Babalu (comedian)
Filipino actor and comedian (1942–1998)
title: "Babalu (comedian)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1942-births", "1998-deaths", "20th-century-filipino-comedians", "20th-century-filipino-male-actors", "actors-from-antipolo", "burials-at-the-loyola-memorial-park", "comedians-from-manila", "comedians-from-rizal-(province)", "deaths-from-cancer-in-the-philippines", "deaths-from-cirrhosis", "filipino-male-comedians", "filipino-male-film-actors", "filipino-male-television-actors", "filipino-people-of-german-descent", "filipino-television-personalities", "male-actors-from-manila", "people-from-sampaloc,-manila", "tagalog-people"] description: "Filipino actor and comedian (1942–1998)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babalu_(comedian)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Filipino actor and comedian (1942–1998) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Babalu |
| image | babalu_(comedian).jpg |
| caption | Babalu in Oki Doki Doc (1996) |
| birth_name | Pablo Martin Sarmiento |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines |
| death_date | |
| death_place | Antipolo, Rizal, Philippines |
| resting_place | Loyola Memorial Park |
| Parañaque, Philippines | |
| occupation | |
| years_active | 1961–1998 |
| spouse | Lalaine Sarmiento |
| children | 1 |
| relatives | Etang Discher (grandmother) |
| Panchito Alba (uncle) | |
| :: |
| name = Babalu | image = babalu_(comedian).jpg | image_size = | caption = Babalu in Oki Doki Doc (1996) | birth_name = Pablo Martin Sarmiento | birth_date = | birth_place = Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines | death_date = | death_place = Antipolo, Rizal, Philippines | resting_place = Loyola Memorial Park Parañaque, Philippines | occupation = | years_active = 1961–1998 | spouse = Lalaine Sarmiento | children = 1 | parents = | relatives = Etang Discher (grandmother) Panchito Alba (uncle) | awards = Pablo Martin Sarmiento (June 29, 1942 – August 27, 1998), better known as Babalu, was a Filipino comedian and actor. His screen name was a reference to his long, sharp chin ("babà" is the Filipino term for "chin"; babalu is a Filipino gay term derived from it), which was sometimes a subject of on-screen jokes, usually by himself.
Personal life
He grew up in Sampaloc, Manila in his grandmother's home with his mother, one sister and three brothers. Babalu fathered a daughter. For several years and until his death, he was living with his long-time partner who eventually became his wife prior to his death, with whom he had a child.
Acting career
Babalu is considered "one of the most famous, beloved, and greatest comedians" in the Philippines. He is the nephew of the famous actor Panchito Alba. Dolphy, the king of Philippine Comedy, discovered Babalu's talent as a comedian. Babalu was given a featured role on the Philippines' leading comedy-variety show Buhay Artista. His appearances in movies and television included the shows Home Along Da Riles and Oki Doki Doc. Babalu's life story was featured on the television show Maalaala Mo Kaya "Imahe ng Berhen" on July 3, 2003.
Filmography
Film
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Genghis Bond: Agent 1-2-3 | Babalu | |
| 1966 | Napoleon Doble and the Sexy Six | ||
| Mariang Kondesa | |||
| Wow na Wow!! | |||
| 1967 | Ayaw Ni Mayor | Uncredited | |
| Pitong Zapata | |||
| 1968 | Eskinita 29 | ||
| Buy One Take One | |||
| 1969 | Banda 24 | ||
| 1970 | El Pinoy Matador | Babalu | |
| Boyoyoy | |||
| Si Ponso, Si Elena At Si Boy | |||
| 1971 | Toro! Tora! Toray! | ||
| Bukid Ay Basa | |||
| 1972 | Ibong Adarna | Prinsipe Albano | |
| Love Pinoy Style | |||
| Pinokyo En Little Snow White | |||
| 1973 | Ako'y Paru Paro, Bulaklak Naman Ako! | Tutuboy | |
| Captain Barbell Boom! | Petot | ||
| Drakula Goes to R.P. | Ambo | ||
| Fefita Fofonggay Viuda De Falayfay | |||
| 1974 | *Sarhento Fofonggay: A, ewan! * | Corporal Dela Cruz | |
| John And Marsha | Guard | Cameo | |
| 1975 | Kung May Tiyaga May Nilaga | ||
| O... Anong Sarap | |||
| Romeo At Julio | |||
| Doctor, Doctor I Am Sick! | |||
| 1976 | Kaming Matatapang Ang Apog | Bobby | Cameo |
| Ngiti, Tawa At Halakhak | |||
| 1977 | Omeng Satanasia | Steve | |
| 1979 | Buhay Artista Ngayon | Chito | |
| 1980 | Ang Bobo Kong Genie | ||
| Juan Tamad Jr. | Bertong Tapal | Cameo | |
| 1981 | Boljak | Baba | |
| Milyonaryong Gipit | |||
| Pamilya Antik | |||
| 1982 | My Juan En Only | Ambo | |
| My Heart Belongs to Daddy | Inmate | ||
| Cross My Heart | Ninong's Son | ||
| 1984 | Teppanyaki | Uncredited | |
| Kapag Baboy ang Inutang | Pepe | ||
| 1985 | The Crazy Professor | Guard | Cameo; first collaboration with Aga Muhlach |
| 1986 | The Buelta Force | Babalu Sarmiento | |
| 1987 | My Bugoy Goes to Congress | ||
| Mga Anak ni Facifica Falayfay | Chief Acosta | ||
| Binibining Tsuper-Man | Bob | ||
| Bata-Batuta | Policeman | Cameo | |
| 1988 | Enteng the Dragon | Cameo | |
| Bakit Kinagat ni Adan ang Mansanas ni Eba? | Doctor | Cameo, The Voice has been Overdubbed. | |
| 1989 | Balbakwa | Floro | |
| My Darling Domestik | Chino | ||
| 1990 | Og Must Be Crazy | Et | |
| 1991 | John en Marsha Ngayon '91 | Delivery Man | Cameo |
| 1993 | Ang Boyfriend Kong Gamol | Mang Pandong | |
| Ano Ba 'Yan 2 | Policeman | ||
| Mama's Boys (Mga Praning-ning) | Manong (Landlord) | ||
| 1994 | Once Upon a Time in Manila | Carnapper | Cameo |
| Hataw Tatay Hataw | Gilbert | ||
| *Hindi Pa Tapos Ang Labada Darling * | Andres | ||
| O-Ha! Ako Pa? | Raul Malino/Chief | ||
| Greggy en' Boogie: Sakyan Mo Na Lang, Anna | Boogie | ||
| Si Ayala At Si Zobel | Soriano | ||
| 1995 | Wanted: Perfect Father | Robin | |
| Boy! Gising! | Totoy Buan | ||
| Home Sic Home | Robin | ||
| Father & Son | Clinton | ||
| 1996 | Oki Doki Doc: The Movie | Mang Berto | |
| Da Best in Da West 2: Da Western Pulis Istori | Col. Macanto | ||
| Aring King King: Ang Bodyguard Kong Sexy | Fulgoso | ||
| 1997 | I Do? I Die! (D'yos Ko Day!) | Domeng | |
| Ang Pinakamahabang Baba sa Balat ng Lupa | Bryan | ||
| Home Along Da Riles Part 2 | Richy | ||
| 1998 | Haba-Baba-Doo, Puti-Puti-Poo | Domeng / Rosanna Magdalena | |
| Tong Tatlong Tatay Kong Pakitong-kitong | Bobby | ||
| Tataynic | Mr. Balboa | Final film appearance | |
| :: |
Television
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1992–1998 | Home Along da Riles | Capt. Babalu (1992–1993 as guest) |
| Mang Ritchie (1994–1998 as main cast) | ||
| 1993 | Okay Ka, Fairy Ko! | Uncle Bob (as guest) |
| 1993–1998 | Oki Doki Doc | Papsie / Mang Berto, the protagonist's landlord |
| :: |
Health problems and death
Babalu was warned of his health condition in March 1998 but kept his health problems a secret from his co-stars, particularly from Aga Muhlach and the others in the weekly TV shows Oki Doki Doc and Home Along Da Riles, wherein he was a regular cast.
Writer Nene Riego, a close friend of Babalu, said the actor asked his doctor to tell his the truth about his ailment. Babalu was told he only had six months to live. He decided to seek further treatment in Michigan. While seeking further treatment, they were robbed and he was shot twice in the abdomen area making his situation worse. Doctors there had the same diagnosis and advised him to spend the rest of his life in the Philippines. Babalu came back home on August 14, thin and weak.
Babalu for last two (2) movies were Tong Tatlong Tatay Kong Pakitong-kitong together with Redford White, Bonel Balingit and Serena Dalrymple and Tataynic with Dolphy. He died of liver cirrhosis on August 27, 1998, two months after his 56th birthday, in his home in Antipolo. He was buried in Loyola Memorial Park in Parañaque. The film Tar-San is dedicated to his memory.
References
References
- (2 September 1994). "Benjie and Babalu: New Comic Teamup". Manila Standard.
- (2 July 2003). "Babalu's Story on 'Maalaala Mo Kaya'". Manila Bulletin.
- (11 May 2002). "Paolo Contis Likes Making People Laugh". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- "COMEDIAN BABALU DEAD". NEWSFLASH.
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