Recognized as one of the matriarchs of the Philippine Movie Industry, Maria Azucena Vera-Perez Maceda--affectionately known as “Manay Ichu'--died Monday at age of 77.

In an official statement sent out to news outlets by the Vera-Perez and Maceda families, the wife of the late statesman and senator Ernesto 'Ernie' Maceda succumbed to cardio respiratory failure. She is survived by her five sons Emmanuel, Ernesto Jr., Erwin, Edmond and Edward.