THE FIFTIES # 71: MILA NIMFA & BEN PEREZ IN "BASAG NA MANIKA" (1951)

"Basag na Manika"
Royal Productions
Release Date October 24- November 6, 1951/ Clover
Music Constancio C. de Guzman
Direction Fernando Poe
Cast Mila Nimfa, Ben Perez, Amelia Saguinsin, Sonia Reyes, Corazon Rivas, Bining Lopez

DIREK MARIO O'HARA, 66

MANILA, Philippines—Award-winning director, actor, playwright Mario O’Hara (b. 1946) died of cardiac arrest between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Tuesday (26 June) at the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Pasay City. He was 66.

According to his brother Jerry, O’Hara’s heart attack was a complication of his acute leukemia, which was diagnosed only this month. “My brother’s cardiologist already warned me that his low hemoglobin count could lead to this,” Jerry told the Inquirer in a phone interview. “He had been conscious. He still looked healthy despite his illness. His heart simply gave up.”

O’Hara’s remains lie at the Saint Alphonsus Mary Ligouri Parish on Magallanes Avenue in Makati City. Interment will be announced later.


Jerry said O’Hara been in and out of the hospital for two months. He was first brought there in May due to pneumonia. “This triggered a mild heart attack. He had been confined for three weeks,” he said in an interview on June 20.

O’Hara went home for a week, until his his condition “got worse” and had to be taken back to the hospital. “He felt weak. He lost his appetite and the small amount of food he ate, he vomited,” Jerry recalled. It was around this time that O’Hara’s leukemia had been diagnosed. “His body rejected medicine. His creatinine level shot up. This caused damage to his kidneys and liver,” the brother related. “Doctors also said his potassium level was high and that this could cause for his heart to stop any time.”
O’Hara underwent his first chemotherapy session on June 20. The following day, Jerry sent this message to the Inquirer: “He is responding very well to chemo.”

Jerry said O’Hara had initially refused cancer treatment and suffered from bouts of depression. “His doctors had told him, ‘give medicine a chance to work on you,’ but my brother replied, ‘doon (death) din naman ang uwi ko.’ He had bouts of depression. His family tried to encourage him, to keep him fighting.”

On Tuesday, Jerry said: “My brother fought for his life. He stood his ground. He even managed to fight his depression. We made some of his closest friends visit him to cheer him up. The day before he died, he even ate a big serving of his favorite sapin-sapin.”

O’Hara was a native of Zamboanga. He collaborated with the late National Artist for Film Lino Brocka in the 1970s in films such as “Insiang” and “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (You’ve Been Weight But Found Wanting),” where he made his first breakthrough performance as a leper. He also co-wrote the scripts of these films which are now considered classics not only in the Philippines but in world cinema.
In 2004, he made the award-winning neo-realist film “Babae Sa Breakwater.”

O’Hara’s last, “Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio,” was an entry to the 2010 Cinemalaya Philippine independent Film Festival.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Mario O’ Hara (writer and director) started his film career doing scripts in television (served as his training ground in script writing) and performing in stage plays under PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association). He wrote the screenplay of most of early Brocka’s movies i.e. Cadena de Amor (1971), Lumuha Pati Mga Anghel (1971), Tinimbang Ka Nguni’t Kulang (1974) and Tatlo Dalawa Isa (1974). O'Hara also did some acting appearing in Santiago (1970), Tubog sa Ginto (1971), Stardoom (1972), Tinimbang Ka Nguni’t Kulang, Tatlo Dalawa Isa and Gumising Ka Maruja (1978). His close association and corroboration with the great Lino Brocka proved advantageous to him, as he went into movie directing via Moral , his directorial debut in 1976. Often overlooked (as far as film directing is concerned) and always in the shadow of directors Brocka, Bernal, De Leon, Ad Castillo, Diaz-Abaya or even Gosiengfiao and Perez, O'Hara, however, has produced a body of works that one would be proud of. Among his memorable works, spanning three decades, are Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos (1976), Kastilyong Buhangin (1980), Bakit Bughaw ang Langit (1980), Bulaklak sa City Jail (1984), Condemned (1984), all starred by Superstar Nora Aunor, Bagong Hari (1986), Babae sa Bubungang Lata (1988) and Babae sa Breakwater (2004).

Read: Mario O'Hara: Manila at the Edge of Realism by Noel Vera/
The Quiet Man by Noel Vera

Left- Moral (1976)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Rosanna Ortiz, Anita Linda and Dindo Fernando/with Darling Postigo better known as Julie Vega/ Written and Directed by Mario O'Hara

Right- Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos (1976)- Stars Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon and Rafael 'Bembol' Roco/ Written and Directed by Mario O'Hara

Mga Bilanggong Birhen (1977)- Stars Alma Moreno, Trixia Gomez, Rez Cortez, Armida Siguon-Reyna, Mario Montenegro, Barbara Luna, Ruffy Mendoza & Leroy Salvador/ Written and Directed by Mario O'Hara & Romy Suzara

Left- Kastilyong Buhangin (1980)- Stars Nora Aunor and Lito Lapid/ Directed by Mario O'Hara

Right- Bakit Bughaw ang Langit? (1980)- Stars Nora Aunor and Dennis Roldan/ Directed by Mario O'Hara

Gaano Kita Kamahal (1981)- Stars Nora Aunor, Lito Lapid, Geraldine, Marita Zobel, Mario Escudero/ Directed by Mario O'Hara

To Mama With Love (1983)- Stars Gloria Romero, Snooky Serna, Maricel Soriano, Janice de Belen, Julie Vega and William Martinez,/ Introducing Manilyn Reynes/ Directed by Mario O'Hara

Left- Condemned (1984)- Stars Nora Aunor, Gloria Romero, Gina Alajar, Rio Locsin and Dan Alvaro/ Directed by Mario O'Hara

Right- Bulaklak sa City Jail (1984)- Stars Nora Aunor, Gina Alajar, Celia Rodriguez, Perla Bautista, Maya Valdes, Zenaida Amador, Maritess Gutierrez, Shyr Valdez/ Directed by Mario O'Hara

Uhaw sa Pag-ibig (1984)- Stars Claudia Zobel, Edgar Mande, Patrick de la Rosa, Lito Pimentel/ Directed by Mario O'Hara

Bagong Hari(1986)- Stars Dan Alvaro, Carmi Martin, Joel Torre, Robert Arevalo, Perla Bautista, Celso Ad Castillo and Elvira Manahan/ Directed by Mario O'Hara

Left- Halimaw (1986)- 2 Episodes: Komiks (Directed by Christopher Strauss de Leon) & Banga (Directed by Mario O' Hara/ Stars Liza Lorena, Gina Pareno, Michael de Mesa, Mario O' Hara, Ruel Vernal, Maritess Gutierrez, Ronel Victor, Jaime Fabregas, Marilyn Villamayor and Ian & Lotlot

Right- Takot Ako, Eh! (1987)- Stars Kristoffer Ian, Lotlot, Matet, Caridad Sanchez, Richard Merck, Jimmy Fabregas, Ronel Victor, Marilyn Villamayor/ Directed by Mario O'Hara

Left- Babae sa Bubungang Lata (1988)- Stars Aya Medel, Mike Magat, Renzo Cruz, Randy Ramos, Allen Dizon and Anita Linda/ Directed by Mario O'Hara

Right- The Fatima Buen Story (1994)- Stars Kris Aquino, Zoren Legaspi, John Regala, Janice de Belen and Gina Pareno/ Directed by Mario O'Hara

Manananggal in Manila (1997)- Stars Tonton Gutierrez, Eric Fructuoso, Mike Magat, Aiza Seguerra and Alma Concepcion/ Directed by Mario O'Hara

Left- Sindak (1999)- Stars John Robert Porter, Jr., Rita Magdalena, Aya Medel, Gardo Verzosa, Mike Magat, Allen Dizon and William Martinez/ Directed by Mario O'Hara

Right- Sisa (1999)- Stars Gardo Versoza, Patrick De Guzman, Marcus Madrigal and Aya Medel/ with Evangeline Pascual/ Directed by Mario O'Hara

Babae sa Breakwater (2004)- Stars Katherine Luna, Kristoffer King, Gardo Versoza, Amy Austria Alcris Galura, Yoyoy Villame, Evelyn Vargas, Jeanette Nunag / Directed by Mario O'Hara

The Films of Mario O’Hara:

Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio (2010)

Babae sa Breakwater (2004)

Pangarap ng Puso (2000)

Sindak (1999)

Sisa (1999)
Ang Babae sa Bubungang Lata (1998)
Mama, Dito sa Aking Puso (1997)

Manananggal in Manila (1997)

The Fatima Buen Story (1994)
Johnny Tinoso an the Proud Beauty (1994)

Tatlong Ina, Isang Anak (1987)

Prinsesang Gusgusin (1987)
Takot Ako, Eh! (1987)
Halimaw (Episode: Banga) (1986)

Bagong Hari (1986)

Bulaklak sa City Jail (1984)

Condemned (1984)

To Mama With Love (1983)
Uhaw sa Pag-ibig (1983)
Bakit Bughaw ang Langit? (1981)

Kastilyong Buhangin (1980)

Marcelino pan y vino (1979) (TV)
Mga Bilanggong Birhen (1977)

Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos (1976)

Mortal (1976)

THE FIFTIES # 70: FRED MONTILLA, LINDA ESTRELLA & TESSIE AGANA IN "BATAS NG DAIGDIG" (1951)

"Batas ng Daigdig"
Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date October 18- 27, 1951/ Life
Story & Direction Artemio Marquez
Cast Fred Montilla, Linda Estrella, Tessie Agana, Rosa Mia, Rudy Francisco

THE FIFTIES # 69: JAIME DE LA ROSA & EVELYN VILLAR IN "PROBINSYANO" (1951)

"Probinsyano"
LVN Pictures, Inc.
Release Date November 9- 18, 1951/ Clover
Story Susana C. de Guzman
Direction Tony Arnaldo
Cast Jaime de la Rosa, Evelyn Villar, Milagros Naval, Alfonso Carvajal

THE FIFTIES # 68: CARMEN ROSALES, DANILO MONTES & LUNINGNING IN "ANAK KO...!" (1951)

"Anak Ko...!"
Royal Productions
Release Date March 31, 1951/ Rialto
Music Constancio de Guzman
Direction Fernando Poe
Cast Carmen Rosales, Danilo Montes, Luningning, Manuel Ubaldo, Mila Nimfa

THE FIFTIES # 67: CELIA FLOR & TEODY BELARMINO IN "YOLANDA" (1951)

"Yolanda"
LVN Pictures, Inc.
Release Date July 26, 1951/ Dalisay
Music F. Buencamino Sr. & Jr.
Direction Susana C. de Guzman
Cast Celia Flor, Teody Belarmino, Alfonso Carvajal, Lila Luna, Patsy Mateo, Etang Discher, Nenita Vidal, Ben Medina, Nora Linda

THE FIFTIES # 66: FRED MONTILLA & ERLINDA CORTES IN "ISINANLANG PAG-IBIG" (1951)

"Isinanlang Pag-ibig"
Benito Bros. Pictures
Release Date August 29- September 7, 1951/ Life
Direction Domingo Principe
Cast Fred Montilla, Erlinda Cortes, Lydia Montanez, Jose Villafranca, Rosa Aguirre, Rene Antonio, Antonio de la Mogueis, Tita Aragon, Boy Roland

THE FIFTIES # 65: ARSENIA FRANCISCO & REYNALDO DANTE IN "LABIS NA PAGTITIPID" (1951)

"Labis na Pagtitipid"
Premiere Productions
Release Date January 17- 26, 1951/ Dalisay
Direction Consuelo P. Osorio
Cast Arsenia Francisco, Reynaldo Dante, Lopito

THE FIFTIES # 64: OSCAR MORENO & ERLINDA CORTES IN "ROMEO AT JULIETA" (1951)

"Romeo at Julieta"
Lebran Productions
Release Date December 14-16, 1951 & January 6- 15, 1952/ Life
Music Prof. J. Esteban Anguita
Production Designs Carlos V. Francisco
Direction Ralph Brambles, Jr. & Prudencio B. Mariano
Cast Oscar Moreno, Erlinda Cortes, Juan Monteiro, Fernando Royo, Andres Centenera, Africa de la Rosa, Gil de Leon, Nati Rubi, Jose Villafranca, Cecilio Joaquin, Oscar Obligacion

THE FIFTIES # 63: JAIME DE LA ROSA & DELIA RAZON IN "SHALIMAR" (1951)

"Shalimar"
LVN Pictures, Inc.
Release Date August 25- September 3, 1951/ Rialto
Music Quin Velasco
Direction Richard Abelardo
Cast Jaime de la Rosa, Delia Razon, Ben Rubio, Lila Luna

THE FIFTIES # 62: CARMEN ROSALES & DOMINGO PRINCIPE IN "HULING KONSIYERTO" (1951)

"Huling Konsiyerto"
Benito Bros. Pictures
Release Date July 20-29, 1951/ Life
Music Levy Celerio
Story & Direction Don Alcaraz
Cast Carmen Rosales, Domingo Principe, Fara Lizardo, Jose Villafranca, Rosa Aguirre, Alma Bella, Tony Mogueis, Paco Zamora, Rene Antonio

THE FIFTIES # 61: LEILA MORENA & DANILO MONTES IN "GAMUGAMONG NAGING LAWIN" (1951)

"Gamugamong Naging Lawin"
Premiere Productions
Release Date August 5- 14, 1951/ Dalisay
Story Teodoro Virrey
Music Josefino Cenizal
Direction Eduardo de Castro
Cast Leila Morena, Danilo Montes, Arturo Lerma, Nati Rubi, Cecilio Joaquin, Tony Tolman, Francisco Cruz, Fernando Santiago, Dadang Ortega, Candida Valderama, Nello Nayo, Leonara Ruiz

THE FIFTIES # 60: OSCAR MORENO, FRED MONTILLA, LINDA ESTRELLA & TESSIE AGANA IN "KASAYSAYAN NI DR. RAMON SELGA" (1951)

"Kasaysayan ni Dr. Ramon Selga"
Sampaguita Pictures, Inc.
Release Date January 30- February 9, 1951/ Life
Direction Octavio SilosCast Oscar Moreno, Fred Montilla, Linda Estrella, Teresita Martinez, Tessie Agana, Myrna Delgado, Rosa Mia, Aruray, Maria Cristina, Jose de Villa, Dolores Criscini, Aring Bautista, Bartolome del Rosario

35th GAWAD URIAN WINNERS (2012): MAJA SALVADOR, PAULO AVELINO AND "ANG SAYAW NG DALAWANG KALIWANG PAA" TOP WINNERS

June 13--- The best films of 2011 were honored at the 35th Gawad Urian Awards held at AFP theater in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Independent films, once again ruled this year's annual awards.

“Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa” was adjudged the biggest winner with seven awards --- Best Picture, Best Director & Screenplay (Alvin Yapan), Best Actor (Paulo Avelino), Best Supporting Actress (Jean Garcia), Best Cinematography and Best Music.

Maja Salvador, on the other hand, won the Best Actress trophy for “Thelma.”

Complete list of winners:

Best Picture – Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa
Best Actress – Maja Salvador (Thelma)
Best Actor – Paulo Avelino (Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa)
Best Director – Alvin Yapan (Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa)
Best Supporting Actress – Jean Garcia (Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa)
Best Supporting Actor – Art Acuña (Niño)
Best Screenplay – Alvin Yapan (Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa)
Best Cinematography – Arvin Viola (Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa)
Best Production Design – Maulen Fadul (The Natural Phenomenon of Madness)
Best Editing – Lawrence Fajardo (Amok)
Best Music – Christine Muyco and Jema Pamintuan (Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa)
Best Sound – Albert Michael Idioma and Addiss Tabong (Amok)
Best Documentary – Tundong Magiliw
Best Short Film – Sirip

THE FIFTIES # 59: JAIME DE LA ROSA & MILA DEL SOL IN "REYNA ELENA" (1951)

"Reyna Elena"
LVN Pictures
Release Date January 11- 20, 1951/ Life
Direction Susana C. de Guzman
Cast Jaime de la Rosa, Mila del Sol, Rosa Rosal, Tony Arnaldo, Gil de Leon

THE FIFTIES # 58: JAIME DE LA ROSA & TESSIE QUINTANA IN LAMBERTO AVELLANA'S "AMOR MIO" (1951)

"Amor Mio"
LVN Pictures
Release Date December 27, 1951- January 5, 1952/ Life
Music Carlos Aguilar
Direction Lamberto V. Avellana
Cast Jaime de la Rosa, Tessie Quintana, Rosa Rosal, Tony Santos, Nida Blanca

THE FIFTIES # 57: ANITA LINDA, REYNALDO DANTE & EDDIE DEL MAR IN GERARDO DE LEON'S "SISA" (1951)/ Re-uploaded

"Sisa"
Premiere Productions
Release Date November 7- 16, 1951/ Life
Music Ariston Avelino
Direction Gerardo de Leon
Cast Anita Linda, Reynaldo Dante and Eddie del Mar/ with Eddie Infante, Nati Rubi, Pancho Pelagio, Tony Tolman, Ruben Rustia

Winner of two Maria Clara Awards (Gerardo de Leon- Best Direction and Anita Linda- Best Actress), Sisa, based on a character from Jose Rizal's first novel, Noli Me Tangere tells of Sisa (played by Anita Linda), the mother of two boys, Basilio and Crispin who work as helpers in the church of San Diego town. The head sacristan (Pancho Pelagio) of the church steals money from the church coffers and accuses the boys of the theft. He tortures the boys, killing Crispin in the process. Basilio, the eldest, escapes to avoid prison. That same night, Pedro (Reynaldo Dante), Sisa's husband, a gambler and a wife beater who spends all his time gambling in the cockpit, comes home and takes all of Sisa's savings. He even eats all the food she prepared for her sons. Basilio comes home and tells his shocked mother about their ordeal in the church.

Courtesy of Premiere Productions

Sisa goes to the priest's house to ask for her missing son but is sent away by the sacristan who stands firm in his accusation of the two brothers' thievery the night before. Back in the house, she is met by the guardia civil (a local militia) looking for her sons, but Basilio has fled again. The militia turn their attention to the mother and abuse her. Sisa goes mad, roaming the streets, homeless, and occasionally helping out in some rich man's house in exchange for some food. Some time later, mad mother and fugitive son come across each other at the town outskirts. Sisa is shocked by the encounter into a moment of lucidity when she recognizes Basilio. But weakness and exposure have taken their toll on the poor woman. She dies in the arms of her son.
(Synopsis- Source: Focus on Filipino Films: A Sampling 1951-1982)

THE FIFTIES # 56: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO & LYDIA MONTANEZ IN "LA ROCA TRINIDAD" (1951)

"La Roca Trinidad"
LGS Productions
Release Date July 16- 25, 1951/ Dalisay
Music Josefino Cenizal
Direction Carlos Padilla
Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Lydia Montanez, Rosa Aguirre, Lani-o Padilla, Jose Oledan, Pablo Virtuoso, Amandita, Luis Del Rey