Why Are People Visiting Rico Yan's Grave?
Anyone who has been chronically online recently might have come across this peculiar trend. The grave of Rico Yan, the popular actor whose untimely passing shocked many in the entertainment world in the early 2000s, has been getting a lot of attention, mostly from young people who are probably too young to remember who he was at the height of his fame. At the very least, these young people are learning about the late matinee idol's old shows and films, as well as his influence on Philippine entertainment. He was gone too soon, and remains a constant topic of conversation as one of the industry's most interesting what-ifs.
@trendingchikaph HAHAHAHHAHAHA BAKIT GINAWA NIYONG TOURIST SPOT SI RICO YAN??? #fyp #ricoyan #claudinebarretto ? original sound - Mikhaela Janna Jimenea Lim
How Did the Trend Start?
Despite the renewed interest in Yan's life (and death) turning his gravesite into something akin to a tourist attraction, as some critics point out, is doing more harm than good. The user who posted the original video that supposedly started the whole trend has set their account to private. But the posts persist, and so are the visits. What seems to be just another random phenomenon on TikTok is ending up highlighting the consequences of virality.
Yan's filmography was said to have been the root of the trend in the first place, with more people discovering his past work, leading them to develop a curiosity about the actor. While some argue it's nothing more than simple acts of admiration and commemoration, others contend it borders on being disrespectful, especially considering that Yan's grandfather was a decorated veteran of World War 2 and former chief of the staff of the country's Armed Forces.Â
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Reactions to the Peculiar Posts
Here's how the internet has reacted to the trend so far. We've listed both the good and the bad here to be fair.
sino mananalo? Jam Sebastian zombie o Rico Yan puntod? pic.twitter.com/jPep46HeSY
— Chain Messages (@itwontworkelija) July 8, 2024CONTINUE READING BELOWwatch now
Seeing the late Rico Yan trending even the app wasn't created when he passed is so sweet. Shows that the fans even to those who weren't even born admire the charm and charisma he brought.
— James Roa (@JRDimacalinta) July 7, 2024
There will never be another Rico Yan. No matter how hard they try, he is one of a kind. pic.twitter.com/NokUWsFqum
puro si rico yan laman ng fyp ko sa tiktok, sign na ata to para sundan ko siya
— ?? (@sxyfzu) July 4, 2024
matinee idols in the philippines became extinct when rico yan died BRING BACK CUTE LEADING MEN!!! pic.twitter.com/ZjADdczCOv
— wham (@sswflavor) July 3, 2024
This gen's obsession with Rico Yan needs to be studied. Let him rest be fcking serious ang ooa na. pic.twitter.com/iNfQSK9lTh
— ???????????????? ? #FranklySpeaking (@kdramaramapop20) July 7, 2024
For me it’s okay to visit Rico Yan’s tomb since he’s trending online because of some tiktok post.
Lest we forget also his grandfather, Gen. Manuel Yan who’s also buried in front of Rico. He’s the sole general who opposed the martial law of the dictator. He resigned as AFP Chief. pic.twitter.com/96QdZi1L7N— ???? ? ?? ?? ?????? ???? (@iam_jniest) July 7, 2024ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
rico yan gives two whole pages’ worth of valuable boy advice (candy, december 2000) pic.twitter.com/iX21yiBYnq
— magasin archive (@glossyarchive) September 19, 2022
his last project before he passed away.
— ???????????????????? | ???????????????????? ?????? (@nikkirozi) July 8, 2024
its been 22 years and still Rico Yan will always be remembered & loved by many. ????
pic.twitter.com/L38aH3rsOr
Kawawa naman yung mga pumunta. Pumunta lang sa puntod ni Rico Yan binabash na kaagad. New tourist spot kuno hahahaha. Feeling kamag anak nila si Rico Yan. Open naman kase sa public yung puntod niya kaya kahit sino pwede. Kung sa kamag anak lang edi sana nakasarado yan. pic.twitter.com/keZiWe70s1
— Tanggol (@altvivamaxph) July 8, 2024
if it wasn’t truly for clout like he claims sa tiktok niya mismo he wouldn’t have placed his phone in this angle and did creepy stuff like this sa puntod ni rico yan ???????? let the dead rest in peace, ginawa niyo pa talagang content yung matagal nang patay ???? https://t.co/Uyceu0RaJm
— ?seo ???? (@G0DJEANS) July 8, 2024
Remembering Rico Yan, the Young Star
Yan gained popularity star status in the early '90s with roles like Ricky Salveron in Gimik and Gabriel Maglayon in Mula Sa Puso. Films like Radio Romance, Ama, Ina, Anak, and Madrasta, where he played that conyo rich boy people seem to love would further cement his place in the local industry. His love team with Claudine Barretto, in projects like Got 2 Believe and Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita was also a hit with fans.
On March 29, 2002, Yan was found unconscious in his hotel room during a Holy Week vacation at the Dos Palmas Resort in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, and was later pronounced dead. More than 10,000 people visited his wake at La Salle Greenhills and thousands more expressed their sympathies leading up to his funeral.Â
wag nyo masyado i-bash si ate klaw baka umiyak yan sa puntod ni rico yan to the tune of kahit isang saglit habang vini-videohan sya ng assistant nya na si marisol pic.twitter.com/SMvRSM4Soq
— AC Soriano (@ItsACsLife) April 12, 2022
A point of contention during Yan's death involved his onscreen partner and real-life girlfriend Claudine Barretto, who fans accused of being unfaithful and starting a romance with Raymart Santiago while she and Yan were still together. She later clarified that they broke up four months before Yan's death. They would also work on Got 2 Believe together, Yan's last film. Barretto still visits Yan's grave every year.
