RIP Soxie Topacio

The entertainment industry especially in screen and theater is lost one of their own as director Socrates “Soxie” Topacio passed on last week. I got to meet him because he was one of Mom’s closest friends since high school.  Among their batch 1969 of Araullo High School, Soxie was one of Mom’s close circle of friends that continues on to this day.

 

Soxie Topacio during the recent Gawad Buhay

In one of their gatherings, the children of this circle of friends composed of seven were also included. I got to congratulate Soxie for the success of Himala the musical which he directed. He told Mom that my cousin, Marjorie Lorico was very talented. She was also one of the casts when she was still under contract at Tanghalang Pilipino.

During the recent Gawad Buhay, a tribute was made to Soxie when a stage actor impersonated Soxie followed by a singing of his favorite inspirational song. It was kind of eerie because I just realize when he started reading his life story; he was like saying goodbye to the public eye for the last time.

PETA was continuing to raise funds as well as the Araullo Batch ’69. There was even a time when I was doing an errand for Mom to make a deposit on his account. It was only days before he died when PETA organized a dance event for to raise funds for him.

Today, his family, friends, colleagues in the entertainment industry paid their last respects as he was buried earlier. To Direk Soxie, we all thank you for the work you showed us that kept us entertained.