Marky Cielo

Marky Cielo, the pride of the Cordillera, is dead. He died on his sleep even as the whole nation was preparing to watch Manny Pacquiao in his date with history. But Marky is also historic for us. He was the first Igorot to win a nationwide popularity contest based on his looks. The whole ukay-ukay indsutry and the BIBAK community around the world joined hands to make him win the contest over Iwa Moto. I remembered the night when it was announced that he won because I was the only one in town. Everybody was at home glued to the TV. We were so proud then of him. He even won a house and lot in Marikina. Sadly, that's where he died, too. Others Cordillerans were able to barge in the finals of other reality shows but no one was able to galvanize the whole region like Marky did. He was my Facebook friend and this is his profile picture. He does look like Rico Yan, another teenybopper who died young because of bangungot.