MANILA, Philippines – With tears in her eyes and memories flooding in, Rica Peralejo stood before a crowd of old friends and former co-stars last Saturday, August 2, and delivered a heartfelt eulogy for her former love team partner — and one-time real-life flame — Red Sternberg.
“I never thought we’d meet again this way,” she said, barely holding back emotion. “Talagang hinintay ko siyang lumabas sa likod at sigawan kaming lahat ng, ‘Surprise! It’s a prank!’ But you didn’t.”
Red, who passed away last May 27 at age 50, had his ashes flown home from the US for a memorial service organized by his former T.G.I.S. co-stars. The reunion brought together some of the 90s’ most beloved youth idols — Angelu de Leon, Bobby Andrews, Michael Flores, Ciara Sotto, and their director Mark Reyes — all to honor the man who helped define a generation’s coming-of-age TV.
A Love Story That Lasted One Day
Though many fans knew Rica and Red as an iconic on-screen duo, it wasn’t until a 2024 interview with Boy Abunda that Rica admitted: yes, they once dated — but just for a day.
“I was really young,” she shared. “Siguro hindi boto ang pamilya ko. Parang natakot sila, and honestly, natakot din ako. Kaya kinabukasan, binawi ko na.”
Despite their brief romance, the two remained part of the same showbiz barkada — and their chemistry onscreen never faded in fans’ memories.
Reunited in Grief
Rica attended the memorial with her husband, Pastor Joseph Bonifacio, and took time to connect with Red’s wife Sandy Sternberg, as well as the late actor’s three children.
“It would have been nice to know you again, this time as a husband and dad,” she wrote in a touching Instagram tribute, alongside photos from the memorial.
“You have such beautiful and wonderful girls… and I got to talk to your boy about Roblox. Ikaw na lang talaga ang kulang.”
“We Can Only Heal”
In the end, Rica left the crowd — and her followers — with a message of gratitude and closure.
“We will never understand some things in life,” she said. “We can only heal from them… I’m grateful that we got to love you, and that you got to love us, in this lifetime.”
“Goodnight, Red. Sleep well.”
No prank. No surprise twist. Just a final goodbye to a friend, a first love, and a cherished part of Philippine pop culture history.
