# Tony Mabesa

Antonio "Tony" Ocampo Mabesa ONA (January 27, 1935 – October 4, 2019) 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 and one of the most prominent theater directors in the country. For his work, he was known as a "Lion of the Theater".
He founded the theater groups Dulaang UP and the UP Playwrights' Theatre.

## 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. He was a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi.
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. He took further studies in dramatic literature at the University of Minnesota. 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."

## 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.
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. In 1978, he served as Theater Director of the Manila Metropolitan Theater.
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.

## Death

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

## Filmography
### Film

* Rosa Mistica (1988)
* Macho Dancer (1988) – Customer 1
* Tukso Layuan Mo Ako! (1991)
* Ipagpatawad Mo (1991) – EENT Doctor
* Sa Isang Sulok ng Mga Pangarap (1993)
* Kadenang Bulaklak (1994) – Mr. Benigno Doctolero
* Pangako ng Kahapon (1994) – Bishop
* The Maggie dela Riva Story: God... Why Me? (1994) – Appeal lawyer
* Iukit Mo sa Bala (1994) – Padre Celso
* Ang Ika-Labing Isang Utos: Mahalin Mo Asawa Mo (1994) – Priest
* Redeem Her Honor (1995) – Rosendo's lawyer
* The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995) – Foreign Affairs Sec. Roberto Romulo
* Closer to Home (1995) – Señor de Villa
* Muling Umawit ang Puso (1995) – Sen. Labrador
* Kristo (1996) – Caifás
* Bilang Na ang Araw Mo (1996) – Sen. Cepeda
* Bakit May Kahapon Pa? (1996) – Colonel Baluyot
* The Sarah Balabagan Story (1997) – Foreign Affairs Sec. Domingo Siazon
* José Rizal (1998) – Governor-General Camilo de Polavieja
* Katawan (1999) – Don Villaverde
* Mister Mo, Lover Ko (1999) – Priest
* Azucena (2000) – Tomas' boss
* Abandonada (2000) – Atty. Mallonca
* Deathrow (2000) – Governor Asunta
* Mila (2001) – Mr. De Castro
* Walang Kapalit (2003) – Mr. Cesar Rustia
* Filipinas (2003) – Father Manalo
* Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita (2004) – Mayor Aldecoa
* Pacquiao: The Movie (2006) – Ruben Novales
* Mano Po 5: Gua Ai Di (2006) – Ang Kong
* Ploning (2008) – Susing
* Fuchsia (2009) – Mayor Sunga
* Father Jejemon (2010) – Fr. Baby
* Niño (2011)
* Migrante (2012)
* The Mistress (2012) – Maestro Emil
* El Presidente (2012) – Gen. Echaluche
* Bayang Magiliw (2013)
* Lihis (2013)
* She's the One (2013)
* Bride for Rent (2014) – Mr. Benjamin
* Maybe This Time (2014) – Pancho
* Past Tense (2014) – Lolo Jules
* Felix Manalo (2015) – Pastor Guillermo Zarco
* Rainbow's Sunset (2018)
* Clarita (2019)

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 1988 | A Dangerous Life | Ernesto Herrera | HBO ABS-CBN |
| 1993 | Noli Me Tangere | Kap. Basilio | ABC-5 |
| 1993 | Ipaglaban Mo! | | ABS-CBN |
| 1995–97 | Villa Quintana | Don Manolo Quintana | GMA Network |
| 2002 | Kung Mawawala Ka | Asturias | GMA Network |
| 2005–06 | Vietnam Rose | Fidel dela Cerna | ABS-CBN |
| 2007 | Sine Novela Presents: Sinasamba Kita | Manolo | GMA Network |
| 2007–08 | Sine Novela Presents: Pasan Ko ang Daigdig | Ben | GMA Network |
| 2008 | Sine Novela Presents: Kaputol ng Isang Awit | Tatang Pastor | GMA Network |
| 2008 | Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita | Governor Fausto | GMA Network |
| 2008 | Sine Novela Presents: Una Kang Naging Akin | Don Jaime Adriano | GMA Network |
| 2009 | Adik Sa'Yo | Samuel | GMA Network |
| 2009–10 | Ikaw Sana | Ramon Olivarez | GMA Network |
| 2010 | Sine Novela Presents: Mars Ravelo's Basahang Ginto | Cecilo Cortez | GMA Network |
| 2010–11 | Inday Wanda | Guru | GMA Network |
| 2011 | Dwarfina | Nuno Umberto | GMA Network |
| 2011 | Pahiram ng Isang Ina | Atty. Carlos Guevarra | GMA Network |
| 2012 | Valiente | Victorino Penitente | TV5 |
| 2012–13 | Enchanted Garden | Saulo | TV5 |
| 2013–14 | Madam Chairman | Father Andy | TV5 |
| 2015 | The Rich Man's Daughter | John "Angkong" Tanchingco | GMA Network |
| 2018 | Pamilya Roces | Manolo | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Hiram na Anak | Pedro (Last TV appearance) | GMA Network |
* 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)
* My Little Juan (2013)
* Maalaala Mo Kaya (2014)
* FPJ's Ang Probinsyano (2015)

## 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
* Order of National Artists of the Philippines (2022)