MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Young star Franco Hernandez, a member of the boy group Hashtags, died in a drowning incident in Davao Occidental on Saturday, November 11.
Cornerstone Entertainment, the company that manages Franco, confirmed the sad news.
"It is with deep sadness and grief that we accept the news of Franco Miguel Hernandez Lumunlan aka Hashtag Franco's passing today," Cornerstone said.
It added: " He was a very promising talent and a true star in every sense of the word. He was passionate, hardworking, humble and liked by all. He lived his life following his dreams and made every second count. Franco was not just our talent....He was part of our family. And our hearts break into a million pieces for such a young life gone too soon. We will surely miss him. Rest In Peace, our ever dearest Franco."
{source} <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BbXCCn1nmC4/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">It is with deep sadness and grief that we accept the news of Franco Miguel Hernandez Lumunlan aka "Hashtag Franco"'s passing today. He was a very promising talent and a true star in every sense of the word. He was passionate, hardworking, humble and liked by all. He lived his life following his dreams and made every second count. Franco was not just our talent... He was part of our family. And our hearts break into a million pieces for such a young life gone too soon. We will surely miss him. Rest In Peace our ever dearest Franco.</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Cornerstone Entertainment Inc (@cornerstone) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-11-11T15:24:15+00:00">Nov 11, 2017 at 7:24am PST</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}
In the report received by Cornerstone, Police Officer 2 Rolly Conad said Franco was on a boat with his girlfriend, Hashtag team member Tom Doromal, and two others in North Lamidan, Don Marcelino in Davao Occidental, when big waves hit their boat on Saturday afternoon.
Franco and his girlfriend reportedly fell into the water. Both were saved by the boat driver and crew, but Franco was already unconscious when he was rescued. He was brought to the Estacion Medical Clinic in the neighboring town of Malita, but he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician, Dr Nimayre Macabaya.
His close friends from Hashtags and in showbiz took to social media to express their grief.
Vice Ganda
Tragic. This is just so heartbreaking. Oh my God!
— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) November 11, 2017
Ito yung pagkakataon na hinihiling kong sana ito ang fake news. Sana lng please.
— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) November 11, 2017
Ronnie Alonte
Di ko kaya narinig ko #franco
— Ronnie 2 Alonte (@iamr2alonte) November 11, 2017
Wag muna lord! #Franco
— Ronnie 2 Alonte (@iamr2alonte) November 11, 2017
Mccoy de Leon
"Bro sobrang binigla mo kami. Nakilala kita na mabuting tao at kaibigan. Marami kang napasaya isa na ako dun. Basta lagi kong sasabihin sa 'yo na proud na proud ako sa 'yo, bro. Salamat, mamimiss ka namin. We love you."
(Bro, you really shocked us. I knew you as a good person and as a friend. You made a lot of people happy, and I'm one of them. I will always tell you that I'm really so proud of you, bro. Thank you and we will miss you. We love you.)
TJ Monterde
Rest in eternal peace, brother @Hashtag_Franco
— TJ Monterde (@tjmusicmonterde) November 11, 2017
Dawn Chang
I love you @Hashtag_Franco
— DAWN CHANG (@dawnchangoffcl) November 11, 2017
Gil Cueva
Gone too soon. Rest in Peace, Franco. pic.twitter.com/8y0Sixy9XC
— Gil Cuerva (@gilcuerva) November 11, 2017
Arron Villaflor
I haven't chat with you since you came in. Prayers for my brother @Hashtag_Franco and his family. @cornerstone_ofc
— Arron L. Villaflor (@arronvillaflor) November 11, 2017
Grabe.. rest in peace, franco
— Barbie Imperial (@barbieeimperial) November 11, 2017
Ryle Paolo Tan
"Nakakainis ka. Sobra. Hindi ka man lang nagpaalam sa amin. Mahal na mahal ka namin, Franco. I will miss you. Bago bago mo palang sa Hashtags, nauna ka pang umalis. You were such a blessing, Franco. I hope you know that."
(You're so annoying. It's too much. You didn't even say goodbye to us. We love you, Franco. I will miss you. You're just relatively new in Hashtags, but you were the first to leave. You were such a blessing, Franco. I hope you know that.)
Myrtle Sarrosa
I still can't believe it. Rest In Peace Franco. @Hashtag_Franco
— Myrtle Sarrosa (@MyrtleGail) November 11, 2017
CK Kieron
Sana fake news at panaginip lang lahat
— Charles Kieron (@hashtag_ckieron) November 11, 2017
Rayt Carreon
Masyadong maaga bro
— Rayt Carreon (@hashtag_rayt) November 11, 2017
Chienna Filomeno
Hi Francs, I hope you're okay up there. Kasi kami dito, sobrang lungkot. Sobrang mamimiss ka namin. You'll be forever in our hearts. pic.twitter.com/yqsEPKI7kX
— Chienna Filomeno (@ChieFilomeno) November 11, 2017
– Rappler.com
