Who could forget Cherie Gil and Sharon Cuneta’s iconic “copycat” scene? It was from their 1985 movie, “Bituing Walang Ningning” where Cuneta starred as Dorina Pineda, an aspiring singer and fan of Lavinia Arguelles, who was played by Gil.
Lavinia’s confrontation with Dorina was one of the highlights of the film as she said, “You’re nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!” before splashing water on her face. The power duo even reenacted this scene in 2019 and gave it a new spin as they switched roles.
With Gil’s passing last Friday, fan account @thesharongeneration compiled the two clips along with the pairs’ photos together, which Cuneta reposted on her Instagram account. Watch it below!
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Cuneta also wrote a tearjerking letter to his longtime friend and “true partner” on her socials. The post read:
“I flew to New York early yesterday with a heavy heart, still forcing it to hang on to that sliver of hope of God performing a miracle, and allowing you to pull through this. I am eternally grateful to Him for giving us the few hours we spent together, the love and words yet again exchanged in person, the knowledge that the friendship forged when we were very young was stronger and would only keep getting so. You told me about your tree to heaven outside of your apartment window which I didn’t get to see.
We said “I love you” and I said I’d see you again today…and you raised both arms and gave me the thumbs up with both hands. Then barely eleven hours after I left you, I was awakened by his call saying you had passed…I leave New York now with a much heavier heart than ever before…because now I am leaving YOU with the knowledge that I will NEVER see you again…I cannot process it. It seems so unfair. It will never be the same without you. I will never be the same without you.
I told you that you had to fight, please, because you couldn’t leave me and that you were my partner, that there is no one like you. You said yes, but God took you home, took all your pain away. I will never get to feed you ice chips again or share most everything else with you. Your kids are strong and love you so much. Mike and I won’t have to keep our talks about you a secret anymore like we did while taping our show, but I don’t know how we would want to. I thank God I was with your dad, mom, R, and all of your kids to ‘see you off’–but I am not happy.
Photo from Sharon Cuneta on Instagram
My heart is in pieces again and now I dunno how to put it back together anymore because among the many loved ones I have lost these past few years, you were and always will be one of my most loved–a most important part of my life and my history, of my heart. I love you so very much. It is the end of an era now that you’ve left us…
What will I do without you now, Love? My true screen partner, a true friend, ninang of Simone…I miss you so terribly and know it will only get worse.Be at peace in God’s loving arms,my Cheech…I’ll see you again someday. I will love you with all my heart, forever.Thank you for everything.”
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Rest in peace, Cherie Gil.
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