MARKY CIELO, RIP

MARKY CIELO, RIP

Mark Angelo Cadaweng Cielo (May 12, 1988 - December 7, 2008), better known as Marky Cielo, was a Filipino actor and dancer of Igorot descent, notable for his win in the reality talent competition StarStruck (2005-2006). During his short-lived career, he was able to star in several television shows and in one film, notably Fantastikids (2006), Boys Nxt Door (2007), Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan (2007-2008), Sine Novela: Kaputol ng Isang Awit (2008), and his final performance, LaLola (2008).

Prior to his career, Cielo was a freshman studying Architecture at Saint Louis University, Baguio in Benguet, where he was a member of SLU Dance Troupe. When his classmates and close friends (Johnny Mina, Moses Esteban and Frederick Manzano) convinced him to audition for Starstruck, he accepted so he joined under the stage name, Marky Cielo. This turned out to be a great decision for him since it lead him to win the show with the titles "Ultimate Male Survivor" and the first and only "Sole Survivor", while defeating his fellow contestants Jackie Rice, Gian Carlos, Iwa Moto, Chuck Allie, and Arci Muñoz. It was stated that he was the first notable Igorot ever to join a talent contest. Besides stardom, he won 10 million pesos worth of prizes, which include a large cash prize, a livelihood showcase, an exclusive GMA talent management contract, and a house and lot in Antipolo, Rizal. He and his family moved to this new home only on 2008, during his birthday, May 12. Prior to that, he lived in Pasig.

Immediately after winning StarStruck, Cielo entered show business with the leading role of Daniel Trinidad in the fantasy television show, Fantastikids, which also stars Isabella de Leon, B.J. "Tolits" Forbes, Jackie Rice, Glaiza de Castro, Sandy Andolong, and veteran actress Melanie Marquez. After this, he began to appear in primetime with guest starring roles in shows such as Encantadia: Pag-ibig Hanggang Wakas (as Arman), Bakekang (as Miguelito "Michael" Dimayacyac), and Asian Treasures (as Mateo Madrigal); (incidentally in all three roles the character he played was killed off), as well as a leading role in the Sunday afternoon drama, Boys Nxt Door.[4] He was soon chosen by his network to be the main protagonist in the Philippine remake of Uchuu Keiji Shaider as Alexis del Mundo or Shaider but Dennis Trillo and Aljur Abrenica were included so the show was reformatted to Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan, a spin-off sequel to the Metal Heroes franchise. As Alexis Lorenzo or Zaido Green, he considered this show as his biggest break. Recently, he joined the cast of Sine Novela: Kaputol ng Isang Awit, which also stars Glaiza de Castro, Lovi Poe and Jolo Revilla. He was also a spokesman for Department of Health and was seen in a no-smoking ad campaign with secretary Francisco Duque III.[4] In 2008, he joined the cast of Codename: Asero then LaLola. His last appearance was in LaLola, in which he portrayed the character Billy Lobregat. During his brief career, he had worked with many leading ladies, particularly Kris Bernal, Lovi Poe, and Jackie Rice, as well as Glaiza de Castro, whom he once dated.

Death

According to a statement from the TV network, Cielo, 20, was found dead on December 7, 2008 by his mother Mildred. The night before, he was last seen playing a online video game up until ten o'clock in the evening in an internet cafe in Quezon City. According to the report, his mom went to his room in their house in Antipolo around six o'clock in the morning to wake him up for a charity event. When he did not respond, she immediately rushed him to the nearby Antipolo Doctor’s Hospital where the actor was declared dead on arrival about four hours after he arrived. An initial report states that he died in his sleep. At present, the cause of Cielo’s death remains unknown as his family waits for his medical records to be released.His wake was held in his home for three days then his remains were brought to the Baguio Cathedral, where it would stay for a day. His final resting place is in Bauko, Mountain Province, his mother's hometown. His death is a big disappointment to his family since his father has stated that he was supposed to return to school the following year. In an interview with his mother the following day, she said that she is happy that he was an inspiration to his fans although she is also disappointed since it appeared to her that her son had problems and was unable to discuss them to her.

Cielo's death caused many reactions from among his fans and colleagues alike, most of whom were surprised and shocked by his sudden death.[11] Fellow Igorot were filled with mourning and disbelief when they heard about the event since he had been a model for their people. Even people from the rival network of his network were disappointed to hear the news. Glaiza de Castro, his former on-screen romance, was deeply disturbed by the incident since she was one of the last people who were able to talk to him, particularly about a dream she had involving him which would lead him to predict his own death. His fellow batchmates from StarStruck were deeply saddened by the event especially since most of them had treated him as a brother. Some of them even rushed to see his body immediately after found out about his passing. Many of them reacted with guilt and sympathy since he had a promising career. They have stated that they would truly miss him very much citing the good memories they have spent with him.] Beginning on December 8, the show LaLola began airing "In Loving Memory of Marky Cielo" before the closing credits of each episode.

He is one of four recent Filipino young stars who died prematurely, after Julie Vega (aged 16, who died in 1985 due to cardiac arrest secondary to bronchopneumonia, and the youngest active celebrity to die), Rico Yan (aged 27, who died in 2002 due to pancreatitis) and Miko Sotto (aged 21, who died in 2003 after accidentally falling off from the ninth floor of his condominium residence).