Mario Bautista. Image: Facebook/Mario Escobar Bautista
Veteran entertainment writer and film critic Mario Bautista died in his sleep on Saturday, Jan. 13. He was 77.
Mario’s passing was confirmed by his daughter Hani through a tribute post on her Facebook page.
“No more pain, Dad. I don’t want to write something like this at all, but it would be a disservice to him if I didn’t because he loved updating people. He loved words so much he made a career out of it,” she said.
“Thank you all for storming heaven with prayers for dad’s healing, but it’s not meant to be. Just when we thought all his vitals were stable (no need for oxygen support and blood infection cleared up), Daddy died in his sleep this morning,” she stated.
According to earlier Facebook posts shared by Mario’s son, Miguel, the showbiz writer was hospitalized and stayed in an intensive care unit (ICU) after he suffered from a bad fall in December. Mario got out of the hospital on Dec. 29 but was rushed to the emergency room again two days later.
“I believe Dad got his wish because he has always said he wanted to go peacefully in his sleep. And now he also gets his other fervent wish, and that is to be with my mother,” Hani added.
Image: Facebook/Hani Bee
Among those who paid tribute to Mario were actor-politician Bong Revilla and the Society of the Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd).
“His indelible contributions to the field have left an enduring impact not only in local entertainment journalism but, more so, in the film and television industry, where his reviews and opinions have helped in raising creative quality for many decades,” the organization spoke of Mario.