MANILA, Philippines—It was a year of grief and sympathetic concern for readers who visited the INQUIRER.net’s Showbiz and Style website, as stories chronicling the deaths of three prominent personalities emerged as the most widely read in 2008.

Hundreds of thousands viewed Inquirer Entertainment’s online home as it reported the demise of action star Rudy Fernandez, young actor Marky Cielo and singer Didith Reyes.

The online readership’s main interest was Rudy’s battle with periampullary cancer, how his family was coping, and how he accepted his fate. Breaking news of his passing on June 7, 2008 — posted at 6:58 a.m. or 32 minutes after he was pronounced dead in his White Plains, Quezon City home — registered as the most-read INQUIRER.net entertainment story of 2008, with 155,672 page views (or hits).

Another shocking death was the site’s second most-read story of the year. Marky Cielo, a GMA 7 talent and 2006 “StarStruck” Ultimate Survivor, was found dead in his Antipolo City home on Dec. 7. A breaking news item based on a statement from his home network, posted on the night of his death, had a total of 145,640 page views. The story remained in the site’s top 10 most-read over the next few days.

Three days after Cielo’s death, Didith Reyes’ lifeless body was found in a Laguna shanty. A breaking news article that carried the first confirmation from a police source was posted at 9:33 a.m. of Dec. 10 or just a few hours after her body was first discovered.

The story, which also included a comprehensive background of Reyes’ career and tributes from close friends and colleagues, became the 12th most-read story of the year with 34,172 page views.

When rap musician-TV host-actor Francis M first admitted he had leukemia in an exclusive breaking story on Aug. 13 at 4:43 p.m., readers stayed glued for updates in the succeeding days and made it the fifth most-read in 2008 — with 46,736 hits.

News items on controversies that shook the industry also got the biggest attention on the entire Inquirer.net site. A report on ABS-CBN’s suspension of Cristy Fermin over her televised outburst against Nadia Montenegro in which the tabloid columnist-TV host said the former teen star had a child without partner Boy Asistio’s knowledge became the fourth most-read story of the year with 48,645 page views.

Other controversial stories that made the list included two reports on the wedding of Vince del Rosario and Inah Revilla, daughter of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Lani Mercado, at No. 7 and 11; the Karylle-Dingdong Dantes breakup, at No. 10.; Joyce Jimenez figuring in a road mishap, No. 15; Jennylyn Mercado’s pregnancy, No. 16; the rumored rift between Ruffa Gutierrez and Kris Aquino, No. 17.

The hit list

1) “Actor Rudy Fernandez dies” (June 7, 2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer.net; 155,672 page views)

2) “Actor Marky Cielo dead”; Dec. 9, 2008; By Marinel Cruz; 145,640)

3) “Rudy Fernandez laid to rest” (June 12, 2008; By Abigail Kwok; 60,959)

4) “Cristy Fermin suspended for two months” (Oct. 15, 2008; Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer.net; 48,645)

5) “Rapper Francis Magalona diagnosed with leukemia” Aug. 13, 2008; By Pocholo Concepcion; 46,736)

6) “Rudy’s body rejects drugs, says Bong” (June 7, 2008; By Marinel Cruz; 40,714)

7) “Groom’s father in near walkout of Inah-Vince wedding — source” (May 29, 2008; Inquirer.net; 39,259)

8) “Rudy Fernandez: Life’s a wonderful thing” (June 7, 2008; By Emmie G. Velarde; 37,494)

9) “Gabby Concepcion back in RP, to sign with ABS-CBN” (Mar. 31, 2008; Inquirer.net; 36,095)

10) “Karylle: I don’t love Dingdong anymore” Nov. 17, 2008; By Gerry Plaza; 35,515)

11) “18-year-old daughter shocks Revilla with marriage decision” (Apr. 6, 2008; By Gerry Plaza; 34,681)

12) “Singer Didith Reyes found dead” (Dec. 10, 2008; By Abigail Kwok, Gerry Plaza, Maricar Cinco; 34,172)

13) “According to own script, Rudy Fernandez lets God” (June 8, 2008; By Emmie G. Velarde; 32,914)

14) “Actress hurt in road accident” (Sept. 29, 2008; Inquirer.net; 30,732)

15) “Jennylyn, Patrick expect child, managers confirm” (Jan. 3, 2008 By Bayani San Diego Jr.; 29,800)

16) “Ruffa and Kris in a catfight?” (Dec. 15, 2008; By Bayani San Diego Jr.; 29,283)

17) “Top ABS-CBN news exec resigns” (Nov. 7, 2008; By Gerry Plaza; 29,244)

18) “‘Buzz’ to apologize” (Oct. 23, 2008; By Bayani San Diego Jr.; 28,615)

19) “Kris Aquino in crisis, too, suffers miscarriage” (Mar. 25, 2008 By Bayani San Diego Jr.; 28,583)

20) “The Greta chronicles” (Jan. 31, 2008 By the Staff.; 28,504)