MANILA - Actor Johnny Delgado was loved until his death.

As early as his first night at the Mt. Carmel in New Manila, friends, colleagues, kin and fans paid their last respects to him.

Character actor and martial artist Levy Ignacio, a long time friend of Delgado, came minutes after he was declared dead by his doctors early Thursday afternoon at his house in Horseshoe Village.

“Tinawagan agad ako ni Laurice (Guillen) so I immediately went to their place. Ako pa nga ang nagsara ng kanyang mga panga,” said Ignacio, describing how he gently clinched the locked jaws of his bosom body.

No, Ignacio isn’t a member of Delgado’s group, the “Bad Bananas,” but they were very close golfer buddies.

“I miss him so much. We just played recently. Itinago kasi niya ang sakit niya. Sabi niya kaya niya,” Ignacio murmured inside the chapel Friday night.

“Bad Banana” guy Edgar Mortiz, one of Delgado’s best friends, is another golf player who usually hangs around with them at the Camp Aguinaldo Golf Course.

Bobot, Mortiz’ pet name, is in Macau during his best pal’s death.

Delgado planned to join the Dolphy Cup next week had he not died.

Delgado, Juan Marasigan Feleo in real life, had indulged himself in a lot of activities aside from acting.

He was also into composing songs and singing.

“Ikaw at Ako,” a ballad Delgado composed and sang, was being played at the chapel where his body lies.

“It is the theme song of a film directed by Ina (Feleo, director Laurice Guillen and Johnny’s youngest daughter),” said Ana Feleo, the eldest of two kids, who was playing the organ in between talking to mourners.

“Ikaw at Ako” is very mesmerizing.

The song will be played louder on Monday night during a necrological service for the veteran actor.

“There are many fond memories I treasure with Dad. I will really miss him,” exclaimed Ana.

According to the classical singer, she is a papa’s girl. “He always made me sandwich even when I was a kid and until now. We would always go out of town even just the two of us. Formerly, it was Lucban, Quezon where we would stay for days. Bibilhan niya ako ng corned beef and we would eat. Isang kamao ang subo niya ng kanin. Tapos, he would feed me,” Ana recalled.

Guillen, at this point, has already given her husband to the Lord.

“There were many things that our relationship had healed,” the famed director volunteered to a TV man.

It will be hard for her to adjust to a new life without Delgado, but Laurice said she could manage.

The actor was also into painting. He did almost a hundred art works. Last year, he mounted a one-man show.

What would the Feleos do with his masterpieces?

“Titingnan ko kung mag-i-exhibit ako o kaya ay kung ano ang puwedeng gawin sa kanyang mga paintings,” answered Guillen.

Delgado’s friends, old and new, came to the wake.

Tito Sotto, a longtime family friend was around to condole with Guillen and her daughters and also, with Ben Feleo, Delgado’s director-father.

The Film Development Fund of the Philippines hierarchy was there including its chair, Jackie Atienza, with Digna Santiago.

Former "Body Beautiful" Vivian Velez was an early mourner. Velez has been close with Guillen and Delgado.

Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Guillen’s fellow director, who’s also stricken with cancer, is Velez’s film teacher.

“Nag-breakdown nga si Marilou nang malaman niyang namatay na si Johnny,” Velez recounted.

Sexy star Isabel Rivas, who’s now semi-retired from show business drove down from Iba, Zambales to see her friend for the last time.

Irrepressible talent manager Lolit Solis came with wards Lorna Tolentino and Amy Austria.

Direct from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, couple Tirso Cruz III and Lyn Ynchausti went directly to the wake from the US where they watched the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight.

Actress Sandy Andolong, who came minus Christopher de Leon, was preparing for the table for a holy mass.

They were all recalling the many sweet and not-so sweet moments with their dear departed.

If Delgado were alive, he would be hopping from table to table just like his gregarious self entertaining his guests.

Anyway, the song “Ikaw at Ako” is like him talking alive with them.