"On the way home already from Dagupan. Long drive ahead. Thanks to everybody who watched."

This was AJ Perez’s last tweet at around 11:30 p.m. Saturday night, April 16, after staging a show for the Kapamilya Karavan with Matt Evans, Kitkat and child star Zaijian Jaranilla for Dagupan’s Bangus Festival.

It was indeed a long drive for AJ but he didn’t reach home. He was declared dead on arrival at the Rayos Valentin Hospital in Moncada, Tarlac, from multiple head wounds he sustained when the ABS-CBN van he and his five companions were riding in collided with a bus. According to initial police reports, the driver tried to overtake a truck. AJ was seated on the reclined seat on the left side of the van, with his head against the window.

Aside from the driver, AJ’s companions were his father, Gerardo Perez, AJ’s road manager, Kitkat’s road manager and an ABS-CBN marshall. The two road managers were in stable condition at the Makati Medical Center while AJ’s father was released after treatment at the St. Lukes Medical Center.

Born on Feb. 17, 1993, Antonello Joseph Sarte Perez graduated from high school at La Salle Greenhills last month. His mother is from Bicol and his father, a friend and townmate of Joel Torre, is from Bacolod. Before he joined showbiz, AJ appeared in commercials, including those for Globe, UFC and Milo in which he showed his basketball expertise.

A member of Star Magic Batch 13, AJ has done several soaps, the most popular being Sabel in which he co-starred with Jessie Mendiola. His last TV work is an episode on Charo Santos-Concio’s Maalaala Mo Kaya? which will be aired on April 30, Saturday night.

“He was fun,” Jessie was quoted as saying. “I will miss him. Mahilig magbiro at mang-asar.”

Contacted by Funfare Update, Sam Concepcion said, “I’m still in shock. It hasn’t sunk in yet. AJ was a happy person. He was always the one who would make us laugh. He was like a brother to us. My heart and prayers go out to Tito Gerry and his entire family.”

In a phone-patch interview with movie writer Ambet Nabus, AJ said that he was thankful to those who supported him, adding, “It’s my second time to come to Dagupan. The first time, hindi pa ako kilala. This time, kilala na nila ako.”

STAR’s Ver Paulino, the only broadsheet photographer invited to cover the Kapamilya Karavan, recalled that AJ was lively during the show.

AJ Perez was his usual lively self as he dance during the Kapamilya Karavan show at the Bangus Festival Saturday night in Dagupan, with fellow Kapamilya (from left) Zaijian Jaranilla, Matt Evans and Kitkat

“He even conducted a dance contest for those in the audience,” said Ver. “He gave me a tight hug after dinner, something which he usually didn’t do. He also did that to Aaron (Domingo, ABS-CBN PR).”

You are seeing the last pictures of AJ on this page.

“Before we parted,” added Ver, “AJ reminded me to give him copies of his photos I took during the Kapamliya Karavan at the Panagbenga in Baguio City last month.”

In June, AJ would have enrolled in B.A. Marketing at La Salle (Taft Avenue, Manila) because he wanted to help run the family business.

Here’s the official statement of ABS-CBN sent to Funfare Update by Bong Osorio, Corporate Communications head of the network:

Kapamilya talent AJ Perez passed away early Sunday morning after being rushed to a hospital in Tarlac. Together with his father, two road managers, a driver and an event marshal, they met a vehicular accident on their way back to Manila after a provincial show. ABS-CBN sympathizes with AJ’s family on his untimely demise, and urges everyone to pray for the eternal repose of AJ’s soul and for the family and loved ones he left behind. ABS-CBN continues to help AJ’s family during this difficult and discomforting time and to attend to the needs of the others that got hurt in the unfortunate accident.

AJ was scheduled to appear in yesterday’s edition of ASAP Rocks where he used to perform as member of the disbanded Giggerboys and then of Dream Boys. The show opened with a touching tribute to AJ led by Gary Valenciano who dedicated a song to AJ. The Kapamilya stars were dressed in white, shedding quiet tears.

Maritess Gutierrez (daughter of Gloria Romero and the late Juancho Gutierrez), told Funfare Update that her son Christopher was disconsolate, crying and crying. Christopher was AJ’s best friend.

“Chris can hardly talk,” said Maritess. “All he remembered is that he and AJ last saw each other in Boracay about a week ago where they had so much fun. AJ was a nice boy. I would cook for him when he came to our house to visit Chris.”

AJ’s remains lie at a chapel at La Salle Greenhills where the wake for Rico Yan was also held in 2002. AJ was nine years old at that time and in grade school.

The Perez family will soon announce the burial plans.