WRITER, director,
actor and former Cultural Center of the Philippines Board Trustee Nestor U.
Torre died on April 6, 2021 at the age of 78.
A former
Saturday Special editor and Entertainment columnist of the Philippine Daily
Inquirer, Torre likewise had a column in the said publication entitled
“Viewfinder,” focusing on in-depth entertainment news, interviews and
commentaries, and complemented it with classroom teaching, conducting
workshops, and writing, directing and producing for stage, film and television.
He continued to write his popular daily
column until he suffered a stroke in February 2018.
Torre’s rise in
Philippine showbiz started in the early 1960s when he was asked to direct
ABS-CBN’s “Two for the Road” talk show with Elvira Manahan, Joey Lardizabal and
Eddie Mercado. He also dabbled in movies
in the 1970s as writer for “King Khayam and I” and director for projects like “Crush
ko si Sir” and “Ang Isinilang Ko Ba’y Kasalanan”.
Nestor played
lead roles in the early plays of Repertory Philippines and in Rolando Tinio’s
Teatro Pilipino productions. He won four
Palanca Awards for his scripts, and later ended up hosting the talk show that
turned him into a household name, “Two for the Road,” with Elvira Manahan.
Likewise, Torre’s
talent and dedication as writer and director benefited the theater world, being
sought after for religious musicals such as “Magnificat,” “Birhen ng Caysasay,”
Pope John Paul II’s life story and the Padre Pio bio series. His directorial work in theater include “Magsimula
Ka”, “Katy the Musical”, “Cory the Musical”, and the more recent Chinoy Series.
The premiere productions of Magsimula
Ka” and “Katy” started the careers of many musical artists.
In 2018, the
Cultural Center of the Philippines hosted a concert tribute entitled
"Loving the N.U.T." organized by actors, creatives and production
staff involved in the past productions of Torre. (PR)
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