This cinema hero’s passion promoted the legacy of our real-life icons.

On Bonifacio Day, November 30, and into Rizal Day, December 3, we remember the life and career of actor Eddie Del Mar. He assumed the persona of both Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio at a time when Hollywood was luring the heart and imagination of Filipino youths. Beyond the movies, Del Mar went around the country giving lectures about our immortal role models.

Del Mar’s association with our heroes began in 1951 when he played to role of Crisostomo Ibarra, protagonist in Rizal’s novel “Noli Me Tangere.” The movie, entitled “Sisa,” was directed by the great National Artist Gerardo De Leon. It won the top Maria Clara Award of the year while Del Mar was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor honor.

In 1956, Del Mar played the national hero himself in the movie “Ang Buhay at Pag-Ibig ni Dr. Jose Rizal” (The Life and Loves of Dr. Jose Rizal). For his outstanding performance, Del Mar won the FAMAS Best Actor Award as well as the moniker “The Man They Call Rizal.” The film was directed by Ramon Estela.

Five years later, to commemorate Rizal’s birth centenary in 1961, Gerry de Leon created the movie masterpiece “Noli Me Tangere” starring Del Mar in his second portrayal of Crisostomo Ibarra. In this blockbuster, Miss Philippines Editha Vital played Maria Clara while another legendary actor, Leopoldo Salcedo, gave life to Elias.

Del Mar displayed the range of his thespian skills when he was cast in the title role of the 1964 movie “Andres Bonifacio: Ang Supremo.” Bonifacio had a very different personality and temperament from Rizal. The movie was directed by Teodorico C. Santos.

For Del Mar, playing heroes was not “trabaho lang” (not just a job to do.) It was, in fact, his personal advocacy to awaken his countrymen’s love for the motherland. He was co-producer of “Andres Bonifacio: Ang Supremo” and he also raised funds for the production of “Noli Me Tangere.” After the commercial release of “Noli,” Del Mar brought it to many schools around the country so that students could watch for free.

The patriotic actor once admitted that if he had an obsession, it would be “to be able to make at least one movie a year based on the life of a national hero.”

Del Mar was, in fact, a national hero. During World War 2, he was a guerilla who almost died in the line of duty. He once again almost lost his life when he saved a movie extra from drowning.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines paid tribute to Eddie Del Mar this year on the occasion of his Centennial Birth Anniversary.

CCP President Arsenio “Nick” J. Lizaso said: “We thank Eddie del Mar for his patriotism and involvement in Philippine cinema, which indeed demonstrated his outstanding ability to communicate with audiences on a personal level that made him one of the most appealing and respected actors of his generation.”

(With added information from “Eddie Del Mar: Kapampangan ‘Rizal’ on the Silver Screen” by Alex D. R. Castro; and from various articles in “Eddie Del Mar: The Man They Call Jose Rizal, A Birth Centenary Tribute” published by Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc.)