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The Puerto Vallarta community is mourning the passing of Manuel Franco Betancourt, a bartender at the Romantic Zone’s La Catrina Cantina and a cherished member of the LGBTQ+ community. Manuel passed away at the age of 45 on Monday, January 5, 2026, at the Puerto Vallarta Regional Hospital after being hospitalized for over a month and a half due to severe respiratory complications.
The team at La Catrina Cantina shared the news of his passing through a social media post, where they also announced an upcoming memorial event to honor his life:
“It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Manuel Franco Betancourt. Manuel died at the Regional Hospital today. He was 45 years old. Manuel was a large part of the heart and soul of La Catrina Cantina. His smile greeted everyone who entered the bar, making all feel welcome. He made the best Margarita in town. He was a wonderful and thankful friend. During his illness, many of his friends and customers donated to a GoFundMe to provide him with financial help. He was aware of every donation and deeply grateful for the community’s support. We are planning a Celebration of Life and will announce those details soon. We hope everyone can join us to celebrate Manuel’s life and memory.”
Messages of grief and solidarity quickly flooded social media. On Facebook, friends and regular patrons of La Catrina shared their sorrow and extended condolences to Manuel’s family, consistently highlighting his kindness and character.
Edward Lucker, Manuel’s colleague and best friend—who stayed by his side and cared for him in the hospital during his illness—spoke exclusively to Out & About PV. Visibly moved, he stated: “That man was one of a kind—the most honest, loyal, kind, and genuinely good person I have ever known in my life.”
Originally from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Manuel had been a resident of Puerto Vallarta and a fixture behind the bar at La Catrina Cantina for four years. Juan Alvarado González, owner of La Catrina Cantina, also visibly affected, shared his profound sadness over the loss of his employee and friend:
“Manuel was a truly unique and special person. He was very humble and a hard worker. He always had a smile on his face—I used to call it the ‘Million Dollar Smile.’ That’s why so many people loved him. Manuel was deeply grateful to everyone who supported him and made donations toward his recovery.”
La Catrina Cantina will host a memorial event to honor Manuel’s life on Friday, January 16, 2026. Details will be shared soon on the venue’s Facebook page.
The Out & About PV team extends our deepest condolences to the staff of La Catrina Cantina and to all of Manuel Franco’s loved ones.
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