When I heard actor Dondon Nakar’s passing, I was sad and nostalgic.
It’s because Dondon started his showbiz career just a little moment before I ventured into entertainment writing.
Nakar was one of the members—although an on and off mainstay—of the teenybopper television show “Apat na Sikat” which starred Arnold Gamboa, Maribel Aunor, Winnie Santos and Eddie Villamayor.
The four teen idols were the regulars but the show welcomed other young stars to join in to pinch hit or play stand-in in the absence of a male member among the four original cast.
Dondon was one of the pinch hitters together with Bong Morales (who went on to be the husband of Winnie), Adrian Panganiban or Boyet Orca. Sometimes, Efren Montes and Boy Mondragon would also play guests.
Among the female substitutes or guests were Jingle, Margie Braza, Nancy de los Santos and their ilk.
It was just like the incoming youth-oriented show of German Moreno, “That’s Entertainment.”
But because of his regular guesting in the show, Dondon was identified as one of the “apat na sikat” or popular ones during the time.
After her teenybopper stint, Nakar was groomed to be a serious actor by Jesse Ejercito, producer of such film companies as Seven Stars Productions or Crown Seven Productions, the name of the outfit changed depending on the whims or situations of the production.
Dondon was paired off with Amy Austria in the film “Nang Bumuka ang Sampaguita,” a sex-drama project that introduced Amy to stardom directed by the late Ed Palmos. Dondon also appeared in the Ishmael Bernal film “Menor de Edad.”
It was during these projects that I had a constant contact with Dondon as we had regular meetings for interviews as part of the promotion of the films or simply, to hang around with him in any place he would be like Jack’s Restaurant, a watering hole and rendezvous of Jesse Ejercito and his associates for showbiz denizens.
I also have a regional affinity with Nakar because he was from Quezon Province.
His family is rooted in General Nakar, Quezon, a town named after his military grandfather General Guillermo Nakar, the eponymous seat of Camp General Guillermo Nakar in Lucena City.
After several movies, Dondon opted for a more spiritual life.
He and his family were prime movers of Elim Communities, a global community of Catholic communities serving in faith, hope and love.
Our deepest sympathies to the Nakars and the Platons where his former wife Candy Platon were raised as a family.
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