Antonio Ocampo Mabesa (January 27, 1935 – October 4, 2019), known as Tony Mabesa, was a Filipino stage director, film and television actor, and professor. With a career spanning over 70 years, he was a founding father of Philippine university theater[1] and one of the most prominent theater directors in the country. For his work, he was known as a "Lion of the Theater".[2]

Tony Mabesa
Born	Antonio Ocampo Mabesa (1935-01-27)January 27, 1935 Los Baños, Laguna, Philippine Islands
Died	October 4, 2019(2019-10-04) (aged 84) Manila, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Alma mater	University of the Philippines Los Banos University of California, Los Angeles (1965) University of Delaware (1969)
Occupation	Stage director, Film/Television actor, Professor
Awards	Order of National Artists of the Philippines

He founded the theater groups Dulaang UP and the UP Playwrights' Theatre. [3]

Early life and education

Mabesa was born in Los Baños, Laguna. He entered high school at the University of the Philippines Rural High School, where he first directed a school production. He finished his degree in Agriculture at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, where he was mentored by Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero.[3] He was a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi.[1] [4][5]

He pursued a master's degree in theater arts at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1965, and a master's degree in education at the University of Delaware in 1969.[1][6] He took further studies in dramatic literature at the University of Minnesota.[7] While in the US, worked as a stage manager to Sir Tyrone Guthrie, where he "observed up close how a campus-based theater organization should be run and could work."[7]

Career

Upon his return from studies abroad, Mabesa was offered a teaching position at the UP Diliman’s Department of Speech Communications and Theater Arts. As an educator, Mabesa pushed for the establishment of a Baccalaureate program devoted to Theater Arts, which began in 1978, and a Master of Arts in Theater Arts Program at the UP Diliman Campus.^{[citation needed]}

He founded the theater groups Dulaang UP (DUP) in 1976, the UP Playwright’s Theater in 1980, and later on founded the Angeles University Foundation Reportory Theater in 2005.[1] In 1978, he served as Theater Director of the Manila Metropolitan Theater.[7]

Over the course of his career, he directed and produced over 170 productions. He mentored some of the country's most prominent theater artists, such as Shamaine Centenera, Irma Adlawan, Nonie Buencamino, Eugene Domingo, Frances Makil-Ignacio, and Neil Ryan Sese.[3]

Death

Mabesa died on October 4, 2019, aged 84, in Manila.[8]

Filmography

Film

• Macho Dancer (1988)
• Tukso Layuan Mo Ako! (1991)
• Closer to Home (1995)
• Kristo (1996)
• Jose Rizal (1998)
• Azucena (2000)
• Mano Po (2002–2008)
• The Mistress (2012)
• El Presidente (2012)
• She's the One (2013)
• Maybe This Time (2014)
• Felix Manalo (2015)
• Rainbow's Sunset (2018)
• Clarita (2019)

Television

• Villa Quintana (1995–1997)
• Vietnam Rose (2005)
• Pasan Ko ang Daigdig (2007)
• Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita (2008)
• Una Kang Naging Akin (2008)
• May Bukas Pa (2009)
• Basahang Ginto (2010)
• Enchanted Garden (2012)
• My Little Juan (2013)
• Maalaala Mo Kaya (2014)
• The Rich Man's Daughter (2015)
• FPJ's Ang Probinsyano (2015)
• Hiram na Anak (2019)

Awards and legacy

Awards

• Best Supporting Actor, 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival: Rainbow's Sunset (2018)
• Gawad CCP Para sa Sining awardee for Theater (2015)
• Upsilonian, Noble and Outstanding (UNO) Award[9]
• Order of National Artists of the Philippines (2022)

References