Director Federico “Toto” Natividad succumbed to COVID-19 yesterday. He was 63.
Natividad is famous for directing action movies and shows, including “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” on ABS-CBN and “Cain at Abel” on GMA-7. He also served as chairman of Barangay North Bay Boulevard South in Navotas.
Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco paid tribute to Natividad in his social media post: “Isa na namang masipag na serbisyo publiko at matapat na katuwang ng pamahalaang Lungsod sa paglaban sa pandemya ang nawla sa atin. Ikinalulungkot po nating ibalita ang pagpanaw ni Kap. Toto Natividad, punong barangay ng North Bay Boulevard South (NBBS) Kaunlaran.
Kahit na senior citizen na at bahagi ng bulnerableng sector na may mas mataas na tyansang mahawa ng COVID-19, hindi nagpapigil si Kap. Toto sa pangunguna sa pag-asikaso at pangangalaga sa kanyang mga kabarangay. Palagi ang kanyang paalala sa kanyang nasasakupan, mapa-personal o sa social media, na mag-ingat para makaiwas sa sakit.”
On Saturday, Natividad’s son, John Isaac Natividad, asked for help for his father to be admitted to a hospital due to COVID-19. It was April 20 when the director suffered difficulty in breathing. He was rushed to Navotas General Hospital where he was intubated.
He was transferred to Green City Med Center in San Fernando, Pampanga, where he passed away.
Natividad was born on July 19, 1957. He won best director from the Film Academy of the Philippines for “Hangga’t May Hininga” (1986).
