Weeks after she appealed for financial help for her medication, Queen of Philippine Horror Movies Lilia Cuntapay passed away due to her illness on spinal cord yesterday. She was 81.
Cuntapay died in her son’s home in Pinili, Ilocos Norte.
In August, Cuntapay released a video in which she appealed for help from her colleagues in the entertainment industry because she could no longer afford it. Apart from it, Cuntapay said that she could no longer walk.
“Sa mga concerned citizens diyan, like ’yung mga directors ko, mga co-workers ko, wala na ako sa showbiz dahil may sakit ako. Kung mahal ninyo pa ako, any help will be appreciated,” said Cuntapay then in a video posted on Facebook.
Born on January 3, 1935, Cuntapay was a teacher by profession in the primary level in Tuguegarao.
Cuntapay earned the horror queen title when she was typecast as either witch or aswang in horror and fantasy movies.
Cuntapay got her big break when she played the spooky maid of Kris Aquino in the film “Shake, Rattle and Roll 3” in 1991.
At the age of 40, the veteran actress retired from the National Police Commission when she decided to focus in showbiz.
Cuntapay also joined acting workshops under topnotch directors Peque Gallaga and Lori Reyes.
In 2011, Cuntapay won Best Actress for the indie film “Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay” at the 2011 Cinema One Originals. It was directed by Antoinette H. Jadaone.
Cuntapay appeared in more than 70 films since she started in 1986. Her last movie was the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “My Bebe Love” which was shown in December.