MANILA, Philippines?Just as he had wished, thousands of fans showed up on Saturday night to pay their last respects to actor Rudy ?Daboy? Fernandez, who died of periampullary cancer at 6:15 that morning.

According to Rudy?s wife, Lorna Tolentino, it was the actor?s desire that his wake be open to the public. ?He had said he would be really happy if a lot of people would come to see him,? said Lorna. She added that Rudy had personally chosen The Heritage Memorial Park and Crematorium in Taguig City as the venue.

A long line of mourners had formed to see Rudy?s remains at Chapel 7 of the Heritage Park when Inquirer Entertainment paid a visit at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Without any public transportation available in the area, many came on foot just to get there.

Security was beefed up in anticipation of the huge crowd.

Rudy?s interment is scheduled tomorrow after the necrological Mass at 1 p.m.

Lorna appeared calm and composed when she faced the entertainment press for the first time since Rudy?s death. ?Thank you to all the friends and fans who journeyed with us for two years,? she said. ?Rudy?s was a life well lived and a life well ended.? She said her husband had prepared his family for his death. ?He spoke with all of his children, with me, with his siblings. If there?s one good thing about his illness, it was that he had time to say goodbye to all of us.?

?I love you,? was Rudy?s last words to her. ?I think that says it all,? she said.

Rudy, son of respected director Gregorio Fernandez, had wanted to make a movie about a dying man and requested filmmaker Jose Javier Reyes to write and direct it. ?I never got around to writing that story line because I just couldn?t do it,? Reyes told Inquirer Entertainment at the actor?s wake.

Reyes said Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, one of Rudy?s bosom buddies, recently asked him to do a film about male friendship. ?I can do that,? he said. ?I?ve seen how close Rudy and Jinggoy were. Rudy was there when Jinggoy won his Best Actor award (for ?Katas ng Saudi?). They had an extraordinary friendship.?

Among those seen attending the Mass on Saturday night were actors Tirso Cruz III, Leo Martinez, Christopher de Leon, Bembol Roco, Gina Alajar and Rez Cortez; and directors Joel Lamangan and Carlitos Siguion-Reyna.

E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph