Mario Montenegro

{{Short description|Filipino actor}}

{{Philippine name|Collin|Macalalag}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Mario Montenegro

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_name = Roger Collin Macalalag

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1928|7|25|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippine Islands

| death_date = {{death date and age|1988|8|27|1928|7|25|mf=y}}

| death_place = Metro Manila, Philippines

| othername =

| occupation = Actor

| yearsactive = 1949–1988

| spouse = Letty Alonzo

| relatives = Valeen Montenegro{{cite news |work=Philstar|last1=Lo |first1=Ricky |title=Valeen: I hope I'm giving justice to Montenegro name|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2018/06/21/1826382/valeen-i-hope-im-giving-justice-montenegro-name |access-date=Oct 8, 2022 | date=June 21, 2018}}

(granddaughter)

| awards =

}}

Mario Montenegro (born Roger Collin Macalalag; July 25, 1928 – August 27, 1988) was a Filipino film actor best known for his heroic leading roles.

Early life

Montenegro was born in Pagsanjan, LagunaCCP Encyclopedia, p. 279

Montenegro was a Fine Arts student at the University of the Philippines{{cite news|last1=Dolor|first1=Danny|title=Mario Montenegro is Pintor Kulapol|url=http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/718737/mario-montenegro-pintor-kulapol|accessdate=13 June 2017|work=philstar.com|date=21 August 2011}} upon the invasion of the Philippines by Japan during World War II. At the age of fourteen, he joined the armed resistance against the Imperial Japanese Army as a member of the Hunters ROTC guerilla unit. He was only sixteen when he, along with the Hunters ROTC, participated in the famed raid on the Japanese internment camp at Los Baños, Laguna on February 23, 1945. He received multiple medals for distinction before he rejoined civilian life in 1946.

Film career

In 1949, Montenegro was cast in his first film role in the World War II drama Capas. The following year, he was cast by director Manuel Conde in his first leading role, in Apat na Alas (1950).

During the 1950s, Montenegro was among the mainstays of LVN Pictures studio headed by Doña Sisang de León. He was often cast in costume dramas and action films, dabbling occasionally in comedy roles. He portrayed heroic leads in such historical films as Dagohoy (1953), Lapulapu (1955), Kilabot ng Makiling (1959) and Alyas Sakay (1959). Throughout his career, Montenegro would be nominated for a total of three FAMAS acting awards, including two Best Actor nominations.

As he aged, Montenegro found himself cast in character roles. Among his more notable later roles was in Mike de Leon's Itim (1976), for which he received a Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Gawad Urian.

His last movie was Madonna: Ang Babaeng Ahas, filmed in 1988, but it was released posthumously in 1991.

Death

Montenegro died of a heart attack on August 20, 1988, in Manila, Philippines.

Legacy

His surviving granddaughter Valeen Montenegro is also an actress following the footsteps of his legacy.

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

1949Capas
1950Apat Na Alas
rowspan="3"| 1952CorreccionalArmando
Bathaluman
Rodrigo de Villa
rowspan="5"| 19533 Labuyo
Sa Kuwintas ng Pasakit
MakabuhayBased on the novel by M. S. Martin and S. G. Bautista (serialized in Liwayway)
Luha at Musika
DagohoyFrancisco Dagohoy
rowspan="2"| 1954Pasiya ng Langit
Dambanang Putik
rowspan="2"| 1955Lapu-LapuLapu-Lapu
Pilipino Kostum: No Touch!"
rowspan="6"| 1956Ilaw sa Karimlan
Ulilang Bituin
Everlasting
Medalyong PerlasSegment: "Sa Pusod ng Dagat"
Among Tunay
Higit sa Korong
rowspan="4"| 1957Walang SugatBased on the zarzuela of the same name by Severino Reyes
Topo-Topo
Pintor Kulapol
Nasaan Ka Irog
rowspan="5"| 1958Balae
RebeldeMario
Ay, Pepita
Casa GrandeSegment: "Herederos"
Venganza
rowspan="3"| 1959Cover Girl
AmazonaTeddy{{cite news|title="Amazona" opens today at Center|work=The Manila Times|publisher=The Manila Times Publishing Company, Inc.|date=November 11, 1959|page=5-B}}
Kilabot sa MakilingOscar/KilabotBased on a novel (serialized in Liwayway)
rowspan="6"| 1960Ang Inyong Lingkod, Gloria RomeroSegment: "Ang Buhay ng Tao'y Gulong ang Kabagay...."
Limang Misteryo ng KrusSegment: "Koronang Tinik"
Pagpatak ng Ulan
Ginang HukomSegment: "Case No. 3: 'Paglipas ng Dilim'"
Gumuhong Bantayog
7 AmoresSegment: "Igorot Story"
rowspan="6"| 1961Angelica
5 Yugto ng BuhaySegment: "Balatkayo"
Dalawang Kalbaryo ni Dr. Mendez
Alyas Sakay
Ito Ba ang Aking Ina?Waldo
Karugtong ng Kahapon
rowspan="5"| 1962Walang SusukoCapt. Bert Gabriel
Labanan sa Balicuatro
Apat Na Kilabot"Unang Handog" (initial offering) of LEA Productions
ThorThorBased on the comic of the same name (serialized in Liwayway)
Jose BandidoJose
rowspan="5"| 1963Mga Batong Hiyas
Anak, ang Iyong Ina!
Haliging Bato
Ang Asawa Kong Barat
Ang Manananggol ni Ruben
rowspan="2"| 1964Duwag ang SumukoBased on the novel by Francisco V. Coching (serialized in Liwayway)
Lalaine Mahal Kita
1965Operation Manila
rowspan="5"| 1966Itinakwil Man Kita
Totoy Bingi
The Passionate Strangers
Ito ang Dahilan!
Ito ang PilipinoRene
rowspan="3"| 1968Manila, Open City
Mindanao
Liku-likong Landas
1972Poor Little Rich Girl
1976ItimDr. Torres
1977Mga Bilanggong Birhen
1979Isa para sa Lahat, Lahat para sa Isa
19804 Na Maria
1987Pasan Ko ang DaigdigIgnacio Aboitiz, Jr.
1991Madonna: Ang Babaeng Ahas''Released posthumously

Notes

{{Reflist}}

References

  • {{cite encyclopedia|author=Lena Pareja|author2=Galileo Zafron|editor=Nicanor Tiongson|editor-link=Nicanor Tiongson|encyclopedia=CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art|title=Philippine Film|edition=1st|year=1994|publisher=Cultural Center of the Philippines|volume=VIII|location=Manila|pages=279|isbn=971-8546-31-6|quote=}}