‘The Golden Voice’ dies of heart attack

Showbiz is again in mourning. This time it is for balladeer Diomedes Maturan, tagged as the "Perry Como of the Philippines" and "The Golden Voice."

Maturan died of heart attack at the Manila Doctors Hospital yesterday morning. He was 61.

Maturan was also known as the voice behind Rose Tattoo — a song by Perry Como — which made him grand champion in the "Tawag ng Tanghalan" singing contest in 1958.

Rose Tattoo, the theme song of the Anthony Quinn-Ana Magnani movie of the same title, opened the door for Maturan’s enduring stage-film career. That same year, LVN Pictures cast him in Rose Tattoo ng Buhay Ko opposite Charito Solis.

Stage shows all over the country, notably Clover Theater in Sta. Cruz, Manila, hired Maturan, where he invariably sang Rose Tattoo upon the audience’s demand. He also performed at the Manila Grand Opera House also in Sta. Cruz and at the Metropolitan Theater at Plaza Lawton.

From 1958 to 1965, the singer fondly called Diomeng starred in 25 movies with big names in the industry like the late Nida Blanca, Marita Zobel and Mila Ocampo, mother of actress Snooky Serna.

Maturan had a wide and varied repertoire, which included kundiman and English ballads, old and new alike. He was also known for songs like Dahil Sa ‘Yo and In Despair.

The day before he died, he accepted an invitation to sing at a Mass at the Our Lady of the Divine Mercy in Marilao, Bulacan. Maturan was a devotee to the Divine Mercy, whose feast day was celebrated Sunday.

He would also attend the Mass for the said feast every year, as long as he was not abroad for some commitment.

The singer-actor also attended a birthday party for a physician-friend in Quezon City on the eve of his death. He went home at 10:30 p.m. and complained of chest pains at midnight.

He was scheduled to leave April 17 for the US and Canada with his wife Sylvia for a two-month concert tour before Filipino communities. Tickets had already been sold.

Maturan is survived by his wife Sylvia (nee Policarpio), and children Dennis, Ma. Teresa, Dominic and Marjorie.

Among the first celebrities to express condolences to the family, according to Maturan’s sister-in-law Loriy Maniquiz, were Tiya Dely Magpayo and Sylvia La Torre.

Maturan’s body lies at the Sacred Heart Chapel in Galas, Quezon City. It will be transferred to the Arlington Memorial Chapel tomorrow. Interment at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City will be announced later. — With Katherine Adraneda