Nestor Malapitan, who is on vacation in Manila, brought out the news regarding Rey Sanchez.

FYI...

I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM EVERYONE THAT OUR VERY OWN REY SANCHEZ HAD PASSED AWAY ON THE 22ND OF THIS MONTH AT THE AGE OF 63. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, TWO CHILDREN AND FIVE GRANDCHILDREN. HIS BODY LIES IN STATE AT RIZAL FUNERAL HOME, LIBERTAD PASAY AND INTERMENT WILL BE ON SATURDAY THE 28TH OF THIS MONTH. FORMER COLLEGUES, BANDMATES AND FRIENDS WERE AT THE WAKE LAST NIGHT TO PAY RESPECT TO OUR VERY OWN REY. SUCH NOTABLE MUSICIANS PRESENT ARE TOTO E AND DANNY SUBIDO ( MOONSTRUCKS ) JUN MARTINEZ, OLLIE ONTAWCO ( DOMINIK PROMOTION ) PORKY ( REGENTS ) AND SO MANNY OTHERS.

I ALSO LEARNED FROM OUR FELLOW MUSICIANS THAT BOY ADAN HAD ALREADY PASSED AWAY IN HONGKONG AND HIS BODY WILL BE FLOWN HOME SOON. NO OTHER DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PRAY FOR THE ETERNAL REPOSE OF THEIR SOULS.

NESTOR MALAPITAN

I am really saddened to hear this news. Rey Sanchez was my number 1 Pinoy guitar hero of all times. I shall mourn his passing and pray for his soul. I will play my old scratchy Celtics mp3's today in his honor.

Likewise with Boy Adan, may God bless themm both.

Noel Copiaco
Lansing, Michigan

I remember "BIG DADDY" everytime people asked me about Rey Sanchez. I still know how to play it. I remember this guys in Vietnam, Japan, Manila and Olongapo. Boy Adan used to play at the Sierra Club. They are very good entertainers. I think sila ang mga naunang "Showman" noon dahil ang mga uso noon ay nakaporma lang. Pagandahan lang ng porma. Rey is like the Steve VAI during that time. I think I'll talk to Ben na sana may mga individual picture ang bawa't isa sa PCR. Para naman sa ganoon ay makita ng iba pang darating na musician yong mga naunang musician at makilala nila sa pangalan at kung anong hitsura nila noong nabubuhay pa. Mabuti siguro lahat ng pilipinong musician, kahit pati yong mga buhay pa at ng magkakila-kilala tayong lahat. Ben, isinama na kita dito para mabasa mo itong e-mail ko. Ipagdasal na lang natin sila......Thank you...

Nestor de las Alas
Virginia, USA

I was in awe of Rey Sanchez as a kid. My old band the Black Knights played Celtics tunes when no other pinoy bands would. We played Celtics tunes while other bands played Electro and Riots. Rey’s original tunes stood their ground with the best of what the Ventures or the Shadows had to offer. Just listen to Tomahawk, Mr Playboy or Cossack.

Rey had the sustain and distortion even way before sustain and distortion machines were invented. I don’t know how he did it but he was an original. The greatest pinoy guitar hero in my book.

I shall always remember him pulling that vibrato bar on his sunburst Strat to the limit like no other. Para sa akin, isa siya sa pinaka magaling!

Malualhating paglalakbay, Rey. Salamat sa iyong inspirasyon at mga ginintuang himig.

Rey, I salute you together with the rest of the Black Knights.

Noel Copiaco
Lansing, Michigan

It’s really saddening to hear that Rey Sanchez and Boy Adan passed away. They are both friends of mine. May they Rest in Peace and lets pray for their eternal rest.God Bless both of them.

Jess Manahan
Vallejo, California

May Boy Adan and Rey Sanchez rest in peace!

Hopefully, sa Langit naman ang reunion nila kasama ng iba nating mga katoto na nauna na sa atin--Bob McCoy, Edgar Alcobenbas, Eddie Boy Ablaza, at mga iba pa.

Prayerfully,
Manny Tuazon
San Francisco, California

To: Rey Sanchez & Boy Adan

Please relay my sincere condolences to the family

Mel Orosa
Manila, Philippines

Our condolences to the family of REY SANCHEZ of the CELTICS and BOY ADAN of the GRANDEURS. We will INCLUDE both of them in our prayers. MAY THEIR SOULS HAVE ETERNAL REST, THROUGH THE MERCY OF OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST.

Niki Domingo
Bits N' Pieces Band
Southern California

I felt bad when Dani Bornilla, told me that Rey Sanchez died already. I heard and seen him on TV shows a lot, but I never met him personally.

Last year there was a battle of the band here in Las Vegas held at Suncoast Hotel-Casino....Me and Dani with our wives sitting on the table... this Rey Sanchez passed by and Dani called his name.. so he seats on our table and Dani introduced him to me. I was thrilled, because after so many years now I'm sitting in front with this famous guy playing the lead guitar and he's the one I know who uses the bar of the guitar a lot.

He knows me and asked me if I'm still playing.... I said to him yeah only at home. I'd ask him too, if he's still play..he said yeah. I kid him… you still use the bar or vibrato a lot?...he said yeah with smile on his face. Few minutes he left our table. After the battle of the band as we walked out the lounge room, Rey was there at the entrance and we chat again.... asking how's my 2 brods. I told him Nides & Tony are all okay, Nides leaves at New Jersey and Tony got back to San Francisco.

All the while I thought he lives here in states, he said he's just visiting states. When I said to him bye, bye... I felt inside of me he wants to chat more with me, but we had to go home 'cause I have work the following morning.

Now, I said to myself I should have chat more to him during that moment, so I could know more about himself and I think we have a good vibration because we're the same lead guitarist.

So, Rey Sanchez, I pray for your soul and you may have eternal life.

Poldy Aranzamendez
Las Vegas, Nevada
formerly Jungle Cats

I just wish that you were all here with me when I attended the first night of Rey Sanchez wake. As soon as I walked in I was whisked to meet Mrs. Sanchez and expressed my condolence. She was very accommodating and I even asked her if I can take some pictures of the wake and if I can break the news to PCR members in which she readily agreed.

There I also met a lot of our fellow classic rockers that we have to be re introduced syempre iba ang hitsura natin ngayon. There were a lots kuwento about the good old days and mostly about our relationship with Rey. They also have compilations of Rey's pictures from his early days up the present. I was kinda surprised when a guy came out of the family room, the young Rey Sanchez. Yes kamukha niya yung son niya, parang nakita nyo uli si Rey nung '60's guwapo.

Rey Sanchez , the Celtics, idol namin yan. Wala kaming inabangan sa TV nun kundi sila kaya nung nagcombo na rin kami and have a chance to guest on Night Owl in which they are the regular, very proud kami. Imagine same stage with your idol, the Celtics. Then in later years, I have a chance to alternate with Rey's band in Tokyo's Plus One.

In the late 80's Celtics did a reunion in Manila. The venue was Night Owl in Ermita and the host was Lito Gorospe, it was a very nostalgic night. Parang nanood ka ng Night Owl in black and white TV again. I'm glad that I have witnessed that event and I think that was their last.

If you're wondering where the other guys are, Gener is in the U.S. and fully informed about Rey, Gani and Boy Lopez, no contact and Jojo have passed away some seven years ago. This is according to Mrs. Sanchez.

So mga kasama sa musika tuloy natin ang pag alala at pagdarasal sa mga yumao nating kasama.

Nestor Malapitan
Kasama nyo sa musika
Houston, Texas

My Fellow Musician,Entertainers,Bandmembers;Etc,

In time like this, we should have five minutes of solemn moment of silence to pay tribute to our Brothers… a fellow Entertainer Musician, who just passed away.... May they rest in peace. Their contribution to the Philippines music industry has changed the trend of style of our playing. They will be surely missed by music industry and the people whose been following their path. We thank you for the great influence you both inspired us.

My deepest condolence goes to the family of Rey Sanchez and Boy Adan. May God Bless their Soul …

George Jamero
Guam

As I read the sad news about Rey from Boy, I was really truly sadden. Sayang, I've been wishing Rey and whoever was left of the original Celtics could have had a reunion concert or an all-time hits album. I really believe a lot of rockers from our generation recognize them as among the great Pinoy combos during the 60's. I know RJ Jacinto kept on mentioning and inviting Rey S. to do a reunion concert in his TV program but it's unfortunate now because of his untimely demise. I consider him unique and original because of his style and choice of music. I envision him as like making love with his guitar as he plays with intense feeling (madiin at maharot pumindot ng kuwerdas). If you listen closely to the Celtics tunes, I even suspect the Eagles of Bristol copied their lead guitar sound from Rey.

I don't know but by a strange stroke of fate, I happened to be in the area of Rey's wake last night in Libertad St., Pasay (malapit sa Cartimar Market) so I decided to drop by to pay my last respects and also on all of your behalf to our Pinoy Rock idol.

I didn't know anybody at the funeral parlor when I arrived at about 8pm when a "Tisay looking" lady approached me and introduced herself as the daughter of Rey. She had the eyes and facial features of his father and suddenly I felt tumayo ang balahibo ko as I could feel I was remembering his famous face during the 60's through her. I introduced myself and told her I was paying tribute and last respects to an idol and fellow Pinoy combo player during the 60's and that I also represented the other BK members who are now in the states. She politely told me to make myself comfortable as she had to attend to the other visitors and that her mother shall be coming back soon. Rey was looking great in dark blue suit, white shirt and a blue cravat with Elvis' face printed on it. He seemed to have gained some weight inspite of a heart ailment which lead to his second fatal cardiac arrest. He still sported some shiny "kiss me" hair bangs reminescent of his 60's pomade-heavy hairstyle. Beside his coffin were a drum set, some amps and a Gibson vintage axe. I missed his sunburst Strat. Also pasted on a whiteboard were old pictures of the Celtics, magazine cutouts of the Nite Owl and other gigs during their prime. I wanted to take some photos but I didn't have a cam with me and the priest was about to say mass already. At that time, his wife, Bing was introduced to me. Then I realized where their daughter got those "Tisay" looks. I reckon Bing must have been a former beauty queen during her younger years. Di lang pala magaling ang idol natin, maswerte pa! When she learned that we also had a combo before, she said that friends of Rey who attend the wake drop by and usually jam the night away. She also said that Rey was still jamming with friends before he died sometimes.

I had to hurry then to another appointment and as I was driving away, I again offered prayers for Rey and felt a nostalgic gladness knowing that another great Pinoy Rock legend is finally resting in peace. I hope I was able to share this small tribute with all of you to the man the BK's consider one of the great Pinoy lead guitarists.

Romy Jakosalem
Manila, Philippines
Black Knights

My deepest condolences to the family of Rey Sanchez.
He’s truly a gifted guitar player and an inspiration for many of us Pinoy classic rockers. His legacy won’t be forgotten.

May HE Rest In Peace….