In the ’50s, when the lives of our heroes were made into movies, Mario Montenegro was often cast in such roles. His good looks and stature made Mario, billed the Brown Adonis, the perfect Lapulapu (1955).
Lapulapu is the tribal chief who killed Ferdinand Magellan in the historic Battle of Mactan. Mario’s co-stars are Delia Razon and Priscilla Cellona.
In the other films and teledramas, Mario portrayed such heroic roles as Dagohoy, Diego Silang, Andres Bonifacio, Ramon Magsaysay and Macario Sakay.
Off-cam, Mario received eight medals and awards for valor during World War II, when he was barely a teenager.
Mario is the grandfather of actress Valeen Montenegro. — RKC