Ramon Revilla, Sr.

Ramon Bautista Revilla Sr. (; born Jose Acuña Bautista; March 8, 1927 – June 26, 2020), popularly known simply as Ramon Revilla Sr. or simply Ramon Revilla, was a Filipino actor who served as a senator of the Philippines.

He was known as the Hari ng Agimat and King Of True To Life Story in Philippine films.

Education Revilla graduated in Far Eastern University wherein he finished his bachelor's degree in commerce.

Film career In his initial entry to the film industry, the young Revilla was cast only in bit roles which was not enough for him so he left the film industry to become head of the Secret Service Unit of the Bureau of Customs in 1965.

He returned to the film industry in 1972 with the film Nardong Putik: Kilabot ng Cavite, which started his fame.

He also returned on his own terms, creating his own film production, Imus Productions, for him to star in. Together with partner Azucena, they ran the film outfit with Revilla writing and directing his films under the pseudonym Jose Yandoc.

His characters in the films "Pepeng Agimat" and "Nardong Putik" gave him the image of being an invincible superhuman who had in his keeping a special anting-anting (amulet of superhuman powers). This image of his is somewhat alive because ABS-CBN adapted his 4 major films into television series entitled Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla.

Accolades In 1973, Revilla won a Famas Best Actor Award for "Hulihin si Tiyagong Akyat" together with his son Marlon Bautista for a Famas Best Child Actor Award of the same movie. Imus Productions was also recognized as Outstanding Film production in 1975. The next year, Revilla snagged the Outstanding Producer of the Year Award.

In 1979, he was Most Outstanding Actor and Box Office King.

In 2011, in the 33rd Catholic Mass Media Awards Night (CMMA), Revilla was given the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Political career In 1987, he ran for a Senate spot by using his real name in the ballot and being an independent, and lost.

In 1992, Revilla became a senator, placing 2nd behind another actor Tito Sotto. Both of them were members of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) at the time.

Despite having a number of detractors, Senator Revilla was the author of some important bills, including the "Revilla Law" lowering the penalties imposed on the illegal possession of firearms, which had been increased by a law signed during the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos.

An amendment to the Family Code of the Philippines, enacted into the law in February 2004, states "The illegitimate children may use the surname of their father if their affiliation has been expressly recognized by the father through the record of birth appearing in the civil register, or when an admission in a public document or private handwritten instrument is made by the father." "The child should not suffer the stigma of his illegitimacy," Revilla Sr. once quoted saying.

In 1998, he jumped into Lakas, and won another term. After the elections, he also joined Lapian ng Masang Pilipino (LAMP) of then-incumbent President and fellow action star Joseph Estrada. But after the lower house impeached Estrada, he rejoined Lakas and stayed with said party until the end of his final term in 2004.

Ram Revilla murder On October 17, 2013, Revilla broke his silence and officially aired his emotions about Ram Revilla's murder case and Ramon Joseph's detainment:

Personal life and death Revilla was the youngest child of the 10 children of businessman Ildefonso Bautista and Andrea Acuña.

His first children were with the mother of Evelyn Bautista, who married the basketball player (and later senator) Robert Jaworski.

He was married to Azucena Mortel, who was born on February 16, 1944, and died on May 31, 1998, at the age of 54. They produced seven children: Marlon, Rowena Bautista-Mendiola, Jose Mari (Bong Revilla), Rebecca Bautista-Ocampo (Princess Revilla), Edwin (Strike Revilla), Andrea Bautista-Ynares, and Diana. With his extramarital affairs, his children numbered at least 39; Bong's spokesperson Portia Ilagan claimed that the number reached 72. In a 2004 interview with journalist Jessica Soho, Revilla admitted that he probably has more than 80 children. Actor Ram Revilla and film producer and politician Ramon Nicolas Bautista were two of his children from his extramarital affairs.

On May 31, 2020, Revilla was rushed to the St. Dominic Medical Center in Bacoor, Cavite. The next day, he was transferred to the St. Luke's Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, where he stayed in the intensive care unit for two weeks. Revilla Sr. died of heart failure at around 5:20pm PHT on June 26, 2020, aged 93.

Legacy Revilla statue On his 84th birthday, a statue was unveiled to the public. The bronze statue was made by Filipino sculptor and national artist Eduardo Castrillo. It was unveiled at Revilla's residence in Bacoor, Cavite. Also during this event, Revilla's children gave him another surprise by officially opening the "Memo Revilla," a museum showcasing his old photographs and film memorabilia such as the "anting-anting" (amulet) and "panday" (sword). His star-studded birthday celebration was attended by the biggest names in Philippine show business and politics alike. Former presidents Joseph Ejercito Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo were among the big personalities who came to the event.

Electoral history

Filmography Year Title Role 1951 Pulo ng Engkanto(as Gallardo Acuña) 1951 Yolanda (as Gallardo Acuña) 1952 Tenyente Carlos Blanco (as Gallardo Acuña) 1952 Ulila ng Bataan 1952 Siklab sa Batangas 1953 Recuerdo 1953 Mister Kasintahan 1953 May Umaga Pang Darating 1953 Gorio at Tekla 1954 Matandang Dalaga 1954 Anak sa Panalangin 1955 Sa Dulo ng Landas 1955 Kurdapya 1955 Bim, Bam, Bum 1955 Balisong 1955 Binibining Kalog 1956 Babalu 1957 Tarhata 1957 Katawang Lupa 1959 Big Time Berto 1959 Pitong Biyuda 1960 Matandang Pa-Charming Tomas 1960 Gabi ng Lagim (segment 1) 1960 Walang Daigdig Tiagong Bulag 1960 True Confessions 1960 Johnny Davao 1961 Dakilang 9 1961 Pantalan 3 1961 Magdasal Kana! 1962 Santa Clarang Pinung-Puno 1962 Sakdalista 1962 Kadiong Ngiti 1964 Scout Rangers 1964 Mariveles 1964 Kumander Fidela 1968 Liku-Likung Landas 1972 Nardong Putik: Kilabot ng Cavite Leonardo Manicio Alyas Nardong Putik 1973 Pepeng Agimat: Sa Daigdig ng Kababalaghan Pepe 1973 Hulihin si Tiagong Akyat Santiago Ronquillo 1974 Kill RP-9 O Steve Vergada, Agent Nine-O 1974 Sunugin ang Samar 1974 Kapitan Eddie Set: Mad Killer of Cavite Kap. Eddie Set 1974 Ibilanggo si Cavite Boy Cavite Boy 1974 Kill... The Carnapers Cameo Role 1974 Happy Days Are Here Again Himself 1975 Kapitan Kulas Kilabot ng Sierra Madre Kulas 1975 Balakyot 1975 Paglaya Ko... 1975 Dugo at Pag Ibig sa Kapirasong Lupa Aguilar (segment 2) 1976 Ang Lihim ni Rosa Henson sa Buhay ni Kumander Lawin Kumander Lawin 1976 Bergado: Terror of Cavite Bergado 1976 Rebel Hunter Brig. Gen. Romeo G. Gatan 1976 Beloy Montemayor Beloy Montemayor 1976 Hustler Squad Paco Rodriguez 1976 Bertong Suklab Berto 1976 Mario Alarcon Mario 1977 Gulapa (Ang Barakong Mayor ng Maragondon) Gulapa 1977 Bianong Bulag Bibiano Angeles aka Bianong Bulag 1977 Task Force Kingfisher 1977 Asawa Ko Silang Lahat (Sa Puting Tabing) Rading Ruiz 1978 Malabanan 1978 Last Target Nardo 1978 Camerino Dominador M. Camerino 1978 Mga Mata ni Angelita Barrio Kapitan (Guest) 1978 Feliciano Feliciano 1978 Cobra, Lawin at Dragon 1978 Boy Imus: Anak Ni Tiagong Akyat Tiagong Akyat 1978 Reblede Numero Uno 1979 Boy Putik 1979 Tonyong Bayawak Tonyong Bayawak 1979 Matanglawin Magno 1980 Dang-Dong Barrio Captain 1980 Mission: Terrorize Panay Pablito Gepana Alyas Kumander Milan 1980 Leon Ng Central Luzon 1980 Target!: Kanang Kamay Ni Nardo Nardong Putik (uncredited) 1980 25 Taong Takas 1981 Sierra Madre 1981 Alfredo Sebastian Alfredo 1981 Kamlon 1981 Raul Zaragoza Raul 1981 Tenyente Pugot 1981 Rampador Alindog 1982 Labag sa Batas 1982 Tulisan ng Pasong Musang 1983 The Killing of Satan(known as Lumaban ka Satanas) Lando San Miguel 1983 Dugong Buhay Samuel 1983 Juramentado Kalmon 1983 Kumander Melody Melody 1984 Nardong Putik (Kilabot ng Cavite) Version II Nardong Putik 1984 Kapitan Inggo Inggo 1985 Sa Dibdib ng Sierra Madre Cameo role 1985 Victor Lopez, Jr. (Robinhood ng Tondo) Victor Lopez Jr. 1985 Rustico Acuzar: Waray Nardo 1985 Kumander Eber: Kilabot Ng Visayas Eber 1986 Iyo ang Tondo, Kanya ang Cavite Bador 1986 Kapitan Pablo: Cavite Killing Fields Pablo 1986 100 Days in September (Bayang Magiting) 1987 Ultimatum: Ceasefire! Kumander Ibarra 1987 Feliciano Luces: Alyas Kumander Toothpick, Mindanao Feliciano Luces 1987 Oscar Ramos: Hitman Oscar Ramos 1987 Anak ng Lupa 1987 Pepe Saclao: Public Enemy No. 1 Jose 'Pepe' Saclao 1988 Cordillera Pv. Umpag Ka Miroy 1988 Alyas Pusa: Ang Taong May 13 Buhay Lt. Teofilo 1988 Joaquin Burdado Joaquin Burdado 1988 Ang Supremo Luis Talusan 1988 Pepeng Kuryente: Man with a Thousand Volts Pepeng Kuryente 1989 Arrest: Pat. Rizal Alih – Zamboanga Massacre Rizal Alih 1989 Bala... Dapat Kay Cris Cuenca! (Public Enemy No. 1 of Region 4) Crisostomo "Cris" Cuenca 1989 Ang Mahiwagang Daigdig ni Elias Paniki Elias Paniki 1989 Target... Police General (Maj. Gen. Alfredo S. Lim Story) Alfredo Lim 1990 David Balondo ng Tondo David Balondo 1990 Apo: Kingpin ng Maynila Apo Magno 1999 Pepeng Agimat Apo Damon 2002 Ang Agimat: Anting-Anting ni Lolo Matandang Ermitanyo 2005 Exodus: Tales from the Enchanted Kingdom Haring Avalon