Just like that, we’ve been getting used to the sudden deaths of relatives, friends, and celebrities due to COVID-19. The latest casualty includes beloved comedienne Mahal, or Noemi Tesorero in real life, who died on 31st August at the age of 46 in a hospital in Batangas due to gastric illness and COVID-19.
Her last public appearance saw her guesting on the 22nd August episode of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, where she reunited with her former loveteam partner, comedian Mura, or Allan Padua in real life.
She also documented some behind-the-scenes clips of her reunion with Mura on her own YouTube channel, with her final vlog with the fellow comedian showing her leaving him with heartbreaking words that would actually foresee her death.
Video credit: MAHAL
In the vlog released on 20th August, Mahal, along with Mygz Molino, is shown visiting and giving grocery goods and cash to Mura in his hometown Guinobatan,
Albay. At 12:46 of the vlog, she gave Mura an assurance that seems to have foreshadowed her demise: “Hanggang sa tumanda ako, o uugud-ugod, syempre pupunta pa rin ako rito. Para kapag may raket, iaalok kita, okay! Kapag halimbawa nawala ako sa mundo, mayroon akong kaunting naitulong sa ‘yo,” Mahal said.
Image credit: MAHAL
The words can be translated in English as: “Until I get old, or extremely weak, of course I’ll still visit here. So that if there’s an opportunity, I’ll recommend you for it, okay! If for example I’m gone, I [will] have helped you a little.”
Mahal’s last vlog, alongside Mygz Molino
Image adapted from: MAHAL
Mahal’s sister, Irene Tesorero, confirmed to PEP the comedienne’s death. Tesorero also said that her sister also had pre-existing conditions, such as high blood pressure. Mahal’s dwarfism and age may have also influenced her passing.
Mahal as Kokey
Image credit: Cinema One
Hailing from Virac, Catanduanes, Mahal has starred in numerous films, such as the 1997 film Kokey, and TV series – the most recent of which is Owe My Love – since the 1990s.
In July 2020, she started her own YouTube channel which now has about 500,000 subscribers.
Mahal’s sudden demise indeed shows how sometimes, even the most unexpected can happen with just a blink of an eye, and that it’s important to let our loved ones know how important they are to us as much as we can.
She may be gone now, but Mahal surely has left her mark on Philippine showbiz.
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Cover image adapted from: MAHAL
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