UPeepz member Heart Uy passes away at 18

Heart Uy, a member of the dance crew UPeepz, has passed away. She was 18 years old.

The award-winning hip-hop group from the University of the Philippines made the sad announcement on Facebook, saying they were grieving "the profound loss of someone who meant the world to us."

The team added, “We will miss you.”

“We want to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support and prayers that have poured in for Heart, as well as for Tito Mark, and her beloved fur babies Luna and Chewie,” UPeepz said.

The group also requested for the Uy family, Heart’s friends, and teammates to be given space and privacy to grieve and heal from the loss.

They will hold a public wake and announce details soon.

Account numbers were posted and a GoFundMe page was set up to help the Uy family.

A tragic fire engulfed their Quezon City home on Thursday morning at 2 a.m. The family lost Heart, Mark Baban, and fur babies Chewie and Luna. According to an “Unang Balita” report, two residents were also hurt.

In its Facebook post, UPeepz looked back on Heart’s time with the crew.

“Even before we had a junior team back in 2016, UPeepz was already blessed with the presence of an extraordinary dancer,” they said.

“At the age of 10, she embarked on this journey with us and graced our dance family with her dedication. She then paved the way for junior teams to be competitive in the international stages,” the team added.

Throughout her eight-year career, Heart became a seasoned dance competitor, leader, and team senior choreographer.

“She was more than a talented dancer; she was our coach, our champion, a cherished teammate, and an inseparable part of our dance family,” they said.

“Heart, we love you so much and your legacy will continue to inspire us,” UPeepz added.

— Nika Roque/LA, GMA Integrated News