OLIVER "BHONG" MACUNAT, 22

Bhong Macunat (to the right) and me.

Bhong first joined our community theater group last year (2008).He was in charge of designing and making the special hand props and in supervising the stage preparations for our performance tour in the six towns of Marinduque. For this year's "Viva" project, however, he focused on creating additional dance movements for "Moryonan".

I first spotted Bhong when he was still a member of a modern dance group that joined local contests. They performed during the Buenavista Fiesta in January 2008, and there, he simply stood out among the dancers. I offered him the "Katalona" role in "Bulong" but was not interested, preferring to join us only as a member of the production staff.

During Viva rehearsals he supervised the warm-up exercises. He had an ability to command the attention of everybody with his smile and presence.

Because of his good looks and pleasant disposition, Bhong was extremely popular especially among the girls. They had fun imitating his antics and sensual gyrations when he did the exercises. He'd often say: "Hindi ko hinihingi na maging magaling kayo! Hinihingi ko lang na sundin ninyo ang pinapagawa ko!" (I'm not asking you to do it well! I'm just asking you to follow what I ask you to do!)
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I practically begged him, again, to do the "Katalona" role this year. Bhong didn't have to be directed. I knew he'd come up with the most unforgettable Katalona performance ever. But he didn't budge, and I could only be sad about it. He was bent, as before, on working only behind the scenes.

During the cast party at my Bahaghari house, Bhong asked for the tarpaulin streamer for "Viva Marinduque" as a souvenir, and I was only too happy to hand it over to him.

A month after the Viva project, in March, he texted to say he's back in town and had a new cellphone number. He was back to Marinduque after spending a few weeks in Manila. By this time we, the Teatro Balangaw group from Buenavista, Gasan and Boac were busy with rehearsals for "Ang Kristo: Pasyondula", passion play.

Asked Bhong if he could please help us with the rehearsals. We only had a couple of weeks to mount it.

I never got to see him, again.

A couple of days later, he figured in a motorcycle accident in Bognuyan, Gasan where we used to hold rehearsals for "Moryonan" and "Bulong". The accident turned fatal.

Oliver 'Bhong' Macunat.

So young, so full of life and talent and promise.
Our dear Bhong said 'goodbye' at 22.