Filipino ‘Directioners’, celebrities mourn Liam Payne’s death

Metro Manila, Philippines – Filipino ‘Directioners’ mourn the death of Liam Payne of British boy band One Direction, whose music defined a generation.

Payne was found dead outside a hotel in Buenos Aires in Argentina after falling from his third floor room balcony, police reports said.

For Filipino fans, Payne’s music was a huge part of their younger years.

“My teenage self is grieving over the version of him that I once knew since he was an important part of my youth,” a Facebook user said.

“I don't think anyone can truly grasp the pain of knowing that your favorite band—the one you adored as a kid, the band that kept you company when you were alone in your room, the band that brought people together with their music and made songs that felt like home, will never have the chance to tour as a whole again,” another fan posted.

Payne’s Filipino Facebook fan page also penned a heartwarming message for the singer.

“You will forever be in our hearts, and your legacy will live on through every song memory you gave us,” the group wrote.

Local celebrities also paid tribute to the British star.

In an Instagram story, Bela Padilla shared a throwback clip of her jamming into One Direction’s songs.

Andrea Brillantes, meanwhile, reposted news announcing the singer’s death, with sad and heartbreaking emojis.

Payne rose to global fame as part of the disbanded pop band One Direction, alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson.

The boy band got its break after finishing third on the British version of the X Factor music competition in 2010. It broke up six years later and its members pursued different projects including solo careers.

One Direction was ranked the third greatest boy band of all time by Entertainment Weekly in 2024. – With reports from Reuters