised a lifetime. I never thought it would be this short. We were just starting a family and things were starting to come together for us. And he was diagnosed with a disease that took him from me,” Camille said.
The “Munting Heredera” also recalled their brief but sweet love story.
“He was the love of my life. At the tender age of 12, I already had the biggest crush on him. I knew he was the person I wanted to marry. And so I did,” she narrated.
“Three years into our relationship, we received the greatest news: that we were going to have a child. Anthony proved to be a rock to me during the time he found out about this unexpected but welcome news. That was the beginning of our new journey. The start of our new family. It wasn't easy but our love for each other made all the trials and adjustments easier to overcome.”
Camille said it was Anthony's honesty that sealed the deal for her.
“In the industry that I am in, it's a rarity to come across a person who was real,” she said. “He once told me: 'Mahal kita hindi dahil artista ka. Mahal kita dahil sa kung sino ka bilang isang tao sa likod ng camera.' That was one of the best things that he ever said to me.”
The 26-year-old actress ended her eulogy by thanking Anthony for giving “the most wonderful gift” to her: their three-year-old son Nathaniel Caesar.
“I will always remember you through him. And I will make sure that he grows up to be a fine young man, just like who you would want him to be. You'd be very proud of him, mahal. I love you and you will be forever my mahal. Till we meet again, mahal ko.”
Chris Samonte, Anthony's friend in the Wheels Auto Performance group, said in his eulogy that his late pal wanted to give Nathan the same standard of living his parents bestowed on him, if not even better.
Anthony's father Ed Linsangan, on the other hand, said, also in his eulogy: “Nung namatay na si Anthony, ako pala ang pinagpaparamdaman nya ng mga bagay na sinasabi nya. Yun pala ang milagro, ang malaking pagbabago sa akin. At naramdaman ko sa sarili ko, wala yung galit sa buong pagkatao ko. Pumalit yung pagmamahal. Nagsisisi ako sa sarili ko. Para bang napapahiya ako na yun pa ang naging dahilan para magbago ako.”
Anthony’s best friend Eric Lorica, aunt Edith Serrano, and sister Janet Linsangan also delivered eulogies.
Due to typhoon 'Pedring' Anthony's scheduled burial on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at the Manila Memorial Park in Dasmarinas, Cavite has been postponed.
In a report from ABS-CBN News, Arnold Vegafria, Camille's manager said that the burial might be moved to Tuesday afternoon if the weather improves.
