Cesar Apolinario's wife thankful for prayers, looks back on husband's final days

The late Cesar Apolinario was not just a brilliant reporter, documentarian and filmmaker, he was also a loving husband, father and friend.

Interviewed on Unang Balita on Monday, Cesar's widow Joy expressed gratitude to everyone who extended their sympathies and prayers for her late husband and recounted how he spent his final days.

"Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. Sa mga kaibigan ni Cesar, sa mga katrabaho niya, sa lahat ng nagmamahal, naging parte ng buhay ni Cesar, maraming maraming salamat sa inyo," she said.

"At ngayon po nararamdaman ko na nasa tabi ko si Cesar, nakangiti, masaya, payapa, pinasasabi po niya na maraming maraming salamat po at mahal na mahal niya kayo."

Cesar Apolinario passed away on Friday after being diagnosed with lymphoma earlier this year. He was 46 years old.

"Napakabuti [niyang] ama sa kanyang mga anak, napaka-mapagmahal na kapatid sa kanyang mga kapatid, sa kanyang mga magulang, at sa akin," Joy said of her late husband.

She also revealed why Cesar chose to battle his disease privately.

"Kahit ako matagal bago ko nakumbinsi na [ipagsabi] ni Cesar yung kanyang karamdaman, na kung puwede lang, ayaw niyang makasakit ng ibang tao," Joy said.

Joy, however, said that while she misses her husband a great deal, she was glad to have spent her life with such a kind, thoughtful and God-fearing person.

"Marami akong mami-miss kay Cesar: 'Yung mga ngiti, tawa, halakhak, wala akong masabi talaga, napakabait, napakabuting ama, napakabuting asawa, napakabuting kapatid, anak, sa mga magulang niya, kaibigan. Wholesome," Joy said.

"Ngayon ko nakita, naramdaman 'yung pag-ibig ng Panginoon na siya 'yung ginawang daluyan ng pagpapala sa kapwa niya." —Margaret Claire Layug/KBK, GMA News