Veteran director and actor Soxie Topacio was reported to have passed away at 65 years old on Friday night after succumbing to lung cancer.
In a Facebook post by TV5 reporter Laila Chikadora, the news came from Topacio’s niece, Zarah Topacio. She said said that her uncle died around 8:55 p.m. at De Los Santos Medical Center in Quezon City.
Last May, Topacio was bestowed the Natatanging Gawad Buhay for Lifetime Achievement award at the Gawad Buhay Awards; where he was recognized for his immeasurable contribution to national theater, in particular, through his dedicated work at the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA).
Topacio was also able to direct some of TV5’s shows including “Pidol’s Wonderland,” “Wattpad Presents,” and “Kapitan Awesome.”
Besides his work as an artist, Topacio was also a dedicated activist who fought for workers’ rights, and crusaded for the miners’ cause. A Facebook post by Prof. Joi Barrios-Leblanc, a colleague of the late director in the theater and literary community, shared this about Topacio:
Meanwhile, the industry expressed their mourning over social media:
Rest In Peace, Soxy Topacio. Sigh……..
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 21, 2017
Have a safe trip home to the arms of Our Father. Applause for a life so well-lived, Soxy Topacio. You will be missed as you are loved.
— Joey Javier Reyes (@DirekJoey) July 21, 2017
