黄文永's sudden passing had once again reminded everyone of the unpredictabilities of life. And never to take any person, who may well be healthy and kicking, for granted. It took him just months between learning about the cancer and passing away.
I wasn't born in the 雾锁南洋 era, but I've caught bits and pieces of the classic when the TV station repeated, countlessly. But never before had I wanted to catch it completely, until now. I admit the interest for the show grew with the outpouring of grief from his matured fans. To me, I'd better remember him for his 黄金来 role in 敢敢做个开心人, which I hardly missed an episode throughout the seasons. As a huge fan of local TV, my childhood days were spent almost completely in front of the small screen. I will never forget how I looked forward to every Saturday 9:30pm, for the latest episode of the heartlander sitcom. I am forever amused how alike this 黄金来 resembled my own father, in his thriftiness.
In more recent times, I really liked his light-hearted roles in 一房半厅一水缸(2009) and 四个门牌一个梦(2011), which totally portrayed the souls of the heartlander and the government-hater. In his last drama 好运到(2013), there were signs of him being slightly skinny and haggard, and I remembered commenting on that as I followed the series.
Try naming a celebrity with no haters, and I bet you'll have some difficulties. Like 凤飞飞, 黄文永 is one rare celebrity whom you'd hardly hear people say "I don't like him". And when his colleagues and friends shared stories about this humble and kind co-worker, it goes to show that he was well-respected and well-loved, and his EQ was sky-high. He didn't live for nothing because he had touched the lives of many. In fact, his household name had crossed at least 2 generations, and had been a common shared memory of local-born Singaporeans, who had grown up in the days when we did nothing but watch TV.
In the coming Star Awards 2013, he'd be awarded with an honorary award. But I'm also secretly hoping that he'd clinch the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in 花样人间(2012). As for the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artiste award, fans had said that they'd get him in. If that happens too, it'd be of the most classic Star Awards ceremony ever.
*Edit on 29 April: It indeed was a classic awards ceremony -- Apart from the posthumous honorary award, 黄文永 was strongly voted into Top 10 for his second and last time, making him the only celebrity to clinch the coveted award after passing. Earlier in the week, he was also the first celebrity to have a grand send-off funeral, with Mediacorp halting productions for the day, so that hundreds of artistes and staff could walk him through his last journey.
人生是黑白的.
11:44 PM <3
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