The Dominican Republic remains in deep mourning after the devastating tragedy at the iconic Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, where a ceiling collapse claimed the lives of 211 people. Among the victims was beloved merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who was performing on stage when the fatal incident occurred.
Funeral services began Thursday, April 10, with an intimate farewell held at the Blandino Funeral Home in the heart of the Dominican capital. Renowned artists such as Fernando Villalona, Sergio Vargas, Miriam Cruz, and Jandy Ventura attended the private ceremony, paying tribute to the legendary performer.
Earlier in the day, a public memorial was held at the Teatro Nacional, where music icon Juan Luis Guerra joined dozens of fans, friends, and fellow musicians to honor Rubby Pérez's legacy. Crowds filed past his casket as his greatest hits played, filling the space with the rhythms of a genre he helped define as "La Voz Más Alta del Merengue."
In a deeply emotional moment, Pérez's daughters, Zulinka and Ana Beatriz, performed two of his most beloved songs before breaking down in tears, surrounded by a grieving nation and a chorus of voices singing in his memory.
Bachata superstar Juan Luis Guerra was severely affected.
Upon leaving the National Theater, Pérez's coffin was covered with the flags of the Dominican Republic and Venezuela , the country that most loved the artist and where he began his international career when he was part of Wilfrido Vargas' orchestra, with hits such as "El Africano."
"It's very difficult for me to find the right word right now. This has been such a surprising thing that I still haven't fully digested it, and it's something that will mark the history of our music, of our nightlife, for the rest of our lives," Villalona said upon arriving. Pérez was part of his orchestra in its early days.
"I wish it were true that he'll return," Vargas said, referring to Pérez's iconic song "Volveré."
Meanwhile, across the rest of the country, hundreds of families also began to say goodbye to their loved ones. Monte Cristi Governor Nelsy Cruz and Major League Baseball player Tony Blanco also received public tributes.
Meanwhile, in other areas of the country, such as Haina, mass funerals were held, as there were several victims among the residents.
The Dominican Republic has declared three days of collective mourning, and excavation work and investigations continue.
