PUGO AND TOGO: FILMDOM'S ORIGINAL COMIC TANDEM

The comic duo Pugo & Togo with Jaime dela Rosa, Tessie Quintana, Lopito and Pablo Virtuoso in the 1949 movie, "Tambol Mayor."

Bald-headed duo, Pugo (Mariano Contreras) and Togo (Andres Solomon) were the comedy kings of the 40s and early part of the 50s and their comic tandem was the most popular during their time. Pugo and Togo started as vaudeville performers in the 30s and were a hit during the Japanese Occupation, where they poke fun of the Japanese. Their brand of humour consisted of short skits, slapstick, and funny dialogues where they performed live in Manila's theaters, most particularly Clover, Life and Avenue theaters. They changed their names to "Puguing" and "Tuguing" because Togo sounds similar to Tojo who was then the Prime Minister of Japan.

After the war, their career zoomed appearing in countless movies whether as lead or supporting roles, i.e, Ikaw Na (1946), Multo ni Yamashita (1946), Sekretang Hongkong (1947), Biglang Yaman (1949), Tambol Mayor (1949), Magkumpareng Putik (1950). Togo died on November 3, 1952 while shooting Dalawang Sundalong Kanin. He was only 47 years old. Pugo was in limbo for some time, but he was able to rebound and soon reasserted himself. He did several successful comedies (Sebya Mahal Kita, Nukso ng Nukso, Oh Sendang, etc.) for LVN before he ventured into television where he starred in Tang Tarang Tang (which later became Si Tatang Kasi), Wanted: Boarders, Alright, Okay, My Son, My Son and also as replacement of Lopito in Tawag ng Tanghalan. He died in 1978
From more than 10 movies the comic duo appeared, only three, Biglang Yaman, Kandidato and Kambal Tuko, have survived.

Courtesy of LVN Pictures

LVN produced a short film, on the life and death of Togo and showed it as an added “featurette” of the movie, Dalawang Sundalong Kanin (starred Pugo & Togo, Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa) in December 1952. Only the second half of this short film survives--- showing the actor’s funeral. The film is narrated by Eddie San Jose.

Courtesy of LVN Pictures

Trivia/ Source: From WikiPilipinas:
In one skit, Togo would ask what is the time and Pugo would hold up his wrist wearing four or five watches satirizing the Japanese soldier's fondness for watches. In another skit, Pugo would ask Togo who is he waiting and he would just answer "Si Uncle" meaning Uncle Sam which is the United States. In another skit, Pugo would give a monologue caricaturing a Japanese official proclaiming that he "loved the Philippines" but pronounces the word "love" as "rob" making fun of the Japanese people's mispronounciation of the letter "l" and "r."

More often than not, the Japanese Kempetai would haul the two comedians to Fort Santiago for interrogation. After two or three days with bruises and cuts incurred from the Kempetai, the funny thing is that the Japanese always let them go.

Left- "Ikaw Na!" (1946)- Stars Patricia Mijares, Tito Arevalo, Pugo & Togo/ with Rogelio Nite, Rosa Mia/ Directed by Moises Caguin

Right- "Hanggang Pier" (1946)- Stars Patricia Mijares, Tito Arevalo, Pugo & Togo/ Directed by Oscar del Rosario

Left- "Multo ni Yamashita" (1946)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Katy dela Cruz/ with Consuelo Sayson, Oscar Keesee, Batotoy/ Directed by Oscar Del Rosario

Right- "Ang Estudyante" (1947)- Stars Lilian Velez, Narding Anzures, Pugo & Togo/ with Rosa Aguirre, Miguel Anzures, Angelo Castro/ Directed by Fermin Barva

"Sekretang Hongkong" (1947)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Anita Linda, Domingo Principe/ Directed by Moises Caguin

Left- "Noong Bata Pa si Sabel" (1947)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Katy dela Cruz, Gregorio Ticman/ Directed by Oscar Del Rosario

Right- "Tomadachi- Zona" (1947)- Stars Patricia Mijares, Domingo Principe, Pugo & Togo, Katy dela Cruz/ Directed by Oscar Del Rosario

"Sorry Na Lang" (1947)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Katy dela Cruz, Baby Jane/ with Rolando Liwanag, ALfredo de Lara, Batotoy/ Directed by Oscar Del Rosario

Left- "Biglang Yaman" (1949)- Stars Jaime dela Rosa, Rosa Rosal, Pugo & Togo/ Directed by Joe Climaco
Right- “Kandidato” (1949)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Tony Arnaldo, Vida Florante/ Directed by Joe Climaco

Left- "Magkumpareng Putik" (1950)- Stars Lilia Dizon, Pugo & Togo/ Directed by Manuel Silos

Right- "Dalawang Prinsipeng Kambal" (1951)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Teody Belarmino, Milagros Naval/ Directed by Manuel Silos

Left- "Pulo ng Engkanto" (1951)- Stars Lilia Dizon, Pugo & Togo, Alfonso Carvajal/ Directed by Oscar Del Rosario

Right- "Kambal Tuko" (1952)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Carmencita Palma, Inday Jalandoni, Eddie San Jose, Gil de Leon/ Directed by F.H. Constantino

Filmography/ Partial:

1."Ikaw Na!" (1946)- Stars Patricia Mijares, Tito Arevalo, Pugo & Togo/ with Rogelio Nite, Rosa Mia/ Directed by Moises Caguin

2. "Hanggang Pier" (1946)- Stars Patricia Mijares, Tito Arevalo, Pugo & Togo/ Directed by Oscar del Rosario

3. "Multo ni Yamashita" (1946)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Katy dela Cruz/ with Consuelo Sayson, Oscar Keesee, Batotoy/ Directed by Oscar Del Rosario

4. "Ang Estudyante" (1947)- Stars Lilian Velez, Narding Anzures, Pugo & Togo/ with Rosa Aguirre, Miguel Anzures, Angelo Castro/ Directed by Fermin Barva

5. "Sekretang Hongkong" (1947)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Anita Linda, Domingo Principe/ Directed by Moises Caguin

6. "Noong Bata Pa si Sabel" (1947)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Katy dela Cruz, Gregorio Ticman/ Directed by Oscar Del Rosario

7. "Tomadachi- Zona" (1947)- Stars Patricia Mijares, Domingo Principe, Pugo & Togo, Katy dela Cruz/ Directed by Oscar Del Rosario

8. "Sorry Na Lang" (1947)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Katy dela Cruz, Baby Jane/ with Rolando Liwanag, ALfredo de Lara, Batotoy/ Directed by Oscar Del Rosario

9. "Biglang Yaman" (1949)- Stars Jaime dela Rosa, Rosa Rosal, Pugo & Togo/ Directed by Joe Climaco

10. “Tambol Mayor” (1949)- Stars Jaime dela Rosa, Tessie Qintana and Pugo & Togo

11. “Kandidato” (1949)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Tony Arnaldo, Vida Florante/ Directed by Joe Climaco

12. "Magkumpareng Putik" (1950)- Stars Lilia Dizon, Pugo & Togo/ Directed by Manuel Silos

13. “Edong Mapangarap” (1950)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Eddie San Jose and Joan Page

14. "Dalawang Prinsipeng Kambal" (1951)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Teody Belarmino, Milagros Naval/ Directed by Manuel Silos

15. "Pulo ng Engkanto" (1951)- Stars Lilia Dizon, Pugo & Togo, Alfonso Carvajal/ Directed by Oscar Del Rosario

16. “Kambal Tuko” (1952)- Stars Pugo & Togo, Carmencita Palma, Inday Jalandoni, Eddie San Jose, Gil de Leon/ Directed by F.H. Constantino

17. “Dalawang Sundalong Kanin” (1952)- Stars Pugo &Togo, Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa/ Togo’s last unfinished movie