Tres Dahlias from left: Angelina Kanapi (Chabeng), Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino (Ester) and Mae Paner (Magdea). STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written and photographed

By Jude Bautista

The Tres Dahlias, Angelina Kanapi (Chabeng), Mae Paner (Magdea) and Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino (Ester) talk about the hard times they have fallen into after their glory days on stage. Ester forces Magdea to talk about her job in the dark corners of cinemas:

Magdea: Trabahong kamay lang. Sa kaliwa meron akong alcohol, sa kanan meron akong toilet paper. Pagkatapos tinatabihan ko ang mga nagsosolong lalaki sa dilim. Tapos naka ngiti kong sasabihin, bossing gusto mo ba patigasin ko ang iyong saging? Sa beto beto ako ay matinik. Sari saring mga saging Lakatan, ang daming señorita. Pero meron din naman mga sabaaah! Di ko makalimutan yung isang customer yon po ang saging na walang puso.

Mae Paner (Magdea) talks about her ‘job’ at a movie theater beside her customer Rody Vera. STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

Ester: Patapusin mo na! (Man beside her moans Ahh! Ahh! Ahh! Oooooohhh!) Magdea: Pero wala naman kaming kinitang tatlo, hanggang ngayon kayod marino pa rin kami. She talks about getting gold and jewelry only to sell it for needs of relatives such as ‘operasyon ng loslos ni lolo’ and many more. Magdea: Sabi nga ni Chichay pare-pareho lang buhay naming lahat.

Nonie Buencamino (Tirso) charms Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino (Ester). STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

One can go through life and look at it either as a tragedy or a comedy. Mario O’Hara chose to look at the most tragic and difficult things in life and turned them into something funny, if not as a source of entertainment. When he wrote STAGESHOW he chose to give homage to the lives of Filipino artists from a bygone era. Most of these incredibly talented and dedicated performers did not gain financial security although they did have fame. STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP

from left: Malak So Shdifat, Suzette Ranillo and Garry Lim. Malak is a Top 8 Finalist in Artista Academy. STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

In so doing, O’Hara also chronicled a very accurate slice of Filipino life. We Filipinos love to laugh, sing and dance in the midst of greatest tragedies. It may be what makes us so resilient. So STAGESHOW might as well be our story as a people. Even when audiences of today can only pick out one, two or three performers from the past whom they recognize, the dramas, pains, humor, their individual stories are all something we can relate to. It is hilariously provocative and the story will remain with you til memory fades.

Senakulo scene from left: (Kristo/Pio) , Rayna Reyes (Magdalena/Caridad)
, Gilbert Onida (Indo), Tara Cabaero (koro) and Kaye Garcia (koro). STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

STAGESHOW was the last script written by Mario O’Hara for the theater before he passed away in June of this year. While he created the blue print for a successful show, putting the elements together was another thing altogether. Director Chris Millado realized he needed to put a very good team to produce it. Millado is himself a veteran of many shows from Tanghalang Pilipino, PETA, NohSPace San Francisco, Kumu Kahua Theater Honolulu and many more. One of the major challenges was the transition from one scene to the next. He was able to solve this ingeniously with live costume changes. They also become a statement in the changes that occur within the character.

from left: Lou Veloso plays a priest at the Christening of Nonie Buencamino (Tirso) and Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino’s (Ester) son Lupito. STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

Apart from that he was able to get Choreographer Denisa Reyes who showed her creativity in telling stories through dance and movement. There were a few scenes that did not have dialogue and relied heavily on movement. And often dance was the best way to visualize and appreciate what the previous dialogue was saying.

Choreographer Denisa Reyes’s with TP director Nanding Josef. STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

Angelina Kanapi (Chabeng) and Nonie Buencamino (Tirso). STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

There’s no other way for example, to act out fast forwarding scenes or time travel than through hunching down, pumping fists on the side and the whole cast accelerating action in the story. Again it was both hilarious and ingenious, not unlike what our playwright was in real life. You have no idea how funny a dance sequence can be until they start throwing a (fake) baby around in the middle of it. The comedy comes just as much from the physical slapstick as it is from the snappy jokes.

Nonie Buencamino (Tirso) and Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino (Ester) celebrate having their son Lupito by throwing him around. STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

It is difficult not to fall in love with real life married couple Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino who are at the lead roles of Tirso and Esther. Both the choreography and vocals are very challenging which they pulled off with aplomb. Roder Camañag and Liesl Batucan also in the lead roles were just as effective. Sex has never been THIS funny. These four actors were able to show genuine love and made people laugh at the same time.

A hot and funny love scene between Nonie Buencamino (Tirso) and Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino (Ester). STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

There were many great performances from the whole cast. Lou Veloso played despicable characters from a corrupt Mayor to a hobo-rapist. Speaking of which, Veloso is running under Mayor Lim’s ticket as Vice Mayor in real life for the local elections next year.

Lou Veloso plays a corrupt ‘Meyor’ beside him is Rayna Reyes (Caridad). STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

Rody Vera as Bobby Gonzales with Angelina Kanapi (Chabeng). STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

Multi awarded playwright, screenwriter Rody Vera performed as 1950’s matinee idol Bobby Gonzalez. I was also particularly impressed by Vera’s performance as comedian Bentot who acts like a toddler (that was his shtick). I was not able to see Gonzalez but I remember watching black and white reruns of Bentot’s old movies in GMA 7 as a kid. Vera got the voice and the distinctive walk, which was really hilarious.

from right: Rody Vera as Bobby Gonzales blows a kiss to Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino (Ester), Mae Paner (Magdea) and Angelina Kanapi (Chabeng). STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

from left: Rody Vera (Bentot), Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino (Ester) and Gilbert Onida (Pugo). STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

Jonathan Tadioan (Jimboy) and Pamela Hundana (Dulce) are the crazy siblings born into the performer’s life. The chorus composed of Agnes Sarreal, Hazel Maranan, Kaye Garcia and April Iñigo were very eyecatching in their negligee scenes with Nonie Buencamino (Tirso). They even had a rocketts-like dance sequence no man can forget. The scene is not unlike Jet Pangan’s in “Nine” where he was surrounded by hot actresses like Menchu Lauchngco-Yulo, Cherie Gil and Eula Valdez.

Crazy siblings Jonathan Tadioan (Jimboy) and Pamela Hundana (Dulce). STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

STAGESHOW is everything you’ve dreamed of, laughed about and more. It’s a freak show, a musical, a deep, long, hard look at the lives of our performers and a rollicking good time!

STAGESHOW rockettes from left: Hazel Maranan, Rayna Reyes, Agnes Sarreal and Tara Cabaero. STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

Its good to be Nonie Buencamino (Tirso) surrounded by clockwise from bottom left: Agnes Sarreal, Tara Cabaero, Angelina Kanapi (Chabeng), Rayna Reyes and Hazel Maranan. STAGESHOW by Mario O’Hara will open the Natl. Theater Festival on Nov. 7-8, 2012 at the CCP. Photo by Jude Bautista

Dolphy received his Lifetime Achievement trophy at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Written and photographed

By Jude Bautista

Filipino film and TV icon Rodolfo ‘Dolphy’ Quizon passed away yesterday July 10, 2012 at the Makati Medical Center due to multiple organ failure and complications from pneumonia at the age of 83. For any Filipino Mang Dolphy especially of my generation and older, he represents everything that made us laugh through the most difficult times. And for a whole nation and culture that revels in laughter, he is a god. As of writing, the ABS CBN compound where the public can pay their respect has lines going around the block. The crowd is estimated to be 2,000 and still growing. The Dolphy Theater was named in his honor years ago.

Dolphy received his Lifetime Achievement trophy from MMDA Chairman Atty. Oscar Inocentes (in Barong). Far right Boots Anson Roa looks on during the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Dolphy’s son Epi Quizon won a recent Best Actor Ensemble award for cast of “Ang Mga Kidnapper Ni Ronnie Lazaro” at the 1st Sineng Pambansa in Davao last July 1. Photo was taken at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Only weeks apart, two other figures in Philippine entertainment also passed away. During the Cinemalaya 8 press con, Festival director Chris Millado said in his speech, “Before we begin let me take this opportunity to offer a remembrance to two titans who left us a week ago: Tony Espejo theater director and founder of Gantimpala Theater Foundation and Mario O’Hara actor, director and writer for both film and stage. My dear friends let us stand and offer a moment of silence for Tony and Mario…” For a background on O’Hara click on this link for photos and stories on one of the greatest screenwriters and renaissance men the Phil. has produced.

Dolphy received his Lifetime Achievement trophy at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

From left: Vina Morales, Kuh Ledesma and Rhap Hernandez performed at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

I shared photos and some articles I wrote on Mario O’Hara. Similarly I was very fortunate to photograph  Mang Dolphy our ‘King of Comedy’ when he was given a Lifetime Achievement award at the Metro manila Film festival in December 2009. In an article I wrote for Manila Bulletin at that time: “It was in recognition of his title as “Hari ng Komedya” with 168 films spanning 6 decades. His awards also include dramatic roles and Best Actor awards from Urian, FAMAS. A Posthumous award for Film Service was also given to Atty. Espiridon Laxa, one of the founders of MMFF.”

Dolphy received his Lifetime Achievement trophy from MMDA Chairman Atty. Oscar Inocentes (in Barong). Far right Boots Anson Roa looks on during the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Vina Morales performed at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. And she also sang ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ at the Dolphy Theater for his tribute July 11, 2012. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

He started out in bodabil, a live song and dance act. He was a talented tap dancer who even partnered with Bayani Casimiro who was considered as the ‘Fred Astaire of The Phil.’ In a comprehensive interview with Jessica Soho, Dolphy admitted to being a serious person. Fernando Poe Sr. (FPJ’s dad) insisted in casting him in a movie. After seeing his performance and just shooting the breeze off stage making cast mates laugh. The rest as they say is history, without question he’s the most awarded and successful Filipino comedian ever.

(Left) Dolphy’s son Eric Quizon lends support at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Dolphy received his Lifetime Achievement trophy at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Younger audiences know Dolphy from “Home Along Da Riles” and most recently from  “Pidol’s Wonderland” The most recent show from TV5 allowed him to work with his sons Eric, Epy and Vandolph. My own fondest memory of Dolphy was watching him on TV in the late 70’s and the early 80’s. For anyone who had a TV set, his show “John en Marsha” was a weekly habit. Back then we only had 5 TV channels, our world stopped when the PBA was on, Voltes Five, for me Sesame Street, SUPERSTAR for my lola who idolized Nuuuuraahhh and Dolphy’s show.

Best Production Designer Richard Somes (Ang Panday) at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

From left: MMFF Best Actor Bong Revilla, Congresswoman Lani Merado and Best Supporting Actor Philip Salvador at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Written and directed by the late Ading Fernando, JohnenMarsha was a family comedy that predated “The Cosby’s” in the U.S.. Characters in that show became everybody’s concept and image of what a nagging mother in law was (Dely Atayatayan), a nosy shrill voiced maid: Matutina. And of course Dolphy was John Puruntong, everybody’s friend or hopelessly poor but lovable and funny father figure. He also confessed to Jessica Soho that Nida Blanca who played his wife Marsha was his favorite leading lady ever. It was no small compliment; he has had quite a few leading ladies having made 200 films. The show launched the careers of Maricel Soriano, Rolly Quizon and many more.

Mano Po 6 team From left: Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Awardee Mother Lily Monteverde, grandson Keith, Best Director Joel Lamangan and Supervising Producer Manny Valera. Photo was taken at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Epi Quizon with wife Rosanne Escudero watched dad Dolphy received his Lifetime Achievement trophy at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

He created an alarm clock and or buzzer that would pull his leg up to wake him from sleep. Director Ading initially complained that Dolphy would often improvise the lines he had written in the script. Upon watching the show he realized that Dolphy had actually made the scene funnier. Although the classic line from the show was Dely Atayatayan’s “Kaya John magsumikap kaaaa.” Dely would often put down his out of luck and jobless son in law because she was well off. Whenever they needed money she would quip to Matutina: “Magwalis walis ka nga diyan..”

Tony Ferrer receives the Film Service award for his late father Atty. Espiridon Laxa who was one of the founders of MMFF. Photo was taken at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Dolphy received his Lifetime Achievement trophy at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

My only real personal contact with him came when I was a photographer’s assistant of Francis M. Rivera in 1998. To this day, Rivera is one of the top names in advertising photography whose clientele includes multinational ad agencies representing the biggest brands. We were going to shoot Dolphy as an endorser for a laundry detergent which escapes me now. We remember him endorsing TalkNText, SMART from the many TVC’s almost yearly. Rivera also photographed some of those TnT print ads sometimes with other endorsers like Robin Padilla. Dolphy endorsed countless other products.

Ciara Sotto and Epi Quizon were presenters at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

I was wide-eyed kid barely out of college who was often told off for being late to that job. And here was Dolphy an entertainment icon who was an hour early before call time for the shoot. He was a true pro, posing for the camera was something that he could just turn on. He could easily give different levels of facial expressions perfect for the shot.

Dolphy received his Lifetime Achievement trophy from MMDA Chairman Atty. Oscar Inocentes (in Barong). Far right Leo Martinez and Boots Anson Roa look on during the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Everyone requested for a photo with him. What I noticed was that he genuinely enjoyed being around people, shaking hands and smiling at them. After the shoot was done he wrote a check and gave it to my boss saying, “For da boys.” Later on I found out he gave P5,000.00 as a ‘tip’ for the crew of half dozen or so which included myself. Dolphy will be remembered for the many roles he inhabited as a performer but he will also be loved and adored by millions for who he was as a person.

Dolphy received his Lifetime Achievement trophy at the MMFF awards night December 28, 2009 SMX Convention center. Photo by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista