Thank you for your kindness during this terrible time. I have always known that Carlos was an extraordinary individual, and it is comforting to see how many people think so.
Many of you have asked me about the circumstances of his death. Carlos died of cardiac respiratory arrest in Madrid. He was always surrounded by friends, and he did not die alone.
On Oct. 8, I was on the phone to Madrid just as the paramedics were attempting to revive him. They reported no evidence of foul play; they pronounced him dead of natural causes at 4:07 a.m. The full autopsy report will be available in one month.
We are grateful to the Philippine Embassy in Spain for helping us to bring Carlos home.
Carlos used to say he had a big mouth, but he also had a heart that contained so much love and passion for country, for art and for people. He will not be forgotten, we will make sure of that.
He left behind a large body of work in the performing and visual arts, history and writing, and plans for much more.
At present we are assembling his archive to determine how best to proceed. Rest assured that his legacy will be preserved, protected and continued in the years to come.
Only weeks ago, Carlos and I were discussing our next steps. I called it our second act, or maybe the third, and he said only operas have three acts. Whatever comes next, he said, we can’t f— it up.
Carlos was a one-man show, and as long as we remember him, that show will go on. —CONTRIBUTED
