'Pinoy Dream Academy' Season 2 star Hansen Nichols passes away
Hansen Nichols, who was best known for his stint in the second season of Pinoy Dream Academy, has died after a battle with stage four cancer.
In an Instagram post on Friday, Jan. 12, singer Bugoy Drilon mourned the death of his good friend, with whom he built a friendship in the 2008 run of the now-defunct reality singing contest.
Calling Hansen his "core friend" and "brother," Bugoy reflected on their unique bond that he "wouldn't change for the world."
"I promise you that I will always be there by your side. You always understand me, you always think of people first more than yourself that everyone is always okay," he said. "You always believed in me. You always believed that I will make it in the journey and career that I choose and that I always do my best."
"You fought very well and your hardest and I am so proud of you! You did your best to stay with us," he said, describing Hansen as a "great warrior" and "inspiration."
"I am happy that you are surrounded by love, up to your last breath. I am very proud of you and all your achievements. You have touched the lives of so many people including mine. And this is a testament of how beautiful you are as a person," he continued.
Bugoy revealed he made some songs for him that he can't wait for everyone to hear. "I cannot wait to tell the world how beautiful you are and how much I love you."
"This is not a goodbye because I will see you again in Heaven. You are always in my prayers and I will always think of you through all the memories we've shared," he wrote. "Until then, I will miss you so much. My heart is pleased knowing that you are surrounded by love until your last breath."
"I love you, Hansen, my best friend. You mean the world to me. See you on the other side," he concluded.
Their fellow PDA scholar Laarni Lozada, in a Facebook post, also expressed her grief over Hansen's passing. "My thoughts and condolences are with his family during this difficult time," she wrote. "Rest in peace, Hansen. You fought courageously, and I am proud of you."
Hansen survived cancer when he took part in Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2. In February last year, however, he revealed that he, again, got diagnosed with the disease.
"Being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer the first time when I was younger was one of the hardest things I had ever gone through in my life! Being diagnosed again with another stage 4 cancer for a second time wasn't and hasn't been any easier!" he said in an Instagram post.
Hansen documented his cancer journey on his YouTube channel. His last entry was published on Dec. 30, where he detailed how "unpredictable and tricky living with cancer is."