VETERAN entertainment journalist Mario Dumaual passed away yesterday after battling a severe fungal infection, a complication during his recovery from a heart attack early last month, his family announced. He was 64.
“We are devastated to announce the passing of Mario Dumaual – Papa to his wife Cherie and children Luigi, Miguel, Maxine, William, and Thessa; Wowo to his grandchildren Sky, Alonzoe, and Tali; and Yayo to his siblings,” wrote his family on social media following his death at 8:01 a.m. yesterday at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City.
Dumaual suffered a heart attack early last month after a successful angioplasty. He would have turned 65 in July 31.
Mario graduated in high school from St. Anthony School, Batch 1975, two years behind his brother Ed, now the priest-rector of Lourdes School Mandaluyong, who, in turned, was this writer’s classmate.
Mario took up Communication Arts at UP Los Baños and later worked at the Ministry of Agriculture. He also worked at a financing company and shipping line.
He then worked for the Times Journal in 1982, covering the Manila International Film Festival.
In an interview with “Magandang Buhay” in 2016, Mario shared that he worked with Ang Pahayagang Malaya until he was offered a job at ABS-CBN after the EDSA Revolution.
As the most visible entertainment reporter and voice of ABS-CBN’s Star Patrol, Mario received the Joe Quirino Memorial Award at the 5th EDDYs Awards in November 2022 for his contributions to the film and TV industry in the Philippines.
In January, he was awarded a five-point brass star on the German Moreno Walk of Fame in Eastwood City, along with National Artist Ricky Lee, among others.
