During the press junket for Mediaworks’ upcoming esports-themed film Good Game, cast members paid tribute to their co-star Ronaldo Valdez, who passed away last December 17. Veteran actress Boots Anson-Roa, who plays his estranged wife in the film, spoke on behalf of the cast about the beloved actor. 

“Alam niyo, kumbaga, isang buong jigsaw puzzle ito. Napakagandang jigsaw puzzle ito. Merong isang kulang na parte na maliit, malaki, pero kung wala itong jigsaw puzzle part na ito, hindi makukumpleto yung pelikula. We’re referring to the late Ronaldo Valdez.

"This is not the time to mourn his death but a time I think for us to enjoy and to celebrate the illustrious and meaningful life that he led as an actor and as a member of the industry. And we remember him with fondest thoughts and with a lot of respect for his filmography and his great contribution to the industry by way of his work. So our loss is heaven’s gain.

"Pero if I know Ronaldo, mahilig yun mag-kenkoy sa pelikula. Lahat tayo na-experience natin yun. Baka nandidito lang yan sa pali-paligid. Baka mamaya gulatin niya tayo (laughs). Maybe we can say a quiet and short prayer for Ronaldo in the very recesses of our hearts,” she said. 

READ: Ronaldo Valdez, pumanaw na

Aside from being paired together in Good Game, Boots revealed that she and the late actor were actually a love team in the late '70s when they were young stars.

“Lover (ko siya) sa maraming pelikula. 1974 pa po gumagawa na kami ng pelikula ni Ronaldo. Kami yung mga Kathniel nung araw, mga LizQuen. Pero iba yung mga love teams nung araw kesa ngayon. With did a number of films. Dito sa Good Game, unfortunately, estranged couple kami dito so hindi kami magkasama sa mga eksena. Ang madalas na kasama niya ay si Maricel (Laxa) na anak namin. We were together sa earlier presscons, sa story conference, and even then, si Ronaldo, even if he was facing many challenges eh patawa pa rin ng patawa yun. And he was always a joy to work with. We’ll surely miss him and as was announced earlier, we dedicate this project to his memory. We honor him through GG,” she added. 

READ:Donny Pangilinan to star in esports film with mom Maricel Laxa

In Good Game, Boots also plays the role of lead star Donny Pangilinan’s grandmother and mother to Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan. During the presscon last January 10, Boots also shared what she has discovered while working on the film. 

“In my case, ang naging pagbabago ay medyo nainitindihan ko, hindi pa rin masyado naintindihan yung e-game, pero naintindihan ko yung istorya ng apo ko at ng mga kasama niya and it was an eye-opener na each e-gamer has a story to tell, not only about the sport but about his life.

"And dahil nga mahal ni lola si Seth ay pinag-aralan niya, inalam niya, at nakiisa siya dito sa kanyang apo. Kaya makikita niyo dito sa mga eksena namin, nakipag-e-game game din ako at halos talunin ko na yung computer screen dahil sa excitement. Thank you to the producers for making me part of this,” she shared.

Catch GG (Good Game): The Movie in cinemas nationwide starting January 24.