Remembering Mario Dumaual

This is a belated memorial article in observance of All Souls’ Day for my friend Mario V. Dumaual who passed on two years ago.

Whenever I see Grace David I am reminded of Mario because they were best of friends as well by virtue of her sisterhood with his wife Cherie Dumaual.

I once again saw Grace at the 11th anniversary of Mich and Myl Nail Shop at Soliman Street in Salcedo Village in Makati City recently.

​David and the nail art salon owner Menchie Mizuno (who invited me to the occasion) are BFFs as well.

“The last time I saw Mario was when he and Cherie, who is my batchmate at Maryknoll, attended my birthday at the Manila Pen before the pandemic. I never thought he would show up but he did. I sorely miss him,” exclaimed Grace.

​”If Mario were still alive today, I would give him sets of Japan-based soap products Andante with Iwaki Black Pine, Iwaki Salt and Iwaki Azalea for his glamorous look as a broadcast entertainment journalist. He’d love it. Oh! I’m sorry but Mario was a very good soul,” said David.

Talking about Andante, its efficacy as a high-end bar and herbal soap is the lightening if not totally disappearing of this writer’s melasma. (Boy Villasanta)