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Palito
Palito
	Palito in 2009
Born	Reynaldo Alfredo Hipolito; 4 September 1933; Calamba, Laguna, Philippine Islands
Died	12 April 2010 (aged 76); Manila, Philippines
Other names	Naldo, Palito
Occupation	Actor/comedian
Years active	1960–2007
Spouse	Remedios Zapanta-Hipolito
Children	4

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

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

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

Film

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
1983	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

Home Along Da Riles (ABS-CBN)
Home Along Da Airport (ABS-CBN, 2003-2005) as Michael
O-Ha! (ABC)
Quizon Avenue (ABS-CBN)
Pwedeng Pwede (ABS-CBN, 1999-2001) as Tarzing

References

^ ^a ^b "Palito passes away at age 76". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
^ "PEP.ph: The Number One Site for Philippine Showbiz | PEP Finder | Rediscovering Palito". www.pep.ph. Archived from the original on 2009-08-21.
^ Leavold, Andrew (2017). "The importance of being Ernesto". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 150. ISBN 9780994411235.
^ Leavold, Andrew (2017). "The importance of being Ernesto". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. pp. 150–151. ISBN 9780994411235.
^ ^a ^b Leavold, Andrew (2017). "The importance of being Ernesto". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 151. ISBN 9780994411235.
^ 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.
^ "Palito: Philippine Comedian".
^ "Comedian Palito passes away | Manila Bulletin". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on April 15, 2010.
^ "Late comedian Palito loved to entertain until the very end". Archived from the original on 2021-09-17.