The world mourns today as we hear of the the untimely death of the King of Pop ...MICHAEL JACKSON, who is only 50 years old.
But, just 5 hours before he died, FARRAH FAWCETT also passed away after a long battle with Cancer. She was 62.
It is sad that big stars like Michael and Farrah would be gone so soon. I am a big fan of Michael and his music. I have practically grown up listening to his all-time record-breaking chart-topping hits. Farrah on the other hand, rose to fame after playing the role of "Jill" one of very popular "CHARLIE's ANGELS" in the 70's. Her wavy blonde hair was imitated by millions of women who adored her all over the world. Her fellow angels, Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson (my favorite among the 3 original CHARLIE's ANGELS stars) are both breast cancer survivors.
Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett are but two of the many, many stars/celebrities who died young. The likes of Princess Diana (who died at the age of 36), handsome young lawyer, John F. Kennedy, Jr. and son of the late US President, JFK (died in a private plane crash at 38), John Lennon of the Beatles (was shot dead at age 40), Marilyn Monroe (died at 36 due to an alleged overdose of sleeping pills), Selena ( murdered by an obsessed fan at the age of 23), James Dean (who figured in a car accident at the peak of his career at 24) and Brokeback Mountain's star, Heath Ledger (who died last year at 28).
Here in the Philippines, we have Julie Vega (Julie Pearl Postigo in real life), who was my schoolmate, friend and phonepal in highschool...she died of unknown/mysterious causes at the age of 16. She was one of the first Filipino soap opera icons ...playing "Annaliza" on TV.
And who would forget the death of Rico Yan? He died on a Good Friday of cardiac arrest due to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis while asleep in his rented cottage at the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan at the age of 27.
Miko Sotto, son of singer-actress-TV host, Ali Sotto, died at the young age of 21 after he fell from the 9th floor of a condominium building. And just last year (December 2008), Marky Cielo, one of the promising actors of this generation and the pride of the Igorots died in his sleep at the age of 20. He was the first Ultimate Sole Survivor of GMA 7's Starstruck talent search. And then we have Francis Magalona, the Master Rapper of the Philippines, who died of leukemia (cancer of the blood) at the age of 44.
The list may go on and on with dozens of stars who have died way before they were supposed to....like Philippine matinee idol Alfie Anido, ex-boyfriend of Dina Bonnevie (22) shot himself in the head, model-actress Anna Nicole Smith (39) due to drug overdose, anorexic Karen Carpenter (32) died of heart failure, comedian Rene Requiestas (36) who died of pneumonia, and of course, the legendary King of Rock n' Roll, ELVIS PRESLEY, who died at 42 due to an overdose of prescription drugs.
Weird as it may seem, the King of Pop and the King of Rock n' Roll are now being compared - - in their lives, their fame and fortune, their music and their death. Michael Jackson didn't want to be just a superstar. He also wanted to be a KING, just like Elvis and King of Pop he became. He even married Lisa Marie Presley... Elvis' one and only daughter, a shortlived romance which eventually ended in a divorce.
Stars who die young do remain forever beautiful, enshrined in our minds like Snow White. They smile, they laugh. We tend to remember the best of almost everyone who passes away, especially when their time, their life and career is cut so short.
Michael Jackson lived a life of fame. But it was also a lonely, painful and unhappy life. He was clearly a troubled man and misunderstood by many. But despite his controversial life and eccentricities.. his music which reflected his passion, creativity and artistry has influenced a lot of people. He was just 50....and wasn't supposed to be gone so soon...so early. But neither were others whose work also touched millions.
Death is truly like a thief that comes in the night...however shocking or untimely it may come to us or our loved ones, it is inevitable. All of us will go ...sooner or later. As Christians, we do believe that there is life after death..and that those who have gone ahead are now in a better place....but we still can't help but feel sad everytime a young life is taken so early. There are many questions about death...and about "dying young" that we, mortals cannot answer. But of course, we all know that only God holds our lives and our destinies. Only GOD knows when it is our time to go.
"IT MATTERS NOT HOW A MAN DIES, BUT HOW HE LIVES" (Samuel Johnson)
btw, i cried a bucketful of tears when julie vega died. looking back, i blamed albert martines for it. i dunno why. i was too young to remember... 