Tributes pour for ’90s teen heartthrob Patrick Guzman

TRIBUTES poured in for former 1990s teenage heartthrob Patrick Guzman whose death in Canada was announced on social media by friends. His family has yet to make a statement.

Comedian-singer Ogie Alcasid was among the first to pay tribute to Guzman, in now-deleted posts from his Facebook and Instagram pages.

De Guzman was said to have died of a heart attack in Toronto on Friday.

Photo from Ogie Alcasid/Facebook

“So shocked and sad that you have gone to heaven so suddenly. Rest now brother. I will always remember the wonderful times we had while filming so many movies together,” wrote Alcasid on Saturday, showing a photo of himself, Guzman, comedian Michael V., and Anjo Yllana during their photo shoot of the 1993 movie “Mama's Boys 2: Let's Go Na!”.

Other celebrities like Michael V., Amy Perez, Dennis Padilla, Gelli de Belen, and Dingdong Avanzado have also paid tribute to Guzman in Alcasid's original post on Instagram.

Veteran actress-director Beverly Vergel, sister of late actor Ace Vergel, who is also based in Canada, was shocked at Guzman's passing and in a separate post, honored him after starring as the lead actor in the film “BROmance the Movie”, which she wrote and directed.

“You are one of the kindest, most sincere, gentlest of souls of a gentleman. You deserve all the superlatives and more,” Vergel wrote on Saturday on her social media platforms. “I'm sure all who know you will be so sad that you're back in heaven joining your league of angels because a man like you is so rare.”

Filipino-Canadian community journalist Tess Cusipag has also mourned the death of a “dear friend.”

“Another beautiful soul has gone to the great beyond. A dear friend, a former famous actor in the Philippines, Patrick Guzman. You are now at peace and may it comfort the family and relatives that others care and deeply sympathized,” she wrote on Facebook on Saturday.

Filipino Canadian photographer Jemelyn Dela Cruz sent condolences to Guzman's family.

“I remember when you used to come to our store in and out and just happy to be around Filipinos,” she wrote. ” I was shocked the first time I met you was in our kitchen. My family loved you and we know you are in a better place now. My condolences to the whole family.”

As of posting time, no further details were revealed on Guzman's death.

Guzman was the leading man of Sharon Cuneta in three movies: Una Kang Naging Akin (1991), Ikaw (1993), and Kung Ako Na Lang Sana (2003).