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Stage actress Celia Diaz-Laurel passed away yesterday evening, July 12, at 93 years old.

Celia was also the wife of former Vice President Salvador Doy Laurel, and the mother of theater actor Cocoy and singer Iwi Laurel.

Born on May 29, 1928 in Talisay, Negros Occidental, Celia played a prominent role in Philippine art and theater.

She was known for her many contributions in the field of stage acting, painting, writing, poetry, and set and costume designing, among many others.

Celia was awarded the Natatanging Gawad Award in the 2016 Gawad Buhay Awards.

The said lifetime achievement award was bestowed on Cecile in recognition of her work and dedication to theater and arts.

She released a book just this May, and a few days before her birthday, titled My Lives Behind the Proscenium.

The book chronicles Celia's inspiring and colorful life story divided into chapters.

“Celia has written an entertaining story about her theatrical life in a straightforward, simple, style that not only will give the curious reader an insight into her life and the social milieu of her time but is a historical narrative of the early years of Manila theatre and the personalities who were part of it,” Joy Virata wrote in the book's foreword.

Meanwhile, singer-songwriter and General Luna frontwoman Nicole Laurel Asensio took to Facebook to pay tribute to her grandmother.

“Life with you, Lola is beautiful simply because you are in it, your smile, laughter, beauty, kindness, wisdom, love for the arts, love for life, grace and warm embrace are like no other. Thank you for teaching us, nurturing us and loving us,” wrote Nicole, who is the daughter of Iwi Laurel.

“Thank you Lord for allowing us time with our Lola, for allowing us to see her the last few days and make the most of her soft embrace. Your heart forever lives on in all of us who love you very much. See you again one day.”

Meanwhile, commemorate the celebrities and personalities that we lost in 2021 in this gallery: