Heber Bartolome, Pinoy music legend, 73

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino folk and rock icon Heber Bartolome passed away on Monday, his brother Jesse confirmed in a radio interview. Heber was 73.

In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Jesse did not give much details on his demise but said he received a call that Heber was rushed on Monday night to Veterans Memorial Medical Center when his pulse went faint. He died a few minutes later.

“It was so sudden. We were happy celebrating his birthday last Tuesday, Nov. 9,” he added in Filipino.

Heber suffered from prostate illness for over a year, according to Jesse.

He also clarified that Heber’s death is not COVID-related.

Heber is the hitmaker behind Nena, Tayo’y Mga Pinoy, Pasahero, Karaniwang Tao and Almusal.

He was the founder of the band Banyuhay and a former member and trustee of Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Inc. (FILSCAP).

He was born on Nov. 4, 1948 in Cabanutuan City, Nueva Ecija.

He earned a Fine Arts degree from the University of the Philippines in 1973 and taught Filipino Literature at the De La Salle University from 1981 to 1984.