( CNN ) -- Friendship is not defined by the length of time two people share together . One defining moment is all it takes for two individuals to call each other friends . Cory Monteith 's life , short as it was , taught me that lesson . His death , sudden as it was , taught me that lesson . Coroner : Mix of heroin and alcohol killed 'Glee ' star . The defining moment of our friendship happened the third time I joined the cast of `` Glee '' for yet another memorable shooting experience as Sunshine Corazon . At the set , Cory was cool . Like his character Finn Hudson , Cory was so cool that everything seemed alright with him . I remember the last time I shot for `` Glee , '' it was May 9 , 2011 . It was a long shooting day that swelled into the wee hours of the following morning . I was a tad emotional when the clock struck 12 midnight -- not because I was tired -- but because May 10 was my birthday . And I , a girl from the barrio of Gulod in the far-flung Philippines , was alone in America . My family was not there , my friends were not there , I did n't have my loved ones there to celebrate my birthday . It did n't help that we all still had a long way to go on that day at the set of `` Glee . '' How will 'Glee ' handle the death of Cory Monteith ? But Cory came to the rescue , just in time , with his sweet greeting : `` Happy birthday , Charice ! '' A big smile crossed his handsome face . There was sincerity in his tone as he gave me a tight hug . He became family to me at that moment . In the remaining hours of our shoot , Cory told me he had Googled me and found my date of my birth . Cool Cory 's act of kindness . He told other members of the `` Glee '' cast that it was my birthday and I was floored at how many of them greeted me with their warm birthday wishes . My body felt cold when I learned about his death . Too soon , too early , too young . I never thanked Cory enough for that one moment in time when he made me feel like family . I never thanked him enough for making me happy on that lonely day . Cory has many fans in the Philippines . In my silence , I mourn with so many of them . Addiction : The disease that lies . Finn was big in my country because `` Glee '' was big among the many young people in the Philippines . The Filipino people love him because we are a musically-inclined nation and we know how to appreciate real talent . We know how to love real talent . Many of my Filipino friends ask me what will happen to `` Glee '' now that Finn is gone . I have no answer to their query . But I lovingly ask them to pray for him -- for his peaceful passing . I am confident he 's singing with the angels now . I am more than confident that his suave style , his cool attitude about everything will endear him more to his new-found winged friends in the afterlife . To his fans around the world who mourn his passing , I am with you . I know how it feels . Let 's hold each other 's hand . Let 's remember Cory and continue to celebrate his music , his craft , his life . He will forever be in our hearts . I wish I could also embrace Cory 's loved ones -- his family and friends , his girlfriend Lea Michele . I will pray for all of you , too . Thank you , Mr . Cool . My grateful heart will always miss you -- especially so on my birthday . Thank you . CNN iReport : Remembering Glee 's Cory Monteith . The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Charice .
Singer and actress Charice recalls her friendship with Cory Monteith on the set of ` ` . '' ' : ` ` Like his character Finn Hudson , Cory was so cool '' ` ` My body went cold when I learned about his death , '' says she . The actress asks for Cory 's fans to unite and celebrate his life and career .