Lessons Learned From Palito

The Picture at the left was taken last September 14, 2007 at Star City during our barkada gimik.

When the photo was taken, I originally planned to blog about it here but then I never had the opportunity to post about it.

I was able to catch Wish Ko Lang's episode last Saturday featuring Katrina Halili and her bestfriend Jelai. It was a nice story of a fan turned PA turned best friend. It shows us the meaning of true friendship. Katrina and Jelai looked like they have this "give and take" relationship. Jelai defends Katrina from her detractors and in return, Katrina helps Jelai in his (or her?) daily needs.

Yes, I am a Katrina Halili fan, but what really caught my interest is the whereabouts of formerly famous comedian named Palito.

For me, Palito is one of the best side kicks in Philippine Cinema. I used to watched comedy pinoy films when I was younger and noticed that he played mostly "bangkay" roles or yung tipong binabatuk-batukan. In my own observation, comedians used to have their glory days in the Philippine Cinema and sad to say, most of these great actors are no longer active in showbiz. In short, pinaglipasan na ng panahon.

And one of them is Palito.

When my classmates and I saw him at star City last September 14, he was buying some slippers with his companion. I was wondering why a lot of people have been taking pictures in this one stall. Since we love chismis and all that, my friends and I went to the stall and presto, Mr. Palito was there - small, thin and smiling at the cameras.

My friends were a bit shy to approach him. I wanted to take a photo with him to post it in my blog and from that moment, I wanted to blog agad. When I bravely approached him, he did obliged and gamely posed for cameras with us. Yes, you can see that he's smiling and he's enthusiastic and loves the attention the young crowd is giving him. But when he walked away, you can see an old man who is going through a lot in life.

If I'm not mistaken, The Philippine Cinema is producing an average of 200 films a year. A major film outfit can even manage to release 3 movies in a month from drama to action to comedy way back. Today, Major film outfits can only produce an average of 5 movies a year and sadly, they're only making movies not for the passion or for a purpose, but for the money. Thank God the Indie Scene is slowly getting noticed by the movie fans.

Anyway, he was featured last Saturday. He happily showed to us his pictures, movie posters, memorabilias that were collected during his kasikatan. He was able to buy his own house, bought some cars for rent and even sent his children to college (where are they now?). Due to the lack of movie offers and tv projects, his income went down until there came a time wherein he had to sell his cars, jewelries and even his house. He is now living in a smaller house and joins a group of former stuntmen and extras somewhere in New Manila hoping to get a new gig. He gets to perform from time to time for a lesser talent fee dahil matanda na at laos na siya. That is the sad reality of life. When you start to get older, the more na mararamdaman mo na wala kang silbi.

He even narrated how he had a lot of friends way back. In every last taping days of his former movies, he would treat the crew and cast with some beers, pulutan etc. He even did some shows for free or in exchange of food. But where the hell are they now?

The one thing he said that really made my heart melt is when he told the reason why he wasn't able to go to Dolphy's Birthday Bash. "Ang totoo niyan eh wala akong pamasahe".

The one person he wished to see once again is former president ERAP. I am not a big fan of ERAP, but I do believe that the masa loves him because of his attitude. He, together with his bestbud now in heaven FPJ are considered as the hero of the 'small' crowd (No, I'm not talking about PGMA LOL). Para sa mahihirap, sila ang pag-asa dahil tanging sila ang nakakaintindi at marunong silang magbigay ng importansya sa mas nakakaliit na tao (hindi nga si Gloria yun eh!).

The show gave him a drum set for his band. Ina Alegre's Comguild Production handed him a script for their upcoming movie with Alfred Vargas. You can see the glow in his eyes when the finally saw the script. Babalik na naman siya sa sirkulasyon. Magagawa na naman niya ang gusto niyang gawin.

When he finally reached Greenhills and knocked on ERAP's house, you can see his excitement and even broke down to tears when he saw his idol and friend after a long, long time.

This episode made me appreciate the senior people. We have to make some extra effort to make them happy and feel loved and I am still doing that right now.

I also realized that in this world, we have two types of friends: The Real and Temporary Friends. The latter is dangerous. They make friends with you when you're on top ir when they just need your help. When the time comes that you are ugly, poor and old, they'll leave you just like that. Treasure your Real Friends and be a Real friend too!

And lastly, you must invest your money in insurance and stocks while you can still have them. I am not kidding.

And another one : Showbiz is not forever.

And another one again! Old Age is something that we can't really get rid of, so do everything you wanna do while you're still young and able… and hot.