Christmas won’t be the same for Megastar Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan after her nanny of over 40 years, Yaya Luring, passed away quietly on Dec. 19.

Yaya Luring (real name, Loreta Benitez), who has been with the popular star since the latter was merely five years of age, was pronounced “dead on arrival” at a nearby hospital where she was rushed after complaining of “weakness” and “feeling faint” during a Christmas party held at the Pangilinan’s residence in Laguna.

Her doctors ruled "cardiac arrest" as cause of death.

Yaya Luring is considered by many people as the most famous of all ‘yayas’ having appeared in her fair share of movies and commercials alongside her famous ward.

Yaya Luring is from Mangatarem, Pangasinan. She first joined the Cuneta household as a laundrywoman.

It was former Pasay City mayor Pablo Cuneta who put her in charge of her youngest daughter, Sharon—the two were inseparable since.

The actress wasn’t present at the premiere night of her latest film “Mano po 6: My Mother's Love” because she wanted to personally attend to her beloved Yaya’s wake.

It was Sharon’s husband, Sen. Francis Pangilinan and her daughter KC who attended the premier in lieu of the Megastar.

Pangilinan read her wife’s “official statement” regarding her absence and the death of Yaya Luring prior to the film showing.

It read thus:

"Good evening everyone.

"Much as I would want to be here with you all tonight, an unforeseen event happened last night – my beloved Yaya Luring has passed away.

"I don’t know how I could face all the things I need to do due to the unforeseen circumstance, especially as Christmas is almost upon us, and that I also have this movie, which incidentally is also part of the Metro Manila Film Festival.

"I am asking for your forgiveness, for not being here with you tonight most especially, as this—‘Mano Po 6: A Mother's Love’ is a movie I’m truly proud of.

"For Mother Lily and Roselle Monteverde, my fellow actors, the production team as led by our director, Joel Lamangan, to all my friends and supporters, I hope you understand the pain I’m going through right now.

"If ‘Mano Po 6’ is about a mother’s love and a child’s love to her mother, at this moment, I am all for showing my love and gratitude to a person I consider my mother—Yaya Luring.

"Yaya, I dedicate this film to you; and to all those who will watch the movie, I hope it will pave the way for allowing you to show your love to your parents while there is still time.” 

Yaya Luring’s body is interred at Sanctuario de San Antonio on McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati. She will be laid to rest at the Heritage Park on Dec. 23.