Rayver Cruz is still grieving over his father's passing Author: Napoleon Quintos Rayver Cruz is still grieving over the death of his father, 75-year-old Rodolfo Ilustre who succumbed to complications of the kidney and lungs last October 19. Mr. Ilustre had been confined to the intensive care unit of the Parañaque Medical Center for almost two months before his passing. He was laid to rest last October 24. ABS-CBN.com caught up with Rayver at the rehearsal for the Star Magic World Tour Concert to be staged on November 30 at the Araneta Coliseum. The young actor-dancer said he decided to go back to work in order to cope with his grief. " Tinutuon ko na lang 'yung atensyon ko sa rehearsal namin para sa Star Magic concert. Although hindi pa ako masyadong ganado pero pinipilit ko. Iniisip ko na lang na maging maganda dapat 'yung performance ko kasi para kay dad ito. Alam kong mapapasaya ko siya. Ang hirap lang kapag nagiging mag-isa ka, minsan pag-uwi mo hindi maiwasang malungkot. Siguro ganun talaga ang proseso." Rayver said that his family, including his brother Rodjun Cruz, also an actor-dancer, is still in the process of moving on. " Nalulungkot pa rin si mama. Hirap pa rin siya matanggap na wala na si dad. Si Rodjun nalulungkot din. Kapag pumapasok ako sa kwarto niya (his dad) naaalala ko siya. Pero siyempre kaming mga anak niya nasa tabi niya palagi para suportahan siya. Nag-promise kami lahat na kailangan naming maging strong para sa isa't isa." Rayver thanked his ASAP '09 family, especially rumored sweetheart Sarah Geronimo, for paying a visit during the wake of his dad. The 20-year-old actor said he is sad that his father will no longer be able to meet his very first girlfriend. " Nakakalungkot na kapag nagka-girlfriend ako hindi ko na mapapakilala sa kanya. Pero alam ko naman na kapag nangyari 'yun magiging masaya pa rin siya para sa akin. Alam ko kapag nag-asawa na ako at nagka-anak e nandiyan lang siyang nakabantay sa akin." Rayver also shared that before he passed away, his dad told them to keep the family together no matter what. " Ang bilin lang niya sa amin e magpakabait, magmahalan kaming magkakapatid, alagaan namin si mama. Si dad ang naging inspirasyon naming lahat para magpatuloy. Lahat ng ginagawa ko ngayon inaalay ko sa kanya." He said that he will miss the times when his dad and the whole family would go to the movies and have fun. " Mami-miss ko 'yung paglabas-labas namin. Sama-sama kaming family manood ng sine at kumain. Mahilig si dad kumain sa labas. Mami-miss ko lalo 'yung mga pagbibigay niya ng advice sa aming magkakapatid." Source: ABS-CBN Interactive | 
