Classic Tagalog Comedy Movies

Tagalog Comedy Movies from previous years hold a certain charm which more recent movies do not have. Maybe it's the song and dance number, or the excursion to the beach scene with song and dance number, or maybe it's the element of fantasy, or the nostalgia they evoke to adults like me who grew up watching them. Whatever it is, they will always be loved by audiences.

Here's a list of my favorite Tagalog Comedy Movies from previous years:

Puto (1987)
Director: Leroy Salvador

“Boy George, Travolta Elvis…Elvis, Travolta, Boy George!” These are magic words used by Ivanhoe dela Cruz in the movie "Puto". In Puto, Herbert Bautista plays good-natured and kind-hearted student Ivanhoe Dela Cruz who sells puto or rice cakes after school to help his widowed mother (Marita Zobel). Because of this, all the students in school call him Puto. He is always teased and bullied. Taking pity on him, three elves or duwendes (played by Berting Labra, Max Alvarado and Cachupoy) decide to help him. But Ivanhoe soon changes and becomes boastful forcing his duwende friends to stop helping him.

Ending with a song and dance number to the tune of Michael Jackson's "Bad" with Filipino lyrics, Puto is an entertaining film from which you could also get some life lessons. Classic Filipino storytelling.

Working Boys (1985)
Director: Mike Relon Makiling

Working Boys is a spoof of the 1984 movie Working Girls. It stars Tito, Vic and Joey and Herbert Bautista. In this movie, we follow the shenanigans of Oscar, Bert and Ernie, three oddjobmen, who can work on virtually any kind of job, and their nephew/apprentice, Kermit. There are many funny scenes in this movie. Among them -- turning Ben David’s airconditioner into a snow maker, expelling an evil spirit that possessed Balot, tearing apart Dindo Fernando’s car when only the lock was broken, casting Palito as the deceased in a lamay, painting a house using multicolor, literally putting on a show behind the picture tube (hilarious), Kermit dating three girls at once in the same venue. Piling from Mang Kepweng, if I’m not mistaken, also made an appearance in this movie.

Like Father, Like Son (1985)
Director: Mike Relon Makiling

Nanoy (Herbert Bautista) is street smart and crafty just like his con man father (Leroy Salvador). Jon Jon (Niño Muhlach) is book smart and a bit of a nerd just like his father who is an inventor (Nestor De Villa). Nanoy's and Jon Jon's families have been feuding for years because of their differing views. Despite of this, Nanoy and Jon Jon form an unlikely friendship. Fed up of their parents, Nanoy and Jon Jon decide to leave their homes combining street smarts and book smarts to support themselves.

limva123/wilbert's music hard to find music library

A lovely movie. Light and heartwarming. There’s even a talking robot. Features a touching dialogue (Maaring matiis ng anak ang magulang ngunit ang magulang ay kailanman di matitiis ang anak.) by the late Nida Blanca near the ending of the movie. I wish more movies like this could be made.

Like Father, Like Son also stars Nida Blanca (Jon Jon’s mom); Gina Pareño (Nanoy’s mom); Dely Atay-atayan (Jon Jon’s lola); Chichay (Nanoy’s lola); Lea Salonga, Gerard salonga, Cheska Iñigo (as Nanoy’s and Jon Jon’s friends); Cecille Iñigo (Lea’s, Gerard’s and Cheska’s tita in the movie) and Jimmy Santos (as the waiter at Shakey's).

Bagets (1984)
Director: Maryo J. De Los Reyes
Story: Jake Tordesillas (whom some say is the John Hughes of the Philippines)

In Bagets, we follow the coming of age story of five high school students starting their fourth year fresh in a new school after they got expelled from another school. Bagets stars William Martinez, Herbert Bautista, J.C. Bonnin, Aga Muhlach, and Raymond Lauchengco.

YT video credits - bobexr3

Ang Tatay kong Nanay (1978)
Director: Lino Brocka

Coring (Dolphy), a gay beautician or parlorista, is left with a baby by his former ward, Dennis (Phillip Salvador), forcing him to raise the baby as his own. The baby, Nonoy, (Niño Muhlach), grows up thinking that Coring is his real father. Coring would dress and act straight when he's in front of Nonoy and would also urge his gay friends (Larry Leviste and Soxy Topacio) to restrain their flamboyance whenever Nonoy is with them. Everything seems fine until Nonoy's real mother (Marissa Delgado) and Coring's former ward, Dennis, suddenly show up to claim their son. They would buy Nonoy expensive toys which Coring cannot give Nonoy. Eventually, Coring had to give back Nonoy to his real parents. Soon, Coring was back to his old ways -- joining a gay beauty contest and fashion show in a basketball court. It is here where Nonoy, who left his real parents' home to go back to Coring, saw Coring dressed in drag. The movie ends with Nonoy and Coring reunited.

One thing about Dolphy, he can do both comedy and drama very well. He is also one of those actors who could effectively portray gay roles. Galing!

Credits:

http://www.pelikula.net
http://rickyremembers.wordpress.com/category/movies/page/2/
IMDb
ledster of IMDb - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077164/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl
"My ‘Tatay kong Bakla’" By Larry Leviste - http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/57557/my-tatay-kong-bakla
limva123 in YouTube/Wilbert's hard to find music library
photos from all over the internet
socialites1969 in YouTube

Growing Up

A professor of mine once said in class that someday my classmates and I will wake up one day and realize that we're 30. Guess what? He's correct. I just realized that I'm in my 30s. It only seems like yesterday when I was in school, not worrying about work, bills, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and other grown up stuff. But everyone must grow up and face the real world, right? We can't be Peter Pan. So, how does one grow up? I surfed the internet for answers. Here's what I've found so far:

How to Grow Up – Become financially independent; Become emotionally independent; Realize that life isn't fair; Take responsibility for yourself; Control your emotions.

I’ve added comments for each item:

1.) Become financially independent - Find work. Start a career path. But don't forget your parents once you start earning your own money after all they are the ones who sent you to school, gave you allowance, prepared your meals, washed your clothes, and gave you a roof above your head. Although it is your parents’ obligation to love, care and provide for you, it is always nice to show your "utang na loob" and gratitude for all the good things they've done for you. If you're still living at home, you can pay part of the Meralco bill or buy the groceries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, coffee and the like) when it is your sweldo. Your parents will appreciate that.

"Honor your mother and your father that your days may be long in the land that God gives you". That's the only commandment in the Ten Commandments with a promise.

2.) Become emotionally independent - When we were kids we would report to our parents whenever other children tease or bully us. When we grow up, we must be able to deal with issues on our own.

3.) Realize that life isn't fair - Yeah, shit happens. By the time you become an adult, you should have realized that. Losing one's house, getting kicked out of school for trivial reasons, being alone and not having a girlfriend, people being mean to you for no reason, they are part of life. The key is never to feel down because of such unfair circumstances. Get back on your feet and overcome such obstacles.

4.) Take responsibility for yourself - Own your mistakes. Stop blaming others for your plight. Accept responsibility and learn from your mistakes. You're only human and humans make mistakes. No one's perfect you know. What is important is that you don't repeat your mistakes.

5.) Control your emotions - I must admit I have a problem with this one. Temper tantrums are for kids only. They're not appropriate for adults. If you must vent your emotion, do it in a calm and respectful manner.



References:

http://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Up
http://www.ehow.com/how_2083243_grow-up.html
Wikipedia

Notes:

"Growing Up" - a song from the Bagets movie soundtrack performed by Gary Valenciano
"Growing Up" - a Filipino youth-oriented series aired on GMA Network from 1997 to 1999.

Dream Maker

"Moon River"
music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Johnny Mercer
sung by Audrey Hepburn as "Holly Golightly" in the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Moon River, wider than a mile,

I'm crossing you in style some day.

Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,

wherever you're going I'm going your way.

Two drifters off to see the world.

There's such a lot of world to see.

We're after the same rainbow's end--

waiting 'round the bend,

my huckleberry friend,

Moon River and me.


Credits:

www.reelclassics.com
janegs.blogspot.com
YouTube - SWANPR1NCESS

Dear Child (guitar version)

Untitled Instrumental2 (guitar version)

"C'est la vie"

The French phrase "C'est la vie", the English translation "That's life!", the Filipino expression "Ganyan ang buhay", the popular bumper sticker which says, "Shit happens", they all mean the same thing and that is - "unpleasant events and situations are a feature of life, that bad things happen for no particular reason". I'm like Homer Simpson, I'd say "why do things that happen to stupid people keep happening to me?" or Eric Foreman from "That '70s Show". In a particular episode of That '70s Show Eric says, "Bad things keep happening to me, like I have bad luck or something". Then Red answers, "Son, you don’t have bad luck. The reason bad things happen to you is because you’re a dumbass." Then I'd say, "here I go again, I'm in the same situation" and I'd feel bad. I'd think I have bad luck, or that I'm cursed or that I'm just a dumb ass. But the truth is, there are things which are beyond our control, like the weather, calamities, what people think about us, and a whole lot of other things. So, there's really no point stressing over them. Parte 'yan ng buhay. Just say c'est la vie, shit happens.

References:

Wikipedia
http://bytesdaily.blogspot.com/2011/02/shit-happens.html
An article I read several years ago in an issue of the Salesian Bulletin
www.tvfanatic.com
Daily That 70's show quotes on Facebook