‘The silence about what Ricky was going through was a testament to how the industry loved and respected him.’
Before breathing his last breath on May 1, 2025, actor-director Ricky Davao had been quietly battling cancer for some months. His family, friends and associates did not disclose his illness out of respect for him. The entertainment website Pep.ph noted that the silence about what Ricky was going through was a testament to how the industry loved and respected him.
What was there not to love? Ricky was extremely talented, versatile and a genuinely nice guy.
In an open letter on Facebook addressed to Ricky after his passing, former Vice-President and Artistic Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Chris Millado said that portraying Tony Javier in the stage musical “Larawan” (the musical based on Nick Joaquin’s English play “A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino”) was a dream come true for Ricky. “… with no less than National Artist Mr. C Ryan Cayabyab conducting a full orchestra! We were able to convince Mr. C to add a few measures of music so you could have a song and dance number with chorus girls… which you delivered with aplomb.”
Singer Celeste Legaspi also fondly remembered Ricky for playing Tony Javier in the first staging of “Larawan” in 1997, and the subsequent projects related to it such as a fundraiser in CCP, “Ang Larawan the Movie” and “Contramundum, Ang Larawan in Concert.”
Celeste said of Ricky in her FB post, “He was singing stronger and with more confidence at the fundraiser; stole the evening. Later in 2015, he graciously did a cameo for our film as the drunk and charming gentleman walking around Intramuros… In 2023 (in ‘Ang Larawan in Concert), he once again had a ball and stole the scene…. charming everyone with his wit, his bravura, his love for the stage and performing.”
Like theater, independent cinema held a special place in Ricky’s heart as he acted in a lot of independent movies, both full-length and short films. Filmmaker Tara Illenberger was thankful that Ricky accepted a supporting role for her first short film “Durog.”
Tara related on Facebook, “He came very early morning, right after a taping to do two measly scenes for me. I thanked him profusely for making time and asked him why he agreed to do it. He said he likes working with young, new directors. I said I was embarrassed our honorarium wasn’t much. He answered even if ‘monay lang ibabayad,’ pupunta siya for (producer) Sarah Pagcaliwagan Brakensiek. That was the kind of artist (Ricky) was. He was warm sunshine.”
One of the last films Ricky acted in was this year’s “Sinagtala,” where he played the long-lost father to Rhian Ramos’ character June.
“Sinagtala” writer-director Mike Sandejas shared, “I heard Ricky had just been to the hospital. He was sweating profusely, I worried about him but he said he was okay.”
Mike added that the actor did a great job, and that his scene with Rhian was one of his favorites.
Jason Abalos met Ricky when he was starting out. Ricky played his father in the 2005 ABS-CBN teleserye “Vietnam Rose” and in the 2007 Cinemalaya film “Endo,” where Jason won Urian Best Actor.
They played father-son again in 2017’s “Kabisera.”
Jason spoke about Ricky’s generosity to newbies like him. He said, “Tinanggap niya ako ng buong-buo sa bawat proyekto kahit na ako ay baguhan at wala pang masyadong karanasan. Hindi madamot at tuturuan ka sa paraan na maiintindihan mo.”
As for us, we will always regard Ricky as one of the most unaffected stars we have ever encountered. Frederick Charles Dabao a.k.a. Ricky Davao was stellar but he was one of the guys. He was busy but made time for important occasions, especially for the advocacies and people he cared about — like the awards ceremonies where he was a presenter, the premieres of ABS-CBN Film Restoration/Sagip Pelikula, screenings and launches of director Mike de Leon, the get-togethers with Mother Lily Monteverde’s Wednesday Club, to name a few. He was everywhere but he was still an enigma. (Like, did you know that Ricky had an engineering background from Mapua and that he designed his Quezon City home, himself?)
Without a doubt, Ricky Davao lived a meaningful life in his 63 years, and every life he touched was made more present by his goodness and love.
Ricky’s remains lie in state at the Heritage Park in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig.
