Palito

Reynaldo Alfredo Hipolito (4 September 1933 – 12 April 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. 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. He would be seen regularly working with actors Fernando Poe Jr., Dolphy, Chiquito, Niño Muhlach, the comedy trio Tito, Vic and Joey.

In the late 1970s, the decline of Philippine films 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), Rambuto (1986), No Blood, No Surrender (1985), and Kumander Kalansalay (1988).

He would also been known as a star in a lot of kitsch Pinoy horror films as a zombie/corpse, due to his sunken eyes and thin body.

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.

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 film was Ang M.O.N.A.Y. ni Mr. Shooli 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.

Political views In 1986, Palito campaigned for the reelection of president Ferdinand Marcos in the 1986 snap election.

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. He was cremated and the ashes were kept by his relatives for some years. His ashes were later interred at the columbary of National Shrine and Parish of San Antonio de Padua in Pila, Laguna.

Filmography Film

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|

Mang Kepweng and Son| Atsay Killer|

Teppanyaki Rambo Tan-go| Give Me Five! Barok Goes to Hongkong Naku... Ha!

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

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 001| James Bone Payaso| 1987 Family Tree|

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

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|

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|

Sobra Talaga| Baby Paterno| Dugong pulis Hataw Tatay Hataw| Don Ramon 1995 Isko: Adventures in Animasia|Mang Amado

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

TelevisionHome Along Da RilesHome Along Da Airport (2003-2005) as MichaelO-Ha!Quizon Avenue Pwedeng Pwede'' (1999-2001) as Tarzing