Mahal (actress)

Mahal was discovered when a newspaper article featured her and a policeman comparing her size to an ArmaLite assault rifle. She then went on to be featured by Inday Badiday in her talk show Eye to Eye,[7] before appearing regularly on television in 1988 through the noontime show Lunch Date.[8] Living with dwarfism, standing three feet tall, she was candid with her self-deprecating humor and embraced roles using her height to comic effect, or to fulfill demands of fantasy characters.[6]

Mahal played the role of the elfin daughter in the 1991 film Anak ni Janice In the 2003 film Mr. Suave, Mahal along with Dagul, who also has dwarfism, took the role of parents of Vhong Navarro's character.[6] She later starred in several TV shows, including Idol Ko si Kap and Bahay Mo Ba 'To?.[8]

Mahal also ventured into singing[9] with Allan Padua, better known as Mura, who also has dwarfism, with whom she formed a tandem in Magandang Tanghali Bayan.[6]

Mahal changed her image to that of a daring and liberated woman in 2013. She had a tattoo and wore sexy outfits in TV guest appearances. She also answered interviews with sexual innuendos and was not shy to reveal her age. Mahal also started to accept sexy projects, like the indie film Gigolo.[10]

In an episode of Face the People, Mahal lamented about the mismanagement of Jethro Carrey, her manager, towards her career, and the alleged favoritism of the latter over his other newer talents.[11][12]

She also guested in an episode of Dear Uge with Pokwang.[8] Mahal also had some gigs at comedy bars in Manila.[13] She started a YouTube channel in July 2020, where she regularly posted vlogs with actor and YouTuber Mygz Molino.[1][14] The channel garnered 500,000 subscribers at the time of her death in August 2021.[15]

Mahal featured in the 2021 television series Owe My Love.[8] Due to the risk of COVID-19, her taping with Owe My Love was cut short.[16]

Weeks prior to her death in August 2021, Mahal received public attention for her reunion with Mura. One of her latest vlogs showed a behind-the-scenes of her last TV appearance on Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,[5] where she visited Mura[1] in Guinobatan, Albay.[17] Apart from visiting, Mahal provided some words of encouragement to Mura, along with some groceries and cash.[18]

Mahal was the daughter of Romy Tesorero and her stepmother Josefa.[8][31] Her grandmother gave her the nickname "Mahal", which later became her stage name in her career.[13] She has a sister based in the United States who owns a restaurant in Cleveland and a brother who is a policeman stationed in Palawan. Her family is well-off and she was not required to work. However, Mahal insisted on working instead.[5]

In an episode of Tunay na Buhay, Mahal shared her motto, which was to keep on smiling despite the problems life throws at you.[8]

On August 31, 2021, Mahal died in a hospital in Batangas.[3] According to her sister Irene Tesorero, she died due to gastroenteritis and COVID-19.[4] She had pre-existing conditions, including hypertension. Because of dwarfism, she was considered to be at high risk for COVID-19.[4]

Rosanna Roces, Inday Garutay, Brenda Mage,[5] and Jerald Napoles[32] were among the first celebrities to mourn for Mahal. Owe My Love co-stars and close friends Ai-Ai Delas Alas and Kiray Celis were surprised to know of the sudden demise of Mahal.[33] Netizens[34] and other celebrities took to social media to express their grief.[35][36] When Mura found out about her death, he was in disbelief at first and dismissed the reports as fake news.[37][38] Mahal and Mura were former on-screen tandem for almost two decades.[38]

The siblings of Mahal dismissed the rumors that they are blaming Mygz Molino and her manager for her death.[39] Instead, they were even thankful for their efforts exerted to revive Mahal until the very end.[39][40]

Her remains were cremated in Batangas. After her cremation, her family brought her urn to the Santuario de San Vicente de Paul Shrine in Quezon City.[41]

• Mahal at IMDb