The came on my way back from work when I read the headlines on newspapers others were holding on to.

Another shining star has fallen.

Lydia Sum's passing will certainly be a huge loss to the Chinese people. I'm only a quarter-of-a-century old but her laughter, her spectacles, her permed hair, her image of staying happy and laughing heartily against all odds are vivid images for me. I'm not from HK, but like many other Chinese around the world, we all grew up watching her on TV, in the movies, on variety shows, TV serials, talkshows...

I watched a variety show on TVBJ just now with all her celebrity friends honoring the memory of Lydia Sum. They all described her as a generous, motherly, trustworthy and optmistic lady - and growing up watching her in interviews and in her works, I completely believe all they said. I believe all these were not exagerated versions of their memories of her just because of her very recent passing. I believe that these memories were all very genuine, very sincere and very initmate for all these celebrities who spoke.

There were friends who were of a certain seniority who accompanied her through her earlier life in the entertainment circle such as Eric Tseng, David Chiang, Carol Cheng and many others, and then there were young friends who were nurtured by her in her later part of her life such as Esther Kwan and Hung Tin Meng. I watched a series recently where Lydia went all around the world to catch up with old friends who were once prominant people in the entertainment scene. Hence, I do believe the impact she has created in the hearts of many. I believe all these friends talked on the show not due to any motives but simply because they wanted to share their memory of her.

For her daughter Joyce Cheng to lose her mother at such a young age, I can't imagine the pain she is going through right now. May Lydia's friends help her through this difficult time.

When Leslie Cheung passed away, followed by Anita Mui, I felt that that marked the end of an era in HK's music industry. With Lydia Sum's passing, it now marks the end of an era not only for TVB, but also for Chinese all over the world.



RIP Lydia Sum "Fei Fei"