Rio Diaz
Encyclopedia
Rio Diaz-Cojuangco was a former beauty queen, TV Host and actress born in the Philippines
. She was the sister of former Miss Universe
Gloria Diaz
. Rio was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in December 1998. She was given three months to live then, but she lived for six more years. She died on October 4, 2004 in Seton Hospital in Daly City, California at the age of only 45.
, Miss Universe
1969. A ramp and commercial model, Rio herself was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas
in 1977 and won fourth runner-up in the Miss Asia pageant that same year. When she and singer Hajji Alejandro
became a couple, they left for Los Angeles
, California
where they operated a small restaurant along Melrose Ave. When things went sour between them, Rio came back to the Philippines and joined showbiz once more. She co-hosted Eat Bulaga in 1991 and stayed for a couple of years before she met Charlie Cojuangco on a blind date in 1993 and got married the following year. She was elected vice mayor of Pontevedra, Negros Occidental
in the May 1998 elections, when Charlie first won a seat in Congress. She became president of the vice mayors' league in Negros Occidental
. During a routine checkup in December 1998, her doctors in the United States informed her of a small growth in her left abdomen. After a six-hour surgery, they found a malignant tumor in its fourth stage. She underwent another operation, and then chemotherapy for three months. In 1999 her oncologist, Dr. George Fisher
at Stanford, declared she had been cured. When the cancer cells made a comeback in May 2000, Rio returned to Stanford for another eight-hour surgery, and another round of chemotherapy sessions. In 2002, she stopped the sessions because her body could no longer take it. But late that year, Rio's doctors said she had no recourse but to do it again.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. She was the sister of former Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
Gloria Diaz
Gloria Diaz
Gloria Maria Aspillera Diaz is an award-winning actress in the Philippines, and the first Filipino to bring home the Miss Universe crown.-Early Life and Family:...
. Rio was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in December 1998. She was given three months to live then, but she lived for six more years. She died on October 4, 2004 in Seton Hospital in Daly City, California at the age of only 45.
Biography
Rio was the youngest of 12 children born to Jaime Diaz and Teresa Aspillera. She was the sister of Gloria DiazGloria Diaz
Gloria Maria Aspillera Diaz is an award-winning actress in the Philippines, and the first Filipino to bring home the Miss Universe crown.-Early Life and Family:...
, Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
1969. A ramp and commercial model, Rio herself was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas
Mutya ng Pilipinas
Mutya ng Pilipinas is a beauty pageant held annually in the Philippines. Two of the primary winners of the pageant from 1977-1991 competed in 2 international beauty pageants such as Miss Asia Pacific International and Miss World...
in 1977 and won fourth runner-up in the Miss Asia pageant that same year. When she and singer Hajji Alejandro
Hajji Alejandro
Angelito Toledo "Hajji" Alejandro is a Filipino singer and actor, who was a major pop star in the 1970s and 1980s. He is the father of singer Rachel Alejandro, and Delara drummer Ali Alejandro...
became a couple, they left for Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where they operated a small restaurant along Melrose Ave. When things went sour between them, Rio came back to the Philippines and joined showbiz once more. She co-hosted Eat Bulaga in 1991 and stayed for a couple of years before she met Charlie Cojuangco on a blind date in 1993 and got married the following year. She was elected vice mayor of Pontevedra, Negros Occidental
Pontevedra, Negros Occidental
Pontevedra is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 42,089 people in 8,554 households.-History:...
in the May 1998 elections, when Charlie first won a seat in Congress. She became president of the vice mayors' league in Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...
. During a routine checkup in December 1998, her doctors in the United States informed her of a small growth in her left abdomen. After a six-hour surgery, they found a malignant tumor in its fourth stage. She underwent another operation, and then chemotherapy for three months. In 1999 her oncologist, Dr. George Fisher
George Fisher
George Fisher may refer to:*George Fisher , American politician*Rev George Fisher British arctic scientist*George Fisher , Serbian born Mexican and American citizen*George P...
at Stanford, declared she had been cured. When the cancer cells made a comeback in May 2000, Rio returned to Stanford for another eight-hour surgery, and another round of chemotherapy sessions. In 2002, she stopped the sessions because her body could no longer take it. But late that year, Rio's doctors said she had no recourse but to do it again.
Movies
- Tunay na Magkaibigan, Walang Iwanan...Peksman (1994)
- Sam & Miguel (Your Basura, No Problema) (1993) .... Mila
- Sisingilin Ko ng Dugo (1990)
TV Shows
- Eat Bulaga (1991-1996)
- Sarap TVSarap TVSarap TV was a cooking television show produced by Nestle and co-produced and aired by ABS-CBN from 1999 - 2001....
(1999) - Maalaala Mo KayaMaalaala Mo KayaMaalaala Mo Kaya is a Philippine drama anthology series broadcast on ABS-CBN every Saturday evening and being hosted by Charo Santos-Concio. Currently, it became the longest-running drama anthology on Philippine television and on Asia...
: The Rio Diaz-Cojuangco Story "Pictures" - as Herself (in a part of her story) & played by Eula ValdezEula ValdezMaría Julia Amorsolo "Eula" Valdez is a Filipina actress, best-known for her role in 1980's blockbuster Bagets 1 and 2 and also by playing "Amor Powers" in Pangako sa ’Yo and "Selina Matias" in the remake of Mula Sa Puso....
(2003)