Remembering Tony Mabesa
text and photos by Frank Rivera
Was it a coincidence that the Sining Kambayoka of the Mindanao State University in Marawi City was actually conceptualized around this time in 1974 when the great Tony Mabesa—the new National Artist for Theater—celebrated his cominghome birthday at the UP Diliman after his stint at the University of Hawaii in the U.S.?
On that year, the MSU-Vice President for Academic Affairs Rufino Ignacio invited Tony to join MSU and form the university theater group in Marawi. Tony, however, had other plans. And that offer landed on my lap. The rest, as the cliche goes, is history.
Tony became my friend after the Kambayoka made its first Manila performance at the PETA Theater-in-the-Ruins at Fort Santiago, Intramuros, in December 1974. The play was "Mga Kuwentong Maranaw." After the performance, there was a lengthy, rousing standing ovation. Tony approached me, shook my hand, introduced himself, then tightly embraced me and whispered, "It is something I've never seen before. I am a fan."
He must have meant it as he came to watch all our plays every time the Kambayoka performed in Manila. Tony and I became closer after we started working with Director Joel Lamangan on TV and his early movies. I was part of Joel Lamangan's circle of actors comprising Jim Pebanco, Tony, and the great Rolando Tinio. There was a running joke in our circle: "Si Frank lang ang di kagalingan kaya minor, minor roles lang ang sa kanya."
Tony and I appeared in the Abel Molina Palanca award-winning play directed by Anton Juan for the Palanca Awards night at the Manila Pen. It was a casting coup comprising Mario O'Hara, Rolando Tinio, Ogie Juliano, Tony, J1oel Lamangan, and I. It was a fun production. One time, Tony visited my Makati apartment, the first to get burned in the late 90s. He admired my collection of antique jars and paintings. I offered him coffee to show off my rare demitasse cup and asked him what spread he wanted for his sandwich. He smiled and said, "No sandwich. Just a banana." He was pointing at the ripe bunch of bananas hanging by the kitchen wall. Jun Laurel who was serving coffee immediately went out to buy bananas at the neighbourhood store.
"Oh, nice cup. But why the rush?" Tony asked as he sipped his coffee.
"To buy bananas," I said, then pointed at the bunch hanging on the wall. "Those are papier maché from Paete, Laguna."
Tony smiled and quipped, "Ang galing talaga nating mga Lagunense. We can fake our way out."
Both Tony and I were from Laguna. He's from Los Baños and I, from Paete.
The last time I saw Tony was during the Pasado Awards before the pandemic. He was with Joel Lamangan and Eddie Garcia to receive their awards for their movie, "Rainbow Sunset." I was with Arthur P. Casanova who was a past PinakaPasadong Guro Awardee while I was receiving mine that year. We were seated behind Tony, Eddie, and Joel. Arthur and I couldn't help but notice how big their ears were.
"May pamahiin," Arthur said. "Ang malalaki raw ang taynga, mahahaba ang buhay."
Arthur and I also have pairs of big ears. And we have surpassed great upheavals in our lives. So did Joel. Eddie Garcia passed on shortly after that from an accidental fall. And Tony left us a year ago. They were both octogenarian.
Tony is fondly remembered on his birthday.
