Remembering Mahal: 8 Things You Might Not Know About the Late Comedienne
Sep 1, 2021 • Kyzia Maramara
Mahal is one of the best comediennes in Philippine showbiz. Ask any Filipino and they will tell you she’s a fond memory of their childhood, a small woman who could make you laugh just by hearing her laugh. Back in the late 90s, she was everywhere — movies, TV shows, series — and her giggly laughter was infectious. Just this Aug. 31, Mahal, at 46 years old, died from “digestive complications” and COVID-19. Her sister, Irene Tesorero, confirmed the news.
Mahal might have been of small stature but she has left a huge gap in showbiz and in our hearts. Here are a few things you might not know about her:
Her real name isn’t “Mahal”
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Mahal’s real name is Noemi Tesorero. The stage name “Mahal” was given to her by her grandmother who “considered her a favorite.”
She was three feet tall
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“Sabi ng mother ko, pinaglihi niya ako sa duwende na nakita niya sa bintana,” said Mahal in a 2003 interview. Mahal might have had dwarfism, but she didn’t let it stop her from reaching heights. She used her small stature to portray fantasy characters and knew how to laugh at herself.
She loves her family
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Mahal hails from Virac, Catanduanes. Her various projects and fame opened the doors for her family to live a comfortable life. Her father was a former jeepney driver plying the Cubao-Divisoria route (reports say her father also passed away on Aug. 5, 2021). Mahal, being the oldest of four, helped her siblings finish their education.
Her showbiz projects that cemented her in our hearts
Brenda Mage, Mahal’s close friend and fellow comedienne, pays her a tribute on Facebook.
Mahal’s popularity as a celebrity peaked from the late 1990s to the late 2000s. She had acting gigs (Mr. Suave: Hoy!Hoy! Hoy! Hoy! Hoy! Hoy!) and, in 1990, even became part of the ABS-CBN daily noontime show Magandang Tanghali Bayan. Her most recent series is Owe My Love (2021) with GMA where she portrayed the character Mini Divi.
She played Kokey
Although Mahal was in a lot of films and series, people might know that she portrayed Kokey back in 1997 in a film of the same name. Kokey is a small, well-loved alien with a penchant for befriending humans.
She isn’t related to Mura
Mahal and Mura just met through KMJS 🥺☹️ I just feel sad kasi paano kaya pag umabot na kay Mura yung balita na weeks after they’ve met, namatay si Mahal ☹️
RIP Mahal. You always bring smiles and laughters in our faces whenever you do something krazy with ur friend. 🥺 pic.twitter.com/1cJCF8FNaH
— web⁷ – 🌑 Deja Vu x Eternal Sunshine ☀️ (@webstersalita) August 31, 2021
Back in the day, Mahal and Mura came as a pair. Mura (real name Allan Padua) was introduced as Mahal’s co-star and twin and, later, a love team partner. Many thought they were actual siblings since they looked alike and both had dwarfism. This tandem brought laughter and joy to Filipinos everywhere.
She had a vlog
If you miss watching the comedienne in her element, much of her recent life is documented on her YouTube channel. She started her vlog channel back in July 2020 and has more than 500,000 subscribers. Fans can watch her pranks, mukbangs, and get a glimpse of her daily life.
A week ago, she even had Mura on as a guest. Mahal bought groceries and food for his family. Mahal even told him sweetly that all of her gifts was her way of helping him “in case she leaves this world.”
Mahal’s love life
@mahal2074nqgawa ko rin kasama si @mygzmolino thank you attornwy♬ TokTokTok – reiiwxng🍑❤️
For those who followed her career, you’ll know Mahal has had an interesting love life. She was in a brief relationship with singer Jimboy Salazar back in the 90s. He died from pneumonia years later. In 2013 she had a relationship with aspiring actor Aries Navarro. But it seems like that did not end well since she ended up marrying butcher and merchandiser Jobbie Hebrio in 2015. Mahal announced their split in April 2020. Since then, she has been linked to model and indie actor Mygz Molino, who is always seen in her vlogs. But even though they reportedly live together, the pair insists their relationship is purely platonic.
RIP MAHAL
Thank you for the laugh.
Rest in paradise 🥺 pic.twitter.com/ArCrhVJBTM— Alexander 알렉산더🔴 (@alexander08_KDD) August 31, 2021
Rest in peace, Mahal.
The laughter you brought to us netizens will never be forgotten. 🥺 pic.twitter.com/ztSbP0PB3G
— Rapid #OustDuterte #JunkAntiTerrorBill (@JohnRapvinsky) August 31, 2021
The kindest, sweetest famous person I’ve ever met. It was a pleasure working with you. 💔
Rest in peace “Mahal” pic.twitter.com/eHYUaPRuEE
— GaiaPoly (@CuteNiAge) August 31, 2021
What will you miss most about Mahal? Share it with us in the comments!
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