Vlad Bunoan

Article (news)

Chuck Smith

Reyma Deveza

ABS-CBN Lifestyle

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759294352707Chuck D. Smith author photo 2 (Photo credit - Nikki Ferriols).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner">Chuck D. Smith and his book. <em>Nikki Ferriols</em></span></span></span>MANILA -- What happens when your childhood is haunted by one of Philippine cinema’s most tragic stars? </div><p>In his book, &quot;Son of a Dead ’80s Bold Star,&quot; writer Chuck D. Smith revisits the myths and memories surrounding Pepsi Paloma  — and how her story became intertwined with his own.</p><p>The book is a collection of personal essays and entertainment reportages &quot;to make sense of this inherited identity, detailing the grief, joys, and self-discovery he experienced while navigating the exciting and tumultuous world of Philippine show business.&quot;</p><p>As a child, Smith was made to believe that his biological mother was the late &quot;bold star,&quot; who was found lifeless inside her apartment in an apparent suicide in 1985.</p><p>Smith was only three months when Paloma passed away but her controversial life story became a defining part of his life and sense of self.   </p><p>According to him, he was adopted by his family now immediately after Paloma&#x27;s death. He was seven when he heard that his biological mother was the bold star. When he was 30, he found out that the the actress was actually his aunt.</p><p>For Smith, the book is &quot;about ghosts — personal, cultural, national... It’s about the stories we inherit and the ones we tell ourselves to survive.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759294460568Chuck D. Smith author photo 4 (Photo credit - Nikki Ferriols).JPG" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Chuck D. Smith and his book. <em>Nikki Ferriols</em></span></span></span></div><p>In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Smith said he believes in the power of personal storytelling and emphasized that every story holds value.</p><p>&quot;I feel like it&#x27;s the story that I need to tell,&quot; he said. &quot;Growing up, especially when I was already an entertainment reporter, I was told na this part of my life is something I should not tell to people. To quote one famous entertainment reporter, specifically, he told me &#x27;Maybe you should not tell this, you don&#x27;t tell this to other people, because it might open up old wounds.&#x27; &#x27;Yun ang sabi niya.</p><p>&quot;On the one hand, I believe that. Pero on the other hand, I also believe in the power of telling the personal story. Parang to claim that story, to claim truth. To announce to the world that this is my story. Na itong kuwento na ito may value siya especially since growing up in, I&#x27;ve been told not to tell the story,&quot; Smith explained.</p><p>Smith said that through the process of writing, he realized how storytelling can be a way to humanize.</p><p>&quot;Oh, I think, what we have to realize now is that even though we know celebrities as celebrities, maybe sometimes we have to sit down and realize or remember that these people even if their famous or infamous they are also human,&quot; Smith said.</p><p>&quot;Noong nasulat ko na siya what I realized is that the fact na she was what, hindi ko alam &#x27;yung actual age niya when she died, mga around 17, I think she was that age when she died, which means she was around that age when she adopted me. When you think about it what kind of person would adopt a child at the age. I want to believe na parang ang bait naman niya. Basically I wouldn&#x27;t be here where I am right now, if not for what happened, in a sad way. ... What maybe you can take away from it is that Pepsi Paloma is human. She was very human. More than what we hear from rumors, more than what we see from the memes -- she&#x27;s human,&quot; Smith added.</p><p>Smith said he&#x27;s been writing the book for years and was accepted for publication last year. </p><p>The author admitted that he hesitated to release it but realized that it was his story to tell -- his truth to claim. </p><p>&quot;Na-realize ko especially in the past few months na maraming tao ang nag-a-attempt na ikuwento ang kuwento niya (Paloma). At hindi ko naman ginagawa &#x27;yon. Ang gusto ko lang ay ikuwento &#x27;yung kwento ko kasi buhay ko naman ito. As long as I do it respectfully, as long as I do it without any intention to hurt. ...So I think doon ako nagkaroon nang lakas ng loob to really put it out in the world,&quot; he said.</p><p>For Smith, he wrote the book out of love and gratitude, stressing that he is also thankful to Paloma.  </p><p>&quot;Grateful ako kay Pepsi in a way. Grateful ako sa adoptive parents ko, most especially.  I write this out of gratitude. Technically I write this out of love,&quot; Smith said.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759295089764Book cover - SON OF A DEAD &#x27;80s BOLD STAR.png" style="width:533px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Son of a Dead ‘80s Bold Star&quot; debuted at the Manila International Book Fair at the SMX Convention Center last September 13 with a sold-out book signing.</p><p>Published by UST Publishing House, it retails at P420 and is available at the UST Publishing House bookstore in the UST Main Building. It is also available via the UST Publishing House’s official Shopee and Lazada stores.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/1/29/pepsi-paloma-film-not-under-review-says-mtrcb-1044" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pepsi Paloma film &#x27;not under review,&#x27; says MTRCB</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/27/court-orders-darryl-yap-to-take-down-pepsi-paloma-teaser-video-0930" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">READ: Court orders Darryl Yap to take down Pepsi Paloma teaser video</a></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hU-yuRtEnoM?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iON7vTRdx5U?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CaZBgNcd9NM?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MTVWam7GVXc?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Writer Chuck D. Smith has released '<i>Son of a Dead ’80s Bold Star'</i>, a collection of essays exploring grief, pop culture, and the personal legacy of growing up with the belief that his biological mother was Pepsi Paloma</p>

Writer Chuck D. Smith has released ' Son of a Dead ’80s Bold Star' , a collection of essays exploring grief, pop culture, and the personal legacy of growing up with the belief that his biological mother was Pepsi Paloma

Chuck Smith explores grief, pop culture legacy in 'Son of a Dead ’80s Bold Star'

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

People, Culture, and Events

Chuck Smith explores grief, pop culture legacy in 'Son of a Dead ’80s Bold Star'

Reyma Deveza,

ABS-CBN Lifestyle

Published Oct 04, 2025 10:00 AM PHT

Read More:

Chuck Smith

book

Pepsi Paloma

ABSnews

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.