REMEMBERING MARIO O'HARA

Many things will be said about Mario O'Hara and his myriad contributions to Philippine theater and cinema. But in my memory, it will always be his humble and giving ways that will be etched forever. He notoriously took public transportation and walked to and from rehearsals in CCP,and was infamously averse to press gatherings and public functions, particularly the showbiz kind.

I knew his brother Jerry before I met Mario, and by the time we were introduced in the late 80s, he had already made a name for himself as a writer, actor, and director in radio, theater, and film. His generosity as an artist and as a person was well known, and I have had several chances to see this first hand.

In the late 80s, Tanghalang Pilipino was staging Ang Ginintuang Bayan, and Mario was playing one of the leading roles, along with Nonie Buencamino and Pen Medina, among others. Nonie's wife, Shamaine, was due to give birth anytime soon, and he had promised to be by her side when she delivered via lamaze. TP's Artistic Director, Nonon Padilla, and the play's director, Jonas Sebastian, deemed it prudent to have an understudy for Nonie. They got me, the play's Lighting Designer, to agree, but that would mean extra rehearsal hours for everyone else. I never got to perform (Shamaine having managed to time her delivery on a weekend morning), but to this day, I vividly recall rehearsing scenes with Mario (and Pen and Kim Atienza), doing scenes over and over again, without hearing any negative word or even a whisper of complaint about putting extra time for an understudy.

Years later, Mario would gladly lend his talents to different batches of young actors that comprised the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors' Company: in "Julio Cesar" (directed by Nonon Padilla) for the batch that included Irma Adlawan, John Arcilla, Ony de Leon (+), Herbie Go, RJ Leyran (+), Olga Natividad; in "Yun na Nga Kung Yun na Nga" (directed by Herbie Go) for the group that included Mayen Estanero, Tess Jamias, Marj Lorico, Diana Malahay, Paolo O' Hara; and again in "Kudeta" (directed by Floy Quintos) with the likes of Riki Benedicto, Bong Cabrera, Chrome Cosio, Wenah Nagales, and Jonathan Tadioan. In each of these productions, Mario would be the lone veteran actor amidst younger thespians, giving worthy and memorable performances, but always a giving and supportive co-actor to the much younger cast.

It would not be until two years ago that I would finally have the chance to share the stage with him, and more than the memories of the time spent in front of the audience, the time he devoted to conversations about theater, film, radio, television and life, while impossible to reduce to written records, will forever be etched in memory, befitting an artist and a man who always made an extra effort to help his fellows.

Bravo, Mario. I am and will always be in awe, and reluctantly bid you adieu.