3 days ago
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Published March 13, 2025 12:18pm
More than 50 green bones were found in the ashes of Angel Locsin’s father, Angel Colmenares, local media outlets have reported.
The actress’s sister, Ella Colmenares, told the story in a now-deleted Facebook post she titled, “The day we found dad’s green bones.”
After conducting their final farewell, the family waited for his cremated ashes in the funeral home, and when the chapel staff arrived with their dad’s urn, as well as "a transparent ziplock bag, filled with strange green fragments," a staffer told them "your father had so many green bones. It's very rare. We almost never see this in others."
"Our eyes widened in surprise as we peered into the bag. There were so many — maybe fifty or more!” Ella narrated.
The discovery of the green bones, allowed the family to start feeling lighter, Ella said, taking it as a message from Colmenares that he is in a better place now.
"Everyone seemed amazed, as though Dad had left us a final message—that he was at peace, and that he left us good luck,” she said.
Ella quickly searched why bones turn green after cremation. She learned that this “was a chemical reaction—caused by metallic compounds or by antibiotic residues.”
Ella said, "There may be antibiotics that Dad had taken during those long days in the hospital, and maybe from the titanium in his ankle from that accident long ago.
"The high heat and the chemical make-up of his body—all of it combined to tint his bones green,” she added.
But despite the scientific explanation, Ella said, "I always believed that our Dad was a good person. I also couldn’t help but think of all Dad had endured—just like his bones endured the high heat.”
Throughout the discovery of the green bones, Angel was asleep and when she woke up and learned about what happened, it was the first time she smiled after their father's death, Ella revealed.
Ella ended her post with what Colmenares’ green bones mean to their family.
"Because maybe, in a way, Dad did leave us a gift. Not just green bones, but a reminder of how much he loved us, how much of himself he gave to us while he lived,” she said.
"As they carefully placed the green fragments back into the urn, I realized that whether it was science or miracle, what truly mattered was what Dad had left behind in our hearts — lessons of hard work, quiet strength, and love that stayed with us,” Ella added.
"And for that, we were lucky."
Angel Colmenares’ death was announced on March 6, by their relative, Bago City, Negros Occidental Councilor Joseph Colmenares. He was 98 years old.
Green bones, when found in the ashes of those who passed away, are believed to be signs that they were good people who lived with love and kindness.
Families would also turn the green bones into display items or jewelry, as it is believed to bring good luck to the families the deceased left behind.
This belief has been the inspiration behind the Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture 2024 awardee, “Green Bones.” The film tackled themes of kindness, justice, and judgment.
“Green Bones” was directed by Zig Dulay, produced by GMA Pictures, and starred Dennis Trillo and Ruru Madrid, who won the MMFF Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor awards.
— Nika Roque/LA, GMA Integrated News
