Tiya Dely Magpayo and other Departed Celebrities

Dear mouse,

Fidela “Tiya Dely Magpayo” died at age 87. She was still broadcasting up to her last moments. I have not listened to any of her programs even when I was in the Philippines but I know she was an icon in broadcasting industry. At that age (she’s older than my mom) when many of her colleagues in the industry had died she still reigned as the Philippines’ First Lady of Radio. Her signature greeting was Ang Inyong Lingkod, Tiya Dely.

There is a dearth of information about our past celebrities and personalities that googling does not help whenever we want to know something about those who were popular before but are already gone. You can visit my other Movies Celebrities, Then and Now blog where you can find photos and biographies of old celebrities dating back to Fernando Poe, Sr.,
(i don’t have to tell even the young ones, that he was the father of the late Ronnie Poe, Jr., the movie action king and the movie actor who could have been the president…not to mention, my brother was named after him…hehehe; Carmen Rosales, (if you do not remember her, you might if you go to Baguio and get by Carmen and Rosales, Pangasinan, two towns named after this movie icon…and also the Carmen bridge in the same province… Rogelio dela Rosa , (the movie actor who could have been the first to become the President had he not withdrawn in favor of his brother-in-law, Diosdado Macapagal, the father of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo… and many others. I am trying to update the blog to include those in the other industry like radio and TV. Shameless plugging? No. My friend used to ask me how come I know so much about the old celebrities when they have died long before I knew how to write my long name. It is research silly which was just like fishing in empty aquarium because there are no information available. Some relatives e-mailed me like the daughter of Leopoldo Salcedo, the daughter of Eddie Arenas and many more.

To name a few of those who made names in the radio and TV media industry, here is a short list.

Helen Vela – While Tiya Dely was giving advice thru radio as Tiya (meaning Auntie), Helen Vela did it in the Sunday afternoon on TV as Ate Helen in Lovingly Yours. She also hosted Suerte sa Siete and Student Canteen and later became a newscaster. She died on Valentine’s Day of 1992. She was the mother of Princess Punzalan, the ex-wife of WOWOWEE Willy Revillame. She was also the ex-wife of Orly Punzalan, another Broadcast media icon.

Lourdes Jimenez Carvajal, better known as Inday Badiday (August 6, 1944–September 26, 2003), the Queen of intrigues. She is the mother of Inquirer columnist Dolly Carvajal and the sister of Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc of Inquirer.

Patsy – She hosted Tawag ng Tanghalan with Lopito and then Pugo. She died about half a year after the death of Pugo.

Elvira Manahan – A legendary beauty, she hosted Two for the Road, first as a nightly for the pre-martial law ABS-CBN and later as a weekly for GMA-7. As most of us still recall, Ms. Manahan was murdered in her Forbes Park home in October 1986. She was the mother of Johnny Manahan an ABs-CBN exec.

Jose Mari Velez – The most popular newscaster during the pre-martial law years. He had loyal followers because of his credibility, excellent delivery of the news and debonair looks.

Lopito – The original male co-host of Tawag ng Tanghalan, he died at the peak of his career in 1966.
Joey Lardizabal – Hosted The Morning Show in ABS-CBN Channel 3 up to the time he died of cancer in 1969.

Bobby Ledesma – Host and producer of Student Canteen and Discorama.
Chito Feliciano – He pioneered in dance shows via Dancetime With Chito in the early ‘60s on Channel 7. He died in a helicopter crash in the early ‘70s.
Vic Pacia – A mainstay of Oras ng Ligaya, he also dabbled in films as an actor (Sampaguita Pictures). Pacia died in a car crash in 1973 while driving in Laguna.
Eddie Peregrina – A jukebox king, he hosted The Eddie-Nora Show with Nora Aunor on Channel 9 in the late ‘60s.
Ronald Remy – A former Premiere Productions contract star who made a lot of films for international release, he appeared as Rosa Rosal’s husband in ‘Yan ang Misis Ko and later hosted the Sunday noontime game show (Lucky 13 among them) on Channel 13.
Nanding Flores – The original Mr. Baltic when the comic strip Baltic & Co. was made into a series on Channel 7. The show was still at its peak in 1975 when he died. He was replaced by Prospero Luna.

Doro de los Ojos – Known for his dilated eyes that gave him his showbiz screen name, he hosted the early afternoon variety show Everyday Holiday on ABS-CBN up to the late ‘60s. He died in 1981.
Pugo – A veteran of stage shows, he did several successful comedies for LVN before he ventured into television where he starred in Tangtarangtang (which later became Si Tatang Kasi), he replaced Lopito in Tawag ng Tanghalan. Dolphy so respected Pugo that when the mentor died in 1978, he cut short his US vacation to attend the wake.

Tony Santos, Sr. – A great character actor from LVN, he directed Oras ng Ligaya and several sitcoms for the old ABS-CBN. He also hosted Mr. Public Service and appeared as Dindo Fernando’s brother in Flordeluna.
Dindo Fernando – A member of Sampaguita’s Star 66, he metamorphosed into a fine actor and leading man on the big screen. On TV, he was best known as Major Leo Alicante, Flordeluna’s father.
Virgilio Garcia – The father of Kristine Garcia, he played sweetheart and later husband to Dulce Lukban (Pops Fernandez’ mother) in Tindahan sa Nayon.

Teroy de Guzman – A mainstay of Magandang Tanghali, he was also part of the early ‘80s comedy show, Mah-Ta-Tu in the old BBC-2.
Mitos Villarreal – One of the most sought-after TV directors for musicals, dramas (Salamism) and special events, she was also part of the singing trio Lemons Three (along with Nikki Ross and Angie de la Cruz) in Your Evening With Pilita.
Tange – An original cast member of Super Laugh-In.
Ading Fernando – He was the top director of comedy programs until his death in 1984.
Chichay – From vaudeville, she did comedies in films but became a big name on TV in The Nida-Nestor Show and other comedy programs. She was also Mrs. Milyonarya.
Julie Vega – A big, big child star, she died of a mysterious ailment at the peak of her career on May 6, 1985 while Anna Liza was still at the top of the ratings chart.
Bentot – The eternal child of Tangtarangtang, he played the Tatang in a failed revival of the series in 1982.
Bayani Casimiro – Noted for his tap dancing, he hosted Tayo’y Mag-Hapi-Hapi with Jean Lopez and was a mainstay of Okay Ka, Fairy Ko until his death.
Leroy Salvador – A fine director and actor on TV and in the movies, he will always be remembered as Badong of Tangtarangtang.
Bert Marcelo – A most beloved TV personality, he was Prinsipe Abante and host of the popular talent search Tanghalan ng Kampeon. “Kaka” was also in demand as host of special events like the FAMAS and Urian.
Louie Beltran – A respected print and broadcast journalist, he was the fearless host of the pre-martial law Straight from the Shoulder, which had a successful revival on GMA 7 after EDSA I.
Pancho Magalona – A top leading man, he was also successful on TV as the star of Pancho Loves Tita and as host of Magandang Tanghali. He is the father of Francis Magalona

Charito Solis – The empress of drama on the big screen, she also reigned as queen of TV drama in The Charito Solis Show and Obra Maestra. Later, she dabbled in comedy via Okay Ka, Fairy Ko and 50 Carats.
Panchito – The sidekick of Dolphy, he later also made several TV projects away from the shadow of the King of Comedy.

Bobby Gonzales – Host of the noontime show Bigay-Hilig, he was also part of The Other Side of Alma (mother of VanDolph and Mark Fernandez, former live-in partner of Dolphy and Rudy Fernandez) on MBS-4.
Maria Teresa Carlson – She may have done only one TV show (Chicks to Chicks), but her “Si Ikaw, si Ako” dialogues will always be remembered by viewers. She leaped to her death on Nov. 18, 2001.

Rod Navarro – The original king of commercials, he replaced Patsy as host of Tawag ng Tanghalan which later became Tuklas during martial law.

Nida Blanca – A queen of Philippine movies, she also became the queen of comedy via The Nida-Nestor Show, Wala Kang Paki, John & Marsha, etc.

The Ca t