Mario Montenegro
Encyclopedia
Mario Montenegro was a Filipino film actor
best known for his heroic leading roles.
to a Filipino father and a French
mother.
Montenegro was a student at the University of the Philippines
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.
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 Leon
. He was often cast in costume drama
s and action films, dabbling occasionally in comedy roles. He portrayed heroic leads in such historical films as Dagohoy (1953), Lapu-Lapu (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 in 1988, but it was released posthimously in 1991.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
best known for his heroic leading roles.
Biography
Montenegro was born in Pagsanjan, LagunaPagsanjan, Laguna
Pagsanjan is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 35,944 people in 7,274 households. It is situated about 92 kilometers south of Manila. The main tourist spot of Pagsanjan is the Pagsanjan Falls or...
to a Filipino father and a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
mother.
Montenegro was a student at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
upon the invasion of the Philippines by Japan
Second Philippine Republic
The Second Philippine Republic, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , was a state in the Philippines established on October 14, 1943 under Japanese occupation....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. At the age of fourteen, he joined the armed resistance against the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
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
Raid at Los Baños
The raid at Los Baños in the Philippines, early Friday morning on 23 February 1945, was executed by a combined U.S. Army Airborne and Filipino guerrilla task force, resulting in the liberation of 2,147 Allied civilian and military internees from an agricultural school campus turned Japanese...
at Los Baños, Laguna
Los Baños, Laguna
The Nature and Science City of Los Baños is a 1st class urban city in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 98,631 inhabitants in 17,030 households...
on February 23, 1945. He received multiple medals for distinction before he rejoined civilian life in 1946.
Showbiz 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 CondeManuel Conde
Manuel Conde was born on October 15, 1915 in Daet, Camarines Norte . He was an actor, director and producer. As an actor, he also used the screen name Juan Urbano during the 1930s aside from his more popular screen name. His first film was "Mahiwagang Biyolin" in 1935. He made almost three dozen...
in his first leading role, in Apat na Alas (1950).
During the 1950s, Montenegro was among the mainstays of LVN Pictures
LVN Pictures
LVN Pictures, Inc. is one of the biggest film studios in the history of Philippine cinema and its foremost establishment in motion picture post-production until 2005...
studio headed by Doña Sisang de Leon
Narcisa de Leon
Narcisa Buencamino Vd.ª De de Leon was a Filipino film producer. Clad daily in the frugal rural dress of the camisón, saya and chinelas, Doña Sisang, as she was widely known, was already a 61-year old widow when she entered the film industry...
. He was often cast in costume drama
Costume drama
A costume drama or period drama is a period piece in which elaborate costumes, sets and properties are featured in order to capture the ambiance of a particular era.The term is usually used in the context of film and television...
s and action films, dabbling occasionally in comedy roles. He portrayed heroic leads in such historical films as Dagohoy (1953), Lapu-Lapu (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
Mike de Leon
Miguel Pamintuan de Leon is a noted Filipino film director, cinematographer, scripwriter and film producer. His is also known as Mike de Leon. He was born in Manila on May 24, 1947 to Manuel de Leon and Imelda Pamintuan...
Itim (1976), for which he received a Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Gawad Urian
Gawad Urian Awards
The Gawad Urian Awards are annual film awards in the Philippines held since 1977. It is given by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and is currently regarded as the counterpart of the United States' New York Film Critics Circle....
.
His last movie was Madonna: Ang Babaeng Ahas in 1988, but it was released posthimously in 1991.