Mario O'Hara, a sincere, truthful storyteller to his core

Mario O’Hara, a man who was nothing but sincere and truthful to his art form, had always known the importance of art being a place where one can grow. For him, being an artist is not a gimmick; it means that one should tell stories that tell the truth. Being an artist is more than just loving the art, but it’s about being curious about life as well.

It is no wonder that his accomplishments and contributions to Philippine cinema has earned him posthumous recognition in  Gawad CCP Para Sa Sining, the highest recognition given by the Cultural Center of the Philippines to individuals and organizations who have made a mark on Filipino culture and arts. 

With his dedication to the arts, and not just filmmaking, Denise O'Hara, the niece of the late filmmaker, believes her uncle greatly deserves this recognition. 

“If you look at his body of work, it stands strong.” said Denise. 

A storyteller at his core, O’Hara gave Filipino audiences something to look forward to in terms of relatability, as evident in “Babae sa Breakwater” about a boy who finds love and fights to keep what little things he has left of it; “Sisa” a story about forbidden love; and “Bulaklak sa City Jail” which is about a woman who sees the other side of stories that are usually told in only one perspective.

This filmmaker is more than just a one trick pony; he has also dabbled in the art of theater. He joined the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) in 1969 and has appeared in numerous plays produced by PETA, Tanghalang Pilipino (TP) and other theater companies. 

It doesn’t matter for Denise that O’Hara is not as popular as the others, since his overall work has weight. 

“I am very grateful that his legacy will continue to the next generation," expressed Denise.

O’Hara’s niece believes that if he was still here to receive the award, he would be very happy. “CCP is a big part of his life, found a lot of friends and fulfillment there.” He worked alongside TP to produce “Stageshow” and entered Cinemalaya Philippine Independence Film Festival during its 6th year. 

An inspiration even to his own family, O’Hara instilled the importance of truth in art to his niece. She saw her late uncle as someone who could understand her own creative process, making it easier to share her problems with him about her art. He made sure she didn’t feel alone as well.

“At the end of the day, we’re alone in our field. If someone understands what the process is and what it entails, it makes you feel less alone," said Denise.

Denise remembers him for his patience and sincerity. “His sincerity as a filmmaker has no pretension because he makes good stories that people should know about.” said Denise.

He also taught Denise to not be afraid to feel what life can give. “You need to be curious about life and immerse yourself in it," shared Denise.

Being a sincere person, O’Hara didn’t like pretension. He believed in the truth of the story and its characters. He knew that the truth is more important than being perfect, “He sincerely told the story of people; you can easily see that the characters of his films are true to themselves.”

O'Hara believed that art is about growth, and not about the shiny trophies and recognition. “What’s important is that you grow as a person because that’s where you get who you are. Don’t rush to get acknowledged, your time will come. And always make sure you are growing in everything you do.” 

Mario O’Hara will receive the Gawad CCP award, along with other amazing awardees: Gener Caringal, Joey Ayala, Lea Salonga, Jose Lacaba, Mike de Leon, Julie Lluch, Gino Gonzales, Loboc Children’s Choir, Marilyn Gamboa, Sen. Edgardo Angara and Nedy Tantoco who have dedicated their lives to culture and arts will be given the Gawad CCP Para Sa Sining on September 20, 2024 at Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Circuit Makati. The awarding ceremony coincides with CCP's 55th Anniversary Gala.