Fans, colleagues show up in strength to bid goodbye to Aloysius Pang

SINGAPORE — Ten hours after the wake for actor Aloysius Pang was opened to the public on Saturday (Jan 26), there was still a steady stream of visitors coming to pay their final respects.

The wake, which began on Saturday morning, was opened to the public at noon. It will be closed again for close friends and family at noon on Sunday. 

Among the visitors on Saturday was actor Pierre Png, who told TODAY the huge turnout was a testament to the “fine young man” Pang was.

“Both young and old, his colleagues behind and in front of the camera have all come to pay their respects. It says so much. They say only at a person's death do you see a man's worth right? So this turnout says it all,” he said.

The 28-year-old died on Wednesday after sustaining major injuries from an accident that occurred during his reservist training in New Zealand.

He suffered trauma to his internal organs after being crushed by the barrel of a gun inside a self-propelled howitzer.

He will be given a military funeral on Sunday, before being cremated. 

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Another visitor at the wake was actress Paige Chua, who said Pang was an intelligent actor who was always working to hone his craft.

“After our first show, I already saw him as a very good actor so I saw him on par with myself. I don't see him as a younger brother but rather a very experienced actor,” she told reporters.

Even though she was not a close friend with Pang, the authentic emotions he portrayed while they were acting together as a couple in Channel 8’s television drama Mercurial Men won her heart, she said.

“Even though I don't know him very well, I still feel I lost someone dear to me,” she added.

Mr Png said he was “very fortunate” to have had the opportunity to work with Pang in The Gentlemen, another Channel 8 television drama.

“He has got a lot of aspirations, he wants to direct. He wants to write his own script. He is full of passion. Reminded me what it felt like when I first started,” Mr Png said.

Besides being a well-regarded colleague, Pang was also a good friend to fellow actor Ian Fang, who also came for the wake on Saturday.

Mr Fang told TODAY that he was so distraught that he collapsed at Mr Pang's coffin while paying respects.

“I didn't want to but I just couldn't help it,” he said.

Actor Ian Fang (second from right) pays tribute at the wake of his close friend Aloysius Pang. Photo: Ooi Boon Keong/TODAY

Recounting his friendship with Pang, Mr Fang said that they did not communicate every day but were always there for one another through difficult times.

“Whenever we have troubles, problems, personal issues as long as I need help or he needs help, just one call away and we will rush down for each other,” Mr Fang said.

Members of the public also came from far and wide to 82A Macpherson Lane, where the wake was held, to say their final goodbyes.

Ms Venus Teo, 50, said her and her family rushed down from Woodlands after having their reunion dinner.

She said she enjoyed watching Pang's shows.

“As a parent, I feel pain for his parents,” she added.

Ms Melanie Tan came alone, with a small bouquet of flowers.

“I have some friends who could not make it today, so I’m representing them to leave him flowers,” said the 20-year-old who works as a service crew in a food-and-drink establishment.

She rushed down after work, undaunted by the long queue.Some in the line told TODAY they had been waiting for up to half an hour.

“It doesn’t matter how long the wait is... It’s the last time to see him,” she said. “No matter how long, I’ll wait.”

Visitors to the late Aloysius Pang's wake queuing at around 9pm on Saturday. Photo: Ooi Boon Keong/TODAY

Two freelance actors who worked with Pang in the Toggle series From Beijing to Moscow last year, were also in the queue.

One of them was Sky Yap.

“We worked together... It is only right that we should show our respects,” said Mr Yap, who worked with Pang in You Can Be an Angel 2, a Channel 8 TV series.

Another member of the public, who wanted to be known only as Mr Tan, turned up with his wife and three children, said that as a fellow Singaporean man who still undergoes reservist training, he felt moved to pay his respects. 

“I hope more can be done to improve the safety culture in SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) after this incident,” he said.

“It happened so many times. Hopefully its a final wake-up call to SAF. Hope no more such incidents, be it NSF, NS men or those on reservist,” he added.