Cj De Silva-Ong, who rose to fame as a Promil Gifted Child in the 1990s, passed away on June 18, her husband Wincy Ong confirmed in a Facebook post.
"Most of you would remember her as a Promil Gifted Child in those commercials in the Nineties, but from the many people who visited the hospital or sent in a message or two, I learned that Cj was a gift herself to the people who came to know her," he said in a heartfelt message.
The painter, creative director, and podcaster had no prior known illnesses. She was rushed to the hospital on June 4 due to aneurysm, and had to undergo a coiling surgery. While in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital, CJ suffered two strokes.
In commemorating her 36 years, Wincy honored Cj as a "loving wife, a loving cat-mom to their cats Andres and Max, and a loving daughter to her parents and uncle.
"She always told me she'd wanted a funeral that was fun and not so serious. Let's celebrate her 36 amazing years here on this planet by filling it with things that made her happy--music, conversations, coffee, and good food," Wincy added.
Meanwhile, Shaira Luna, a former Promil Gifted Child commercial model and now a photographer, posted a heartfelt message for Cj. Sharing the post of Wincy, Shaira reiterated that CJ remains in her memory "forever as the exceptional little one."
"Whenever people would mistake us for each other in the industry, I always say how funny it is that we actually have yet to meet again, or work together as adults! I’m sure we would have had plenty of things to talk about (especially as former Promil kids, hahaha)," Shaira shared.
Cj graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman and worked in TBWA-Santiago Mangada Puno.
Aneurysm As Cause Of Death Of Other Young Celebrities
An aneurysm is a bulge or ballooning in the wall of a blood vessel, most often an artery. This condition can occur in various parts of the body, but the most common and concerning locations are the brain (cerebral aneurysm) and the main artery from the heart (aortic aneurysm).
Aneurysms are particularly dangerous because they often show no symptoms until they rupture, leading to life-threatening complications.
CJ De Silva-Ong's death mirrors the tragic fates of Isabel Granada and Jovit Baldivino, both of whom also succumbed to aneurysms.
Isabel, a well-known actress and singer, passed away in 2017 after collapsing due to a brain aneurysm while in Qatar. Similarly, Jovit Baldivino, the first winner of "Pilipinas Got Talent," died in 2022 after suffering a ruptured aneurysm.
Aneurysms can develop due to various factors, including high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, genetic predispositions, and trauma, according to the World Health Organization.
