The late Rico Yan has recently become a trending topic on TikTok, with a new generation of fans discovering and sharing past video clips and photos of the beloved actor.
This renewed interest has also led to an influx of visitors to Yan’s tomb at the Manila Memorial Park, with some fans even taking photos and videos at the site.
While many younger fans are celebrating Yan’s legacy, some members of older generations find the trend unsettling and somewhat disrespectful, especially those who believe using the actor’s resting place for social media content crosses a line.
In response to this, ABS-CBN News reached out to Rico Yan’s family for their perspective. Bobby Yan, Rico’s older brother, spoke on behalf of the family, stating that they will not issue an official statement at this time. He mentioned that they have consulted the caretaker of Yan’s tomb, who assured them that there is currently no cause for concern.
Bobby noted that if the visits start to disturb neighboring mausoleums, the family will take appropriate action.
“We welcome po anyone from anywhere. We have visitors from abroad visit Rico’s tomb and there are visitors weekly since 22 years ago,” Bobby Yan said.
He emphasized that as a youth ambassador, Rico Yan had a special connection with the younger generation, and the family believes he would appreciate the newfound interest from Gen Z fans.
Rico Yan passed away in March 2002 at the age of 27 due to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis.
