HEART Evangelista, Tuesday Vargas and other comedians took to social media to pay tribute to comedian Gil Aducal Morales, popularly known as Ate Gay, who died on Nov. 1 following his battle with cancer.
Evangelista took to Instagram to share an art card dedicated to the late comedian, writing, “[crying emoji] rest na angel.”
The actress also left a comment on the death announcement posted by Morales’ family, saying, “My love 🙁 Kaya pala wala ka na sagot samin.”
In April, Morales revealed that Evangelista had been providing him with monthly financial assistance as he continued his cancer treatment.
Meanwhile, several comedians also shared their memories of Morales and expressed their grief over his passing.
Vargas called Morales an “absolute titan of comedy” as she looked back on her precious moments with the late comedian.
“It’s hard to find the right words to capture the size of the void left by her passing. I woke up feeling this emptiness today Ate Gay. Iniwan mo na din kami. Ate Gay wasn’t just a pioneer; she was an absolute titan of comedy,” expressed Vargas.
“To many of us who grew up in or crossed paths with that same comedy circuit, she was a true inspiration. Thank you for the endless laughter, the shared stages, and the masterclass in resilience, Ate Gay. The comedy scene will never be the same without your light,” she continued.
Wacky Kiray, meanwhile, recalled Morales’ generosity on the stage since he first met the comedian when he was just starting out in the comedy-bar scene in the late 1990s.
“Napaka-generous ni Ate Gay, lalo na sa pagbabahagi ng mga payo sa aming mga baguhan. Hindi lang siya basta mahusay na performer; punong-puno din siya ng energy, passion, at pagmamahal sa larangan ng pagpapatawa,” he said.
“Lumipas man ang maraming taon, ang mga alaala, tawanan, at mga aral na iniwan niya ay mananatili sa puso naming mga nakasama niya sa entablado,” he added.
Comedian Pepita Curtis remembered Morales as her “supermom” and thanked him for helping her become a better performer.
Comedian Edward Vallespin, also known as Amazing Peanut, paid tribute to Ate Gay, whom he identified as his mentor.
Morales first disclosed in September 2025 that he had been diagnosed with mucoepidermoid squamous cell carcinoma, a rare type of cancer.
Last week, his family announced that he was in critical condition and relying on life support after suffering septic shock, acute respiratory failure secondary to pneumonia, and a stroke.
Before his death, Morales celebrated his 55th birthday with a “living funeral” attended by family and friends. (Jessica Ann Evangelista © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
