Today is just like 9 years ago when the world of Philippine showbiz was in shock because of the untimely demise of a promising actor.

On March 29, 2002, Rico Yan died of cardiac arrest due to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis while asleep, the day after shooting a television commercial for Talk n’ Text at the Dos Palmas Resort in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. Yan was 27. An estimated 10,000 people attended his funeral rites in Manila, and was televised live on ABS-CBN. He was buried in Manila Memorial Park, Parañaque City.

Early morning of April 17, just right after midnight, Antonello Joseph Sarte Perez a.k.a. AJ Perez was on his way home from a show in Dagupan, when the vehicle he was riding in was hit by a truck. The young actor suffered from multiple head injuries causing his death. Perez was 18.

Both Rico Yan and AJ Perez possessed boyish charm. They are among a few in local showbiz being known for having a “baby face.” Both are prized talents of Star Magic and their deaths can be considered the most shocking since they are young when they died and have a lot things more to offer in the industry.

It was also in La Salle Greenhills where the wake of the the late Rico Yan was held in April 2002. They were both La Sallista.

Meanwhile, the family of AJ decided to donate the young actor’s cornea to miracle child and blind singer Fatima Soriano. That is according to a tweet from ABS-CBN AdProm head Eric John Salut.

Fatima, 17 and born on the same year AJ was born, happens to be Boy Abunda‘s guest in “The Bottomline” past midnight last night, exactly the same time when AJ met an accident and died.

AJ’s body will be in La Salle Greenhills starting this afternoon until Tuesday lunchtime, April 19.