Through the years, I’ve felt a special affinity with Susan Calo Medina. I’m attracted to vital, “colorful” and idiosyncratic people—and Susan had all those qualities, in spades!
Aside from that, our “passions” were sweetly copacetic—theater, the visual arts, TV, travel, cultural tourism, spirituality, great friends, fun conversations, wearing shorts instead of pants—hey, a perfect fit! Plus, I’m eternally grateful to Susan for introducing me to my No. 1 fave, the late Fr. Horacio dela Costa, SJ.
MEDINA. Vital, colorful and idiosyncratic.
So, when I heard last week that Susan had passed away, I was stunned, and felt a deep sense of loss. Especially since, some weeks ago, I had spent a fun lunch and afternoon with Susan catching up on old times, planning new projects, just shooting the breeze—nothing special, but everything delightfully enjoyed and savored.
It was like Marilou Diaz-Abaya all over again—three weeks after our last visit with her, she was gone, leaving a void that has still to be filled.
But, what are we, Susan’s many friends, to do except to pray for the eternal repose of her beautiful soul—and to thank God for having given us so many years and decades with such a wonderful person.
I first met Susan at Repertory Philippines, where we acted in several plays. From the get-go, she delighted me, because she loved life, the theater in particular, to the hilt. Later, I acted again in Filipino productions with Susan, at Rolando Tinio’s Teatro Pilipino, the CCP’s resident theater company.
As an actress, Susan was ebullient and “giving”—the best compliment you can pay a coactor.
Susan was also a great host at delicious dinners in her Bel-Air home, when we got to know Fr. Dela Costa—to our everlasting pleasure and edification. Later, her home became a cozy venue for art exhibits when she opted to become an art dealer, in order to help gifted young artists find their place in the artistic sun.
Even later, she became a theater producer, putting up The Company of Angels, for which I directed plays like “The Miracle Worker” in Filipino, with Janice de Belen and Boots Anson-Roa.
Our interests dovetailed anew when Susan produced her “Travel Time” TV show, and got me to cohost it once every long while, since she knew that I loved to travel. Aside from these “professional” involvement, my friendship with Susan deepened through the years, and I got to appreciate not just her, but also her wonderful husband and children.
Thanks, Susan, for all those wonderful and indelible memories. You were and are truly one of a kind!