Remembering Isabel Granada

She had one of the most beautiful faces local showbiz has ever seen. Her eyes, with lashes so long and thick, always sparkled when she smiles. Actress and singer Isabel Granada may be gone now, but the happy memories she had left with her loved ones will always remain in their hearts.

It’s truly a sad time for the local showbiz industry. Isabel succumbed to death in Doha, Qatar on November 4, 6PM (11PM in Philippine time). She suffered brain hemorrhage due to aneurysm. She was in a coma for more than a week after collapsing at a fan meet-and-greet in Qatar. She was only 41.

Isabel started out in showbiz in the late 1980s via the youth-oriented talent and variety show That’s Entertainment, wherein she was part of the Tuesday group. This stint launched an acting career that lasted for more than three decades. She appeared in movies like “Bakit Madalas ang Tibok ng Puso” (1986),  “Shake Rattle and Roll II” (1990), “Chickboys” (1994), and “Ligaya ang Itawag mo sa Akin” (1997) which even got her a FAMAS Award for Best Supporting Actress recognition, and was part of TV shows “Villa Quintana” (1995), “Ikaw na Sana” (1997), “Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka,” (2001), and “Got to Believe” (2013), among others. Her last project with ABS-CBN is “A Love to Last,” wherein she was cast as the friend of Ian Veneracion’s character, and her last TV appearance was via the weekly drama anthology “Tadhana” on GMA-7.

Apart from being an actress, Isabel was also a recording artist with albums “Out Here on my Own” (1998) and “In the Mood for Love” (2000).

Off-cam, she had maintained a healthy lifestyle, championing beauty and wellness through activities like Zumba and proper diet. In an Instagram post, she shared pieces of advice: "Magkaroon ng time sa exercise, whether it be planking to Crossfit, to sports, to boxing, to Zumba, go for it... and have a healthy lifestyle. I eat constant but little amount lang para bumilis metabolism naten and di ka tataba.”

Given the healthy lifestyle she led, her death truly came as a surprise to many, and has now helped raised awareness on brain aneurysm.

Our condolences to her husband Arnel Cowley, son Hubert, and the rest of her family.

Photos from @isabelgranada21