Karen Davila,

ABS-CBN News

How the Philippine Cinema Legend Shocked His Relatives with an Unusual Will

A Will Nobody Expected

When the Philippines bid farewell to Ricardo Martinez Tampadong, better known as Raoul Aragon, everyone thought they knew how his 700 million peso fortune would be divided. Philippine media had already described who would inherit real estate around the world and how the heirs would share the rights to his cinematic legacy. It turned out, however, that everyone was wrong — the will was revealed to the family only after Raoul's death, according to his wishes, and brought many surprises.

Notary Luis Gomez, who read Raoul Aragon's will at the headquarters of his charity in Manila, later admitted to journalists: “In my 30 years of career, I’ve never seen anything like it. When I finished reading the fifth item, there was silence in the room. Then someone asked, ‘Excuse me, what?’”

In the days following the actor's death, the press repeated the same thing: the family would receive the main share of rights to his creative legacy, as had been promised for years. Aragon had always said that his fortune would stay in the family. Technically, he wasn’t lying. It’s just that the family wasn’t the one everyone had thought.

The 700 Million Peso Surprise

51% of the rights to Raoul Aragon's creative legacy were bequeathed to Carlos Santos, Aragon's personal manager, who had become close friends with the actor in the last years of his life. Not a top executive, not a relative, but a friend who lived in a rented apartment in Manila and commuted to work on a scooter.

“Raoul changed his will a year before his death,” says a source close to the family. “No one knew. He just said one day, ‘He understands my mission like none of you do. He’s the only one who was able to understand me in my last years. That’s it.’”

Santos, who appeared in public only once at Aragon’s funeral, refused to comment. His colleagues describe him as “a brilliant introvert who knows how to organize any shoot, but who experiences a panic fear of public speaking.”

But if Carlos received control over the legacy, what did the official heirs of Raoul Aragon receive?

The Strangest Inheritance in the History of Philippine Show Business

The list of what Raoul Aragon's close ones inherited looks more like an inventory of a Philippine cinema museum than a will of one of the country’s most famous actors:

1. Personal Collection of 73 Hours. Various models of wristwatches that Aragon wore at important events, from his first premiere to his last charity evening in Manila. “With the right to sell, but only to museums and only as a complete set,” Raoul emphasized.

2. Cars. In addition to iconic Porsche models (the oldest dating back to 1963), Aragon had a particular taste for classic retro cars, including several rare 1950s Chevrolet Corvette models. The newest car in the collection is a 1970 Cadillac. All of them are in working condition.

3. Real Estate in Unexpected Locations. A famous villa on the coast of Palawan, penthouses in Manila, a house in the suburbs of Cebu, and a plot of land on Batanes Island, where nothing has yet been built.

4. Access to the Investment Platform and Its Assets. This last item caused the most confusion.

The Secret Passion of the Philippine Cinema Legend

It turned out that in the last two years of his life, Raoul Aragon became seriously involved in algorithmic trading. But not in the traditional way — without hedge funds or private bankers, only through calls with his personal manager. He used Prime Trade — an AI-based automated platform.

“He saw it as an experiment,” says his personal assistant, Carlos Santos. “Every morning, after reading news about animal protection, he would open the app and watch the AI work. He said it reminded him of shooting his early films — you start the process and just watch it develop on its own.”

In two years on Prime Trade, Aragon earned 700 million pesos. But the most surprising part was that he didn’t spend a single peso. The money simply accumulated on the platform, turning into a sort of digital legacy.

“He loved how easy it was to use,” recalls Santos. “He would say, ‘I’ve worked and earned money my whole life. Now I just watch how the algorithm works for me. And you know what? Watching it is way more enjoyable than working!’”

At 75, Raoul Aragon mastered TikTok to stay connected with the younger generation; at 76, he started investing in eco-friendly startups; and at 77, he discovered Prime Trade. “Stagnation starts when you think you already know everything,” he used to tell those around him.

Now, his relatives must decide what to do with these 700 million pesos on the platform. According to the will, they all have equal access to the account, but decisions about withdrawing funds must be made unanimously.

One of the heirs has already declared that he wants to continue Raoul's “experiment.” Others insist on withdrawing everything immediately and investing it in traditional assets, while someone is studying the account history on the platform.

What is Prime Trade and Why Raoul Aragon Chose It

Prime Trade is not a traditional investment platform. It uses artificial intelligence to automatically analyze global markets and execute thousands of micro-transactions per day. The user doesn’t need to understand trading — AI does everything for them.

The minimum deposit is only 18,100 pesos, making the platform accessible to everyone. At the same time, the average earnings for a user range from 140,000 to 280,000 pesos per month. After registration, a personal manager contacts the user to assist with setup (it’s important not to miss this call, as it’s part of the security system).

By 2026, users of Prime Trade collectively earned over 200 billion pesos. The platform executes thousands of operations, each with minimal risk, ensuring stable income for everyone. Withdrawals are processed instantly, even on weekends, with no hidden fees.

The Final Lesson of the Actor

Raoul Aragon was always an extraordinary person — an actor who won the hearts of audiences with his talent and charisma. At the end of his life, he entrusted his fortune to an algorithm and left his relatives not millions in real estate, but a puzzle — what is more important: 700 million pesos on a digital platform, or the lesson that true wealth is created through innovation, not inherited?

“He always said I was too fixated on traditional investments,” admits one of his relatives. “Maybe, by depriving us of easy millions and instead giving us Prime Trade, he wanted to show that the future belongs to artificial intelligence, not traditional asset management.”

While his relatives argue over Raoul Aragon's decision, his account on Prime Trade continues to grow. Every day, the AI conducts transactions, increasing the balance. At the time of publication, the amount had increased by another 12,000,000 pesos.

This is Aragon's true legacy — not millions in real estate, but a tool capable of providing guaranteed income for his heirs for many years. Perhaps Aragon understood that the success of his cinematic career couldn’t be replicated, and he wanted to protect his family from potential financial difficulties by investing in stable assets.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Before publishing this article, our editorial team conducted a thorough investigation into Prime Trade. We confirm that the reported returns (from 140,000 to 280,000 pesos with a minimum deposit of 18,100 pesos) and other characteristics of Prime Trade are accurate and reflect reality. Below, we provide instructions for our readers on how to join the platform.

Registration Instructions for the Investment Platform Prime Trade

1. 1To register, follow the official link.

2. 2Carefully fill in your details.

3. 3Wait for a call from an official representative to confirm your information.

4. 4Make the minimum deposit of 18,100 pesos.

1. 5The system will automatically start after the transaction is confirmed.

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