Panchito Alba

Panchito Alba (born Alfonso D. Tagle, Sr.; February 25, 1925 – December 18, 1995) was a FAMAS award-winning Filipino film actor who almost exclusively appeared in comedy roles. He was billed as either "Panchito Alba" or simply "Panchito". He was known for his swarthy looks and a prominent big nose, which was often the target of ridicule. Panchito frequently appeared as a comedic foil to Dolphy, with whom he was best friends in real life.

Panchito was born in Paco, Manila. His mother, Etang Discher, became a prominent film actress beginning in the 1940s, often cast in villainous roles. One of his brothers, Emil, also became a film actor. He was married with children. His aunt, Elaina Discher, was also a Filipina actress. Panchito's career in show business began in 1942 when he joined a bodabil troupe called "Travel Stage Show" which performed in various theaters in Japanese-occupied Manila The then 14-year-old Dolphy was also a member of the troupe, thus beginning a lifelong association.

Film career

Panchito's film career began when he, along with Dolphy, were cast by Sampaguita Pictures in the Tita Duran-Pancho Magalona musical Sa Isang Sulyap Mo, Tita. It was a career that lasted until his death. In 1955, Panchito was awarded the FAMAS Best Supporting Actor award for his role in Lupang Kayumanggi. His film career thrived despite his involvement in a 1964 mauling incident in Quezon City that led to the filing of a criminal information against him and several others for frustrated murder, though the case against him would be later dismissed.

Panchito is perhaps best known for his over 50-plus film team-ups with Dolphy in such movies as Kalabog en Bosyo (1959); Beatnik (1960); Si Lucio at Miguel (1962); Pepe and Pilar (1966); Pacifica Falayfay (1969); Fefita Fofongay (1973); Bugoy (1979); and Bakit Kinagat ni Adan ang Mansanas ni Eba? (1989). The partnership likewise extended to television, where the duo would co-star in an ABS-CBN variety show, Buhay Artista (1965–1972). The tandem was famous for a comedic duet routine wherein one would interrupt the other to offer a mangled translation of the Tagalog lyric into English or vice versa. On July 4, 1966, Dolphy and Panchito would open for The Beatles at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex during that band's infamously abbreviated concert tour of Manila.

Apart from his partnerings with Dolphy, Panchito became known as a supporting player in many other film comedies. He was frequently cast as an authority figure such as a policeman, a politician, a father-of-the-family, and memorably, as the hula skirt-clad music teacher of Jaena High School in the Joey de Leon-Rene Requiestas starrer Elvis and James (1989) and as "Paenguin" (a parody of Batman's arch-nemesis The Penguin) in the comedy-spoof Alyas Batman en Robin (1991).

In October 1995, Panchito suffered a stroke that left him comatose. Video of him lying incapacitated in bed aired on Philippine television. He died two months later, on December 18, 1995, 2 days after the death of Bert Tawa Marcelo, and week before release of his last film Father en Son which starred Dolphy and his son Vandolph.

In 2007, Alpha Music Corporation released an album-compilation entitled The Best of Dolphy & Panchito, featuring 14 comedic duets of the comic tandem.

• Father en Son (1995, release posthumously)
• Home sic Home (1995)
• Alyas Batman en Robin (1993) .... Paenguin
• Sam & Miguel (Your basura, no problema) (1992) (as Panchito Alba) .... Tomas
• Rocky Plus V (1991)
• Ali in Wonderland (1991)
• Goosebuster (1991)
• Espadang patpat (1990)
• Samson & Goliath (1990)
• Og Must Be Crazy (1990) .... Temyong
• Ganda babae, gandang lalake (1990)
• Crocodile Jones: The Son of Indiana Dundee (1990)
• Small, Medium en Large (1990) .... Ma El
• Twist: Ako si ikaw, ikaw si ako (1990) Ka Limot
• Hotdog (1990)
• Starzan III: The Jungle Triangle (1989)
• My Darling Domestic (The Greytest Iskeyp) (1989)
• Romeo Loves Juliet... But Their Families Hate Each Other! (1989)
• Gawa na ang balang para sa akin (1989)
• SuperMouse and the Roborats (1989)
• Elvis and James, the Living Legends! (1989)
• Aso't pusa (1989)
• Starzan 2: The Adventure Continues (1989)
• Bote, dyaryo, garapa (1989)
• Long Ranger & Tonton: Shooting Stars of the West (1989) .... General Alfonso Gutierrez
• Da Best in da West (1989) .... Inkong Gaspar
• Balbakwa: The Invisible Man (1989)
• Bondying: The Little Big Boy (1989)
• Starzan: Shouting Star of the Jungle (1989)
• Bagwis (1989)
• Si Malakas at si Maganda (1989) (as Panchito Alba) .... Ka Ponso
• Jack and Jill sa Amerika (1988)
• Smith & Wesson (1988)
• Sheman: Mistress of the Universe (1988) .... Tio Paeng
• Enteng, the Dragon (1988)
• Bakit kinagat ni Adan ang mansanas ni Eba (1988)
• Jack and Jill (1987)
• Binibining Tsuperman (1987)
• Ano ka hilo? (1986)
• Isang platitong mani (1986) .... Nanding
• No Return, No Exchange (1986)
• I won, I won (Ang s'werte nga naman) (1986) .... Procapio
• The Crazy Professor (1985)
• Momooo (1985)
• Goatbuster (1985)
• Isang kumot, tatlong unan (1985) .... Ponso
• Kalabog en Bosyo Strike Again (1985) .... Bosyo
• Charot (1984)
• Sekreta ini (1984)
• Nang maghalo ang balat sa tinalupan (1984)
• Goodah (1984)
• Mga Alagad ng kuwadradong mesa (1983)
• My Juan en only (1982)
• Nang umibig ang gurang (1982)
• Dolphy's Angels (1980) (as Panchito Alba) .... Lieutenant Gapos
• Superhand (1980)
• Darna at Ding (1980)
• The Quick Brown Fox (1980)
• Max & Jess (1979) .... Jess
• Dancing Master (1979)
• Kuwatog (1979)
• Jack N Jill of the Third Kind (1979)
• Bugoy (1979)
• Binata ang daddy ko (1977)
• Silang mga mukhang pera (1977) (as Panchito Alba)
• Like father, like son: Kung ano ang puno siya ang bunga (1975)
• My Funny Valentine (1974) .... Joaquin
• Huli huli 'Yan (1974)
• Ang Mahiwagang daigdig ni Pedro Penduko (1973) (as Panchito Alba)
• Love Pinoy Style (1972)
• Hiwaga ng Ibong Adarna, Ang (1972)
• Pacifica Falaypay (1969)
• Dakilang tanga (1968)
• Buhay Bombero (1968)
• Good morning titser (1968)
• Kaming taga bundok (1968)
• Kaming taga ilog (1968)
• Buhay Bumbero (1968)
• King and Queen for a Day (1963)
• Tansan vs. Tarsan (1963)
• Si Adiang Waray (1962)
• Lab na lab kita (1962)
• Si Lucio at si Miguel (1962)
• Tansan the Mighty (1962)
• Hami-hanimun (1961)
• Kandidatong pulpol (1961)
• Operatang sampay bakod (1961)
• Beatnik (1960)
• Dobol trobol (1960)
• Isinumpa (1959)
• Pakiusap (1959)
• Kalabog en Bosyo (1959)
• Pulot gata (1958)
• Silveria (1958)
• Tawag ng tanghalan (1958)
• Colegiala (1957)
• Diyosa (1957)
• Lupang kayumanggi (1956) (as Panchito Alba)
• Mariposa (1955)
• Sa dulo ng landas (1955)
• Waldas (1955)
• Anak sa panalangin (1954)
• Aristokrata (1954)
• Menor de edad (1954)
• Reyna bandida (1953)
• D' Godson (1953)
• Fefita Fofongay (Viuda de Falayfay) (1973)
• Love Pinoy Style (1953)
• Son of Fung Ku (1953) .... Gordon

• Buhay artista (1964) TV Series