OPM folk music Heber Bartolome dies at 73

OPM folk music icon Heber Bartolome, who injected Filipino patriotism through his classic hit "Tayo'y mga Pinoy," dies at 73.

His brother Jesse confirmed the singer's sudden death in an interview in dzBB,

"Biglaan, masaya pa kami nung birthday niya eh... noong nakaraang Tuesday," he said.

Furthermore, Jesse revealed that his brother had been suffering from prostate stones a year prior to his death.

It was cleared, however, that Heber never contracted the COVID-19, hence, a burial will be held for the music icon.

Together with his brothers Jesse and Levi, the 73-year-old OPM legend founded the protest band Banyuhay whose songs spoke about Filipino plight and struggles catapulted them to fame in the '70s.

The band was named after a magazine Heber himself put together just before martial law was declared in 1972.

Banyuhay actually meant metamorphosis.

The singer's artistic goods go far beyond music as he is also a painter.

He also taught literature at the De la Salle University, where singer Gary Valenciano and politician Ralph Recto were among his students.

Among his other hits were "Karaniwang Tao," "Pasahero," "Almusal" and "Inutil sa Gising."

His most popular hit "Tayo'y Mga Pinoy" made such a huge impact in society as it marched against the prevailing mentality about Filipinos hating their brown skins or flat noses or both. The song raised awareness that Filipinos should love what they have and be proud about it.

The late King of Pinoy Rap Francis Magalona featured a remake of the song which he included in his 1992 album Rap is FrancisM.

Meanwhile, here are other celebrities and personalities we lost this year: