MANILA, Philippines -- The wake for actor Rudy “Daboy” Fernandez drew hundreds of thousands of fans, proving the enduring popularity of the action star whose career spanned the past four decades.

Family, friends and fans turned up for the final public viewing on Tuesday night at his wake, transforming Heritage Memorial Park and Crematorium in Taguig City into a giant theater, albeit one that was brightly lit and lined with fragrant white flowers.
Soft kundiman -- a genre of traditional Filipino love songs -- played nonstop in the background, and with walls thrown open to make a single chapel area out of the standard 10, the place was still bursting at the seams.

Heritage marketing manager Raquel Mendoza said that was Rudy’s wish -- to have the entire place for the gathering of people who loved and supported him.

The main viewing room consisted of four standard service areas. Four others served as family rooms, and the remaining two was the dining area, where a buffet had been laid out since Saturday night, served by various caterers.

The actor, who battled periampullary cancer for two years, died at 6:15 a.m. on Saturday. He was 56.

Fernandez’s followers formed a queue that snaked all the way to the edge of the South Luzon Expressway, approximately two kilometers from Heritage.

Patiently, they sweated in the sun for hours to catch a quick last glimpse of their idol. Some managed to take pictures. Many wipe the coffin with their hankies. Many more wept openly.

To their credit, the queue moved at a constant pace, with 60 movie stuntmen as volunteer marshals.

Rudy’s body lies in a P1.2-million bronze casket called York Regency, with 24-karat gold-plated handles and a fiberglass bubble top called Spirit Shield covering the upper half. He picked this himself, Mendoza said, but was said to be a gift from his buddy, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.

The way it’s been mounted, the casket seems to float in a bed of fresh white roses.

There was one commotion in the queue on Sunday night, according to Captain Jose Herreria of the Taguig police. To prevent another, an additional 40 cops were deployed to complement the first group of 10, and park security guards were placed on round-the-clock duty.

The turnout of Rudy’s followers recalled those that sent off action king Fernando Poe Jr. in 2004, Rico Yan in 2002 and young actress Julie Vega in 1985.

“People [seem to] have learned from past experiences. We see that there is more order and discipline in Rudy’s wake. This sets it apart from other wakes [I’ve] seen,” Mendoza said.

But though they were generally well-behaved this time around, fans could not help but grab the opportunity of being photographed with their movie idols, who were there to pay respects to Fernandez.

On Tuesday night, the Philippine Daily Inquirer noticed groups taking their “photo ops” with celebrities, including actors Amy Austria, Sunshine Cruz-Montano, Gina Pareño, Katya Santos and Eddie Mesa, and politicians JV Ejercito and Bingbong Crisologo.

Some did not even spare the widow, Tolentino, no makeup, puffy eyes and all.

Members of the entertainment media were more cooperative. Video and still cameras were set up in a corner of the viewing chapel. Here, reporters quietly conducted interviews.

Rudy will be buried at Heritage Park on Thursday after a 1 p.m. Mass.

His casket will be transported from the chapel in a horse-driven hearse, and bag pipers will play during the procession.

At press time, Heritage officials are deep in discussion about the exclusive service set Wednesday night, which they feared might become a “logistical nightmare.”

Mendoza told the Inquirer, “The Fernandezes provided us with a guest list that included only 200 guests -- family members, close friends and some VIPs. Our main concern is how to turn away those who are not on the list.”

Expected to deliver eulogies were Rudy’s wife, actress Lorna Tolentino, sons Mark Anthony, Ralph and Renz, and sister Merle Fernanez; best friends Domy de Guzman, Senators Revilla and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, and actors Phillip Salvador, Tirso Cruz III, and Sharon Cuneta; and manager Lolit Solis.

Cuneta, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez and Jamie Rivera were to render some of Rudy’s favorite songs.