My Uncle Oscar

MANILA, Philippines - When I was still in elementary, my Uncle Oscar and Auntie Myrna would bring us, their four kids, Emily, Susan, Neville and Glenn and other cousins for a vacation in their house in Baguio City, near Crystal Cave. We would go to different sites, buy souvenirs and at the end of the day, have hotdogs and marshmallows on a stick over a large bonfire at the back of the house. During summer vacation I would sleep over in their old house in Barrio Kapitolyo, in Pasig. Emily, Susan and I would swap ghost stories till midnight or raid the ref for snacks. Our family ties were so close our relatives would visit my Dad, Bill Obligacion and my Mom Corazon, for Christmas and New Year would be spent in Uncle Oscar’s house. The next year, we would exchange hosting holiday celebrations. Birthdays were also spent with the families.

Uncle Oscar’s showbiz career started in Manila Grand Opera House, Clover Theater and Zarah Extravaganza Theater, after World War II, together with Chris de Vera and Totong Torente. His most favorite character was Kodomo-San, a Japanese soldier. One day, National Artist for Theater and Film, Lamberto Avellana watched Uncle Oscar and approached him. Mr. Avellana discovered Uncle Oscar and offered to introduce him to LVN Pictures Management. In LVN he did movies with Pugo and Togo. Uncle Oscar was also tapped by the late Fernando Poe Sr. to act in his war movies.

Before Oras ng Ligaya, (the variety show) Uncle Oscar was in the Big Show Channel 11 (then owned by the Elizalde Family), where he performed with Chris de Vera for two years. Then, Mr. Geny Lopez (owner of ABS-CBN) offered him and Sylvia La Torre to host a brand-new program, The Best Show. After a few months the title of the show was changed to Oras ng Ligaya, which started in 1963. The first director was the late, Ading Fernando (Mr. Fernando was also the pianist and played extra during comedy skits). The show lasted 20 years. When Ading Fernando passed away, Tony Santos Sr. became the director.

When Auntie Myrna told me all these things about my Uncle Oscar’s career, she also told me that during Ading Fernando’s time, they would report to the set sometimes 30 minutes before airtime. Ading would just tell them the gist of the show for the day and it was up to Uncle Oscar, Sylvia and Eddie San Jose to ad-lib. They did it smoothly, together with new additions like Chichay and Vic Pacia.

In 1973, Tourism Department Secretary Jose Aspiras requested Uncle Oscar to join Balikbayan Philippines (a variety show that toured the USA and performed for Filipino communities), together with Pangkat Kawayan, Ric Manrique, Rita Gutierrez (who was Uncle Oscar’s co-emcee) and the Bayanihan-Philippine National Folk Dance Company. It was an instant success. They did another series of shows abroad in 1974.

 In the ’60s, Uncle Oscar and Auntie Myrna started Philippine Seating Company and they manufactured theater and auditorium seats. Their clients were Phil-Am Life Insurance, DBP, FGU, Meralco and Central Bank among others. During this time Uncle Oscar and Sylvia La Torre were often invited to Malacañang to perform during the birthday parties of Imee, Bongbong and Irene and during Christmas gatherings. Mrs. Marcos approached him one day and asked if he could make theater seats for the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Of course Uncle said yes and she told him to meet National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, to present seat designs and other details. After the CCP project, Mrs. Marcos and Mr. Locsin were very satisfied with the CCP seats and so Uncle Oscar was also asked to do the seats for the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). The motto of Philippine Seating is Our First Thought… To Make Products That Last. This brought the company more contracts with Quad Theaters, Greenbelt Theater and Magallanes Theater. The company also manufactured seats for theaters in the Visayas and Bicol in the South and Tarlac in the North.

After Martial Law, the family decided to migrate to the US (at first, Uncle Oscar did not approve but he finally agreed for the sake of the children’s future). While in the States, Uncle’s health was not in tip-top shape. He had a quadruple bypass. When they came back to Manila, the family decided that Neville, the eldest son, would take over the business. Since then other contracts came in, like the theaters in Shoe Mart (SM).

Despite Uncle Oscar’s busy schedule, the family was always top priority in his list. His children were sent to the best schools. He and Auntie Myrna always traveled together.

During my uncle’s cremation last Sunday Feb. 28, my other aunts and one uncle, cousins and close friends shared how Uncle Oscar changed their lives. Uncle Caruso, the youngest brother, said that Uncle Oscar paid for his college education and helped him get a job with a bottling company. When my aunts were sick, Uncle would make it a point to send them food and medication they needed. My cousins shared that Uncle financially helped them while they were growing up.

Oscar Obligacion was part of the Golden Era of Comedy in theater, film and television. An icon in his own right. He was a hardworking businessman, who made sure that the quality of his theater seats were the best and that the customer was satisfied. And most of all, Uncle Oscar was a dedicated family man. We will miss his laughter, but his smile and warm embrace will stay with us for a long time to come.

(Memorial services for Oscar Obligacion will be held on March 5, 6 and 7 at the Heritage Mortuary, Fort Bonifacio Chapels 7, 8 and 9, starting at 7 p.m. Visitors will be admitted starting at 4 p.m.)