We share memes on social media and messaging platforms for laughs, without a second thought about the people in them.
That is, not until news of their passing surfaces, like that of Filipino Gerry Alanguilan, the face behind the popular “Hey, Baby!” meme.
While his hilarious expression has amused many, what the countless people who’ve shared the meme may not know is Gerry’s illustrious career.
The 51-year-old had illustrated for major series in the comics universe, including X-Men, Superman and Fantastic Four.
His sudden death has not only left a hole in the world of cartoons, but also sent shock waves across the Internet.
If you’ve flipped through comic books and marvelled at the graphics before, you have skillful artists like Gerry Alanguilan to thank.
The Filipino was a master illustrator of popular titles in several series which include:
You can view his full portfolio as compiled by news site The Philippine Star here.
While he shared many of his works on his Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter under the handle Komikero, his Instagram posts show Gerry had a penchant for slapstick humour.
If the “Hey, Baby!” meme video is anything to go by, we’d say Gerry had an effortless sense of humour.
His photos on Instagram often feature witty captions or him in funny poses, proof that he had no qualms about poking fun at himself.
His distinctly affable personality must have endeared him to many who had crossed his paths, and we’re sure they’ll all miss him very much.
The exact cause of Gerry’s death is unknown, but a report by ABS-CBN states that it was due to “an unspecified disease”.
Gerry himself had written about his illness in his last blog post just days before his death, in an entry titled “Struggles”:
Despite the pain he had to endure, we’re glad that Gerry still lived his life to the fullest till his very last days, doing what he loved.
Even after his passing, we’re confident that his fans will continue to remember his contributions for years to come.
MS News extends our sincerest condolences to Gerry’s family and friends.
Featured image adapted from Facebook and YouTube.
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