Manila: A 15-year-old TV actress, who was also a talented painter, was declared dead on arrival at a hospital in suburban San Juan where she was rushed after her family’s domestic worker found her hanging from the ceiling of a bathroom.
Julia Buencamino, a second lead in Oh My G, a popular daily noontime TV series on ABS CBN about God and hope against hope, died by hanging at eight on Tuesday night, doctors at the Cardinal Santos Medical City in San Juan said.
Her father, character actor Nonie Buencamino, was shooting a film in southern Luzon when the incident happened. Her mother, multi-awarded actress Sharmaine Bunecamino was studying a new role in a TV series.
The young Buencamino had been showing troubling images in her recent artworks, which hinted that she was suffering from depression.
She described one of her paintings that she posted online as “hooliabanana kiss this dead girl walking”.
Her photo on Instagram showed her pointing a gun-like gesture on her head, her eyes quite white. Another photo showed a wound edited onto her neck.
Her artworks and photos went viral on social media because they received a lot of comments and interpretations about her alleged tortured soul and troubled psychological state.
But her young co-stars, including crew members of the Oh My G production said Buencamino was pleasant to work with and she was always hugging people during shooting.
They said they were all shocked and sad because they never realised that she was suffering although she looked great on the outside.
“She was a promising young actress and a sweet and kind girl who always freely gave out hugs on the set. We have lost a dear friend in Julia. In our hearts, she will always be our bestie,” the TV production said in a statement.
The TV series became very popular because it was about how young people cope with problems with the help of inspiring people, including God, viewers said.
Buencamino played the role of Aimee Chua on the TV series, a good friend of the lead character, Sophie, who is portrayed by Janella Salvador, also a teen actress.
Buencamino’s parents said in a statement, “We would like to make a firm request to allow us to mourn her passing in private.”
They said they wanted to “remember Julia and celebrate her life in peace and quiet”.
A lot of TV series have been promoting children and teenagers as stars, in an effort to capture their angst, problems, and trials in life.
Labour activists said this is also about child labour and exploitation, adding that young stars are not assisted in coping with the problems of fame and living in a make-believe world.