Friday, March 14, 2008

THE COMIC DUO OF PUGO AND BENTOT

Lalaban Kami (1961)- Stars Pugo, Bentot, Mila Ocampo, Johnny Reyes, Carida Sanchez/ Directed by Tino Garcia

The series of successful comedy films starring the incomparable Pugo and Togo team came to an abrupt end in 1952 with the sudden death of Togo. Without Togo, Pugo's career entered a sort of limbo. He continued to appear in movies, kept his bald look, but without Togo, his comedy seemed forced, his roles relegated to playing sidekicks to big stars like Nestor de Villa, or father to rising young 'upstarts' like Lou Salvador Jr and Luz Valdez.

Television was still in its infancy, but radio was as popular as ever and in the latter part of the 50s, soap operas and radio sitcoms enjoyed unprecedented nationwide appeal. One of the most popular radio sitcoms was Sebya, Mahal Kita, which not only helped give Pugo's career a new boost, but introduced or re-introduced future film and television stars like singer-comedian Sylvia la Torre, Eddie San Jose, Rosa Aguirre, and Ben Cosca, who later became famous as Bentot.

The studio made a film version of Sebya, Mahal Kita (1957) but turned it into a Nida/ Nestor starrer, with Pugo and Bentot given supporting roles. Audiences did not appreciate the reformatted version of their favorite radio show.

Quickly recovering from its bad judgment, the studio used the original radio cast in the movie, My Little Kuwan (1958). It was a resounding success and the same cast appeared in film after film depicting the hilarious misadventures of the Biscocho and Batekabesa families.

In Nukso nang Nukso, Pugo is Mang Nano Batekabesa, the wily but lovable 'manggagantso' who concocts the most ingenuous scams to finance his little vices, like jueteng or cockfighting. Bentot is Bitoy, his overgrown child who unwittingly exposes the scams, perenially getting his father into trouble with Aling Rosa (Rosa Aguirre). Sylvia La Torre is Mang Nano's daughter, Sebya, whose trademark is her fine singing voice and habitual use of cliche English expressions. Eddie San Jose is Aling Rosa's dim-witted son Eddie Biscocho, married to Sebya, a fact Mang Nano never fails to exploit in perpetrating his scams.
Article from
KabayanCentral.com
More on Pugo and Bentot

Nukso ng Nukso (1959)- Stars Pugo, Bentot, Sylvia La Torre, Eddie San Jose, Val Castelo, Merle Tuazon/ Directed by Fred Daluz


Puro Utos, Puro Utos (1959)- Stars Pugo, Bentot, Sylvia LaTorre, Eddie San Jose, Val Castelo/ Directed by Fred Daluz


Yantok-Mindoro-(1960)- Stars Pugo, Bentot, Sylvia LaTorre, Eddie San Jose, Val Castelo/ Directed by Fred Daluz



Baby Damulag (1961)- Stars Pugo, Bentot, Lopito Dely Atay-Atayan/Directed by Cesar Gallardo



Oh Sendang (1961)- Stars Pugo, Bentot, Sylvia LaTorre, Eddie San Jose, Willie Sotelo, Liza Moreno/ Directed by Fred Daluz


Prinsipe Diomedes (1961)- Stars Pugo, Bentot, Lopito, Patsy and Diomedes Maturan and Marita Zobel/Directed by Natoy Catindig


Triplets (1961)- Stars Pugo, Bentot, Lopito, Val Castelo, Merle Tuason, Liza Moreno/ Directed by Tino Garcia


Anting-Anting Daw (1962)- Stars Pugo, Bentot, Mila Ocampo, Linda Montesa and Eddie Rodriguez/ Directed by Tino Garcia

7 comments:

  1. Can someone help me to get a copy or even pictures of the movie "Baby Damulag". I would really appreciate it if someone can give acontact person and number for a start. Ty- Mannix

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    1. I want to request the classic Filipino films from the 1950's 1960's & 1970's era to be aired on Cinema One Global Kapatid Network & GMA Pinoy Movie Channel on Direct TV & Dish Network & cable television systems very soon. Thanks!
      From:Wayne

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  2. You can visit to LVN Pictures near Gilmoe Ave

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  3. I really love "the comic duo of pugo and bentot." It is sad to know there is only one surviving film of this duo. O how I wish to see more!

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    1. I remember the two comedians Pugo & Bentot in Tang Tarang Tang television series from the 1960's era in Filipino television history. Thanks! From:Wayne

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  4. i think i have a small part in baby damulag and i sang "i have 2 hands"

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  5. I hope there are they archived the radio recordings of Sebya, Mahal Kita.

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