I Mourn the Death of Mario O’Hara

Today, I grieve the loss of a brilliant film director, actor and playwright Mario O’Hara. He doesn’t know me but I know him through his films. Over the radio I heard that he passed away at the age of 68 this morning at San Juan de Dios Hospital. And just now I read from the online reports that he died between 10.30 to 11 a.m. this morning —  which means that during the time I visited my brother at the ICU of  the same hospital at a little past 11 am, Mario OHara was still there. Had I known, I must have taken a look, pay my last respect even from a distance to him. His film Paglilitis ni Bonifacio, was his last film that I saw; a film that I liked the treatment so much because of its refreshing form. May he rest in peace! And may his films serve as guide to young filmmakers so that they could decipher what good films really are! For O’Hara who left us cinema gems — Insiang, Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, etc. — his spirit through his films shall live forever!

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