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Palito

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Palito
Palito in 2009
Born
Reynaldo Alfredo Hipolito

(1933-09-04)4 September 1933
Died12 April 2010(2010-04-12) (aged 76)[1]
Manila, Philippines
Other namesNaldo, Palito
OccupationActor/comedian
Years active1960–2007
SpouseRemedios Zapanta-Hipolito
Children4

Reynaldo Alfredo Hipolito (September 4, 1933 – April 12, 2010) was a veteran Filipino slapstick comedian and actor who was at the height of his career in the 1970s and '80s. He was well known for his unusually light build and thin anatomy, earning him the self-deprecating screen name "Palito", which is Spanish for stick and is glossed in Filipino as matchstick or toothpick.

Biography

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Palito was born in Calamba, Laguna, near the house of Dr. José Rizal (known as the Rizal Shrine). As a teenager in the 1950s, he took a job as a dishwasher in a restaurant called Alex Soda Fountain, located beside the Cine Odeon along Calle Azcarraga (now C.M. Recto Avenue). The restaurant was frequented by movie stars, and he was discovered by Lauro Santiago of Santiago Productions.

He was only 21 when he first discovered the world of stage acting. A student of Arellano University, he decided to choose acting over his studies around 1959.[2] Palito started as an "extra" in the 1960 Prinsipe Amante movie, starring the then superstar Rogelio dela Rosa. One of his early movies was Pitong Zapata in 1965. His first non-extra role was that as a sidekick of Jun Aristorenas in the late 60s film Bingbong at Dodong. At first, he was cast in straight action films. But because of his thinness, he was groomed as a comedian.[citation needed] He would be seen regularly working with actors Fernando Poe Jr., Dolphy, Chiquito, Niño Muhlach, the comedy trio Tito, Vic and Joey.[3]

In the late 1970s, the decline of Philippine movies and emergence of "Bomba" films hurt Palito's career. The action and comedy films which Palito made were not being made as they used to. Those were the times when Palito lost many of his investments.

In the 1980s, Palito played in Johnny Rambo Tango (1985),[4] Rambuto (1986), No Blood, No Surrender (1985),[5] James Bone Agent 001,[5] and Kumander Kalansalay (1988).

He would also been known as a star in a lot of kitsch Pinoy horror films as a zombie/corpse. His sunken hollow eyes and reed-thin body, while not aesthetically pleasing in the popular sense, fit the corpse-like demeanor that local filmmakers love to utilize.

Palito laid low from Philippine cinema in the '90s, only occasionally playing bit parts, like in the 1992 film by contemporary comedian/actor Dolphy, Home Along The River, a send-up of the popular American Home Alone franchise. In 1993, he acted in Walang Matigas na Buto sa Gutom na Aso.

On June 17, 2004, burgeoning comedy actor Vhong Navarro portrayed Palito in the anthology drama series Maalaala Mo Kaya, focusing on his life story as a survivor of the Japanese occupation during World War II and his heyday as a slapstick comedian during the 1970s and 1980s.[6]

Palito starred in an independent film, Enterpool: Senior Citizen in Action, released 24 August 2005, in the midst of the decline of Philippine cinema. While it was received well by nostalgic movie-goers and local movie critics, it failed to take the general public's notice due to lack of promotion and marketing. His last movie was M.O.N.A.Y. in 2007.

Palito's family, the Hipolitos, sold their house in Pacita Complex in San Pedro, Laguna in 2004 and moved to Imus, Cavite for a smaller place in a low-cost housing subdivision in Cavite.[1]

Once voted as one of the top ten Filipino comedians of all-time, Palito engaged in small stage shows to make a living in his last years. He had a low-paying job performing a live music show Tuesday evenings in a small casino in Santa Cruz, Manila.[7]

Illness and death

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In the first quarter of 2010, Palito, a known smoker, was confined to a hospital for a month due to lung problems. After returning home from work on April 6, 2010, he was rushed to the Imus Family Hospital due to complaints of stomach pain. He was transferred to the ward section of Philippine General Hospital that night.

Mark Escueta, drummer of the band Rivermaya who worked with Palito for the music video of their single "Ambotsa", was first to announce the news of Palito's illness via Facebook. Several young celebrities called for donations through their respective Twitter accounts while help was extended from showbiz colleagues. Among the visitors was former Philippine president Joseph Estrada.

Palito was declared dead at 7:05 a.m. on April 12, 2010, in the Philippine General Hospital from a lung complication.[8] He was cremated and the ashes were kept by his relatives.[9]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role
1965 Pitong Zapata
1973 Palito Pollito
1976 Barok
1978 Sabi Barok Lab Ko Dabiana
1979 Tatay Na Barok
1979 Al Magat's Mang Kepweng
1979 Mahal... Ginagabi Ka Na Naman
1979 Isa... Dalawa... Tatlo... Ang Tatay Kong Kalbo
1979 Kuwatog
1980 Nognog
1980 Juan Tamad Junior
1980 Hepe
1980 Darna at Ding
1980 Enteng-Anting
1981 Pabling
1981 A Man Called 'Tolongges' Djangolat
1981 Iskorokotoy
1981 Bilibid Gays
1982 Mga Kanyon ni Mang Simeon
1982 Manedyer... si Kumander
1982 Cross My Heart
1982 Tatlo Silang Tatay Ko
1983 Mang Kepweng and Son
Atsay Killer
1984 Rambo Tan-go
Give Me Five!
Barok Goes to Hong Kong
Naku Ha!
1985 Super Wan-tu-tri
John & Marsha '85 (Sa Probinsiya)
Ride on Baby Punkistina's Henchman 1
Isang Platitong Mani
Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang Zambo (segment "Zombies")
Rambuto
Mama Said Papa Said I Love You
Inday Bote Duwende
1986 Working Boys Bogart
Super Islaw and the Flying Kids Pepe
Rocky Four-ma
No Blood, No Surrender
Horsey-horsey: Tigidig-tigidig Ka Byong
Balimbing (Mga Taong Hunyango)
James Bone: Agent 008 James Bone
Payaso
1987 Family Tree
1988 Love Boat: Mahal Trip Kita Mandurukot
Kambal Tuko Papay
Bobo Cop
Kumander Ahmed Kalansalay Ahmed Kalansalay
Love Letters Hercules (segment "Episode 3: Eternally")
Penoy... Balut
Super Inday and the Golden Bibe
Sheman: Mistress of the Universe Skeleton
Pepeng Kuryente: Man with a Thousand Volts Toothpick
1989 Yes, Yes, Yo, Kabayong Kutsero
Magic to Love Payat
Pardina at ang Mga Duwende Canuto
M & M: The Incredible Twins
Bote, Dyaryo, Garapa
Wooly Booly: Ang Classmate Kong Alien
1990 Twist: Ako si Ikaw, Ikaw si Ako Watch buyer
Kabayo Kids Judas
Isang Salop Na Bala
1992 Pempe ni Sara at Pen Pempe's passenger
1993 Walang Matigas Na Buto sa Gutom Na Aso
1994 Sobra Talaga
Baby Paterno Dugong pulis
Hataw Tatay Hataw Don Ramon
1997 Wow... Multo Elevator man
Sa Iyo ang Itaas, Sa Akin ang Ibaba (ng Bahay)
Home Along Da Riles Movie 2 Don Narciso
1999 Tik Tak Toys: My Kolokotoys Man in All White
2002 Home Along da River Kumander Dengue
2005 Enterpool: S.C.I.A., Senior Citizen in Action James Bone
2007 Ang M.O.N.A.Y. ni Mr. Shooli (Misteyks Opda Neysion Adres Yata)
2008 Anak ng Kumander
2012 Mondomanila Pablong Shoeshine

Television

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Palito passes away at age 76". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  2. ^ "PEP.ph: The Number One Site for Philippine Showbiz | PEP Finder | Rediscovering Palito". www.pep.ph. Archived from the original on 2009-08-21.
  3. ^ Leavold, Andrew (2017). "The importance of being Ernesto". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 150. ISBN 9780994411235.
  4. ^ Leavold, Andrew (2017). "The importance of being Ernesto". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. pp. 150–151. ISBN 9780994411235.
  5. ^ a b Leavold, Andrew (2017). "The importance of being Ernesto". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 151. ISBN 9780994411235.
  6. ^ Torre, Nestor U. (June 17, 2004). "More portentous and artistic bent". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. A22. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "Palito: Philippine Comedian".
  8. ^ "Comedian Palito passes away | Manila Bulletin". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on April 15, 2010.
  9. ^ "Late comedian Palito loved to entertain until the very end". Archived from the original on 2021-09-17.
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