The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Aducal and Morales families are closely knitted clans.
It shows during the lifetime and death of one of its members, comedian Gil Aducal Morales, popularly known as Ate Gay.
When Ate Gay was declared to be stricken with cancer (mucoepidermoid cancinoma, a rare type of cancer affecting the salivary gland) last year, almost all members of his family were at her beck and call.
Asia Morales, one of the comic’s nieces, was alwats at her uncle’s side especially when he performed in Klownz comedy bar where he announced he had cancer.
“Nanood po kami no’ng kanyang concert na ‘yon kung saan sinabi niya sa mga tao na siya’y may cancer. Nakakaiyak po talaga (We watched his concert where he disclosed to the audience that he had cancer. It was really emotional),” confided Asia at the foyer of Forest Lake Memorial Chapels in Binan City, Laguna Sunday afternoon.
Morales said that the whole clan of Aducal and Morales were united in supporting the showbiz career and health care of Ate Gay.
In life and in death, Ate Gay’s kin are one for all, all for one to his safe funeral and his family’s defense.
In my interview with Asia, I noticed that she and all her cousins were wearing IDs dangling on their chests printed with the identification and representation of “Family of Ate Gay.”
“Why are you all wearing the IDs?” I curiously asked.
“Kasi po, may mga (Because there were) impostor,” replied Asia.
Although she politely disengaged in our conversation because was called inside the room of the chapel, her cousin Maricon Morales volunteered to answer the question.
“May dumating po kasing mga tao sa lamay noong isang gabi. Nagtanong sa guwardiya kung dito nga sa Forest Lake nakaburol si Ate Gay, ang sabi noong guwardiya, oo pero tinanong kung sino sila. Ang sagot daw ay mga kamag-anak (It’s because the other night, there were people who supposedly came to vigil and pay their last respects to Ate Gay. They asked the guard if indeed Ate Gay’s remains were here and he affirmed and asked them who they were. They said they were relatives).
“Pero kung sila’y mga pinsan, tutuloy na lang sila. Hindi naman tumuloy. Nakakapagtaka (If they were indeed our cousins, they would just walk in freely. But they didn’t get in. We wondered).
“Alam mo po ‘yon, trending ngayon si Ate Gay kaya maraming gustong pumunta rito at mag-(Of course you know Ate Gay’s death is trending on social media so there are many who want to) blog).
“Kaya po nagpaimprenta kami ng mga ID para sa aming buong pamilya (That’s why we printed IDs for the whole family),” gushed Maricon.
At the moment, according to Asia, all the medical expenses incurred in the treatment of Ate Gay have been settled.
Even the funeral wake and burial of Ate Gay were shouldered by Forest Lake.
Ate Gay will be interred tomorrow morning, Tuesday at 10 am at the same memorial park.