Early this 2025, people in local show business got alarmed with the succession of deaths among members of the entertainment profession. And most of those who died were icons: Nora Aunor, Gloria Romero, Pilita Corrales, Delia Razon, Freddie Aguilar, Hajji Alejandro, Ricky Davao and Mike de Leon. The deaths came every week.

Industry leaders, therefore, got their heads together and decided to hold a Mass in the hope of putting a stop to this cycle of death. But since that sounded morbid, it was decided to make it a day of unity that started with a mass. The event was called Isang Araw ng Pagkakaisa, and it was put together by the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Film Academy of the Philippines and Mowelfund. Somehow, the death cycle stopped after that.

This October, though, the series of deaths in showbiz seems to be back. But unlike during the first two quarters of the year, when the claw of death came weekly, there had been multiple deaths in one week. Among those who said goodbye just this month were actress Lollie Mara, singer-songwriter Davey Langit, actor-screenwriter Dwight Gaston, dancer-choreographer Anna Feliciano, TV host-influencer Emman Atienza, singer Louie Reyes, Jeremiah vocalist Piwee Polintan and actor Patrick de la Rosa.

Industry members perhaps should get together again and hold, maybe, a simple Mass in memory of those who passed, starting this last quarter of the year. By God’s mercy, let us hope the deaths would stop with that Mass. Or maybe a whispered prayer from each one of us would be powerful enough to end this second cycle of death in 2025.