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Bert Marcelo

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(Redirected from Bert "Tawa" Marcelo)

Bert Marcelo
Born
Norberto Joya Marcelo

(1936-06-06)June 6, 1936
DiedDecember 16, 1995(1995-12-16) (aged 59)
Resting placeMunicipal Cemetery, Baliuag, Bulacan
Other namesTawa
Alma materFar Eastern University (BA)
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, TV personality
Years active1967–1995
Political partyNationalist People's Coalition (1995)[1]
SpouseAlicia Castro
Children4

Norberto "Bert" Joya Marcelo Sr. (June 6, 1936 – December 16, 1995)[1] was a Filipino actor, comedian, and television personality. His trademark high-pitched infectious laughter earned him the popular moniker "Tawa", the Tagalog word for laughter.

Background

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Born in Baliuag, Bulacan, Marcelo's persona as the Filipino everyman, enhanced by his eloquency in the Tagalog language and his easy-going friendly nature, made him ideal as the most recognized endorser of the popular San Miguel Beer.[2] Apart from his classic commercials for San Miguel Beer such as Isang Platitong Mani (A Saucerful of Peanuts), Marcelo was also best known as the co-host with Pilita Corrales in Ang Bagong Kampeon (The New Champion), a long-running television talent show which discovered Regine Velasquez (then-known as Chona) and among other talents.[3] He was also an occasional actor in films, as well in television sitcoms such as Baltic and Company in 1974. Aside from his work on television, he also had a stint on radio, as he became one of the announcers who worked with the now defunct DWWW 630 (owned by Radio Philippines Network) in the '80s.

In 1991, after throwing a joke on Rudy Fernandez in an awards night at CCP Main Theater, Fernandez approached to him in the backstage and said: 'Sa susunod, huwag mo akong lolokohin! Huwag mo akong mabiru-biro nang ganyan!'.[4]

Personal life

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He was married to Alicia Trinidad Castro; they had four sons.

Marcelo family graves
Marcelo tomb

Death

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Marcelo passed away at the peak of his career when he suffered a fatal stroke on December 16, 1995, at St. Lukes Medical Center, months after losing his gubernatorial bid.[2] He was laid to rest at Municipal Cemetery in Baliuag, Bulacan, beside Jose C. Marcelo (February 2, 1902-August 16, 1970), Aljandra Joya Marcelo (May 18, 1896-March 27, 1992), Genoveva Joya Marcelo, Susana Joya Marcelo, Benita Marcelo, and Girlie V. Marcelo.

Marcelo mausoleum

Legacy

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He was portrayed by comedian Jose Manalo on an episode in “Magpakailanman” in 2003.[5]

Filmography

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Film

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  • Pomposa: Ang Kabayong Tsismosa (1968)
  • Tore ng Diyablo (1969)
  • Teenage Escapades! (1969)
  • Brownout (1969)
  • Tisoy (1969)
  • D' Musical Teenage Idols! (1969)
  • Padre, si Eba (1971)
  • Ang Pangalan Ko'y Luray (1971)
  • The Panther (1973)
  • Oh Margie Oh (1974)
  • Hindi Kami Damong Ligaw (1976)
  • Wanakosey (1977)
  • Tisoy! (1977)
  • Kapten Batuten en his Super Batuta (1977)
  • Mga Mata ni Angelita (1978)
  • Tadhana (television film, 1978) – Tausi[6]
  • Isang Platitong Mani (1985)
  • Payaso (1986)
  • Everlasting Love (1989)

Television

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  • Baltic and Company (GMA Network, 1974–1976)
  • Prinsipe Abante (GMA Network, 1977–1981)
  • Kalatog Pinggan (BBC 2/ABS-CBN, 1985–1986/1987–1988)
  • Ang Bagong Kampeon (RPN 9, 1985–1988)
  • Tanghalan ng Kampeon (GMA Network, 1987–1993)
  • Agrisiyete (GMA Network, 1991–1995) - his last TV appearance

References

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  1. ^ a b "Remembering Bert 'Tawa' Marcelo". Tempo - The Nation's Fastest Growing Newspaper. October 5, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Remembering the laughter of Bert 'Tawa' Marcelo". Manila Standard. October 8, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  3. ^ "Bago nagkaroon Kapamilya, Kapuso, sumikat si Kaka, a.k.a. Bert "Tawa" Marcelo". PEP.ph. October 4, 2020.
  4. ^ Gabinnete, Jojo (March 28, 2022). "Sampalan sa awards night, nangyari na sa Pilipinas noong 1991". PEP.ph.
  5. ^ "#MPK: The Bert "Tawa" Marcelo Story (Full Episode) Magpakailanman". GMA Network. July 30, 2023.
  6. ^ Aviado, Pandy (2005). "Isang Balik-tingin sa Pagsasa-Animation ng Tadhana". Huling Ptyk: Da Art of Nonoy Marcelo. The House Printers Corporation. pp. 75–78.
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