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MANILA — Celebrities and media personalities paid tribute to veteran ABS-CBN entertainment reporter Mario Dumaual, who passed away Wednesday due to septic shock.

Dumaual had been battling a severe fungal infection, a complication during his recovery from a heart attack, and had been confined for a month at the Philippine Heart Center. He was survived by his wife Cherie and children Luigi, Miguel, Maxine, William, and Thessa.

• Mario Dumaual, reporter to the stars, leaves trailblazing legacy

'LIFE FOR JOURNALISM'

For his ABS-CBN colleague Marc Logan, Dumaual dedicated his life to journalism even after his retirement.

"Alam ko kabisado ko at sigurado ako kahit nakapikit kayang umukit ni Kuya Mario ng isang obra ng pagbabalita. Masarap makinig sa kanyang mga kwento. Kapag siya ang tumipa. Bawat titik at baybay punong puno ito ng buhay. Mapalad ako na nak trabaho ang isang tulad mo. Minsan nang nagretiro si Kuya Mario noong siya ay naging senior citizen. Pero nung ako ang humawak ng Entertainment Desk ng News and Current Affairs, hindi ko maatim na may Star News ang TV Patrol pero walang Mario Dumaual," Logan said.

"Hindi kumpleto ang landscape ng balitang showbiz kung wala si Kuya Mario. Pinakiusapan ko s'ya na bumalik bilang consultant sa ilalim ng aking entertainment family kasama sina MJ Felipe at Ganiel Krishnan. Isa sa huling balitang showbiz ni Kuya Mario ay nung ikasal ako kay Lois Logan noong January 10, 2023. Nasabi mo hindi ka interesadong i-cover. Pero andun ka. Hindi mo ako binigo. Napakabuti mong kaibigan Kuya," he added.

"Hindi ko malilimutan ang mga payo mo sa akin tungkol sa buhay at kung paano itama ang bawat hakbang ko para sa kinabukasan ng aking pamilya lalong lalo na si Curry. Mahal kita Kuya Mario. Pasensya ka na tinawag kitang Kuya. Ikaw naman kasi di ka nagtitina ng buhok. You will forever be missed. Rest in Eternal Peace Mario. Kuya."

ABS-CBN reporter MJ Felipe recalled how the veteran broadcast journalist paved the way for entertainment reporting in the Philippines.

"Napakaraming kwento, napakaraming alaala. Napakaraming oras na magkasama sa trabaho, napakaraming bilin at aral. Ang dami kong gustong sabihin, ang dami kong gustong ikuwento. Pero hindi ko alam kung saan sisimulan," Felipe wrote in a Facebook post.

"Wala na kong makaka-kwentuhan sa editing bay pag maaga ang script natin parehas at maaga tayo mag-e-edit ... ala nang tatawa kapag tinatanong kita ng 'Ano nang balitaaaaaaaa???' ...Wala nang magsasabi sa akin ng 'huwag kang papayag' pag magsusumbong ako ng ganito-ganyan," he added.

"Napakaraming kwento, sa totoo lang. Wala lang masyadong litrato sa araw-araw na ginawa ng Diyos, dahil lahat kami sa newsroom aligaga pagpatak ng alas tres ng hapon. Kuya Mario Dumaual, maraming salamat sa lahat... mula sa aming lahat. Thank you for paving the way. Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for sharing your life with us. May you rest in peace and praying for strength for your family."

Former "Umagang Kay Ganda" host Anthony Taberna also looked back on his good memories with Dumaual.

"Sa huli naming pagkikita noong November 2022. Kahit siya'y isang alamat sa Entertainment News, hindi mararamdaman na hinamak niya ang mga baguhan. Kaya maraming umiidolo sa kaniya. At kahit saan kami magkita, pati sa CR, may kuwentuhan bagamat laging maikli lamang yung huntahan. Ang aking pakikiramay sa pamilyang naulila ni @mario_dumaual," he said.

'A DEAR FRIEND TO THE STARS'

Given his years of experience covering entertainment and lifestyle stories, numerous celebrities testified about Dumaual's dedication to the craft.

Herbert Bautista and Karylle shared how Dumaual helped them in their careers.

"Maraming salamat, Tito Mario sa lahat ng suporta at kabaitan mo sa aming pamilya. Hindi ka namin malilimutan. Nakikiramay kami sa mga naiwanang mahal sa buhay at kaibigan. Rest in Peace, Tito Mario," Herbert Bautista said.

"I'm fortunate to have known such a kind, sincere and supportive man praying for him and your family. Our deepest condolences," Karylle said in a comment.

Ogie Alcasid and Alfred Vargas also recalled how the veteran reporter had been a friend to them.

"Isang kaibigan ang namaalam. Kailanma’y di ka malilimutan. Pahinga na po Kuya Mario. Salamat sa lahat ng tulong n'yo po sa aming lahat," Alcasid said.

"Rest in peace, Kuya Mario, a pillar of the industry, an excellent reporter, a defender of truth, and a true friend," Vargas said.

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