Chiquito

Augusto Valdes Pangan Sr. (March 12, 1932 – July 2, 1997), professionally known as Chiquito, was a Filipino actor, comedian, and politician. Celebrated for his physical slapstick and signature deadpan humor, he was a dominant figure during the "Golden Age of Philippine Comedy," starring in dozens of iconic satirical and action-comedy films over a four-decade career.

In addition to his career in entertainment, Pangan was a long-serving public servant in Makati. His political career was highlighted by his tenure as the Vice Mayor of Makati from 1989 to 1992, alongside serving multiple terms as a member of the Makati City Council across three separate decades until his death in 1997.

Chiquito was born Augusto Valdes Pangan in Manila. His entertainment career began at the age of 13, when he appeared in a major musical production at the Manila Grand Opera House. Over the next several years, he became a fixture in the Manila bodabil circuit, gaining popularity for his skill in dancing the boogie-woogie.

Chiquito was befriended by Fernando Poe, Sr., and with Poe's assistance, launched his film career. He broke into films with Sanggano from Palaris Pictures. Over the next five decades, he starred in more than a hundred films, primarily comedies. He established his own production company, Sotang Bastos Productions, named after his favorite film role from the 1950s. He frequently starred in highly popular comedy spoofs of Hollywood genres, such as gangster films and Westerns.

In one of these Western spoofs, The Arizona Kid (1971), he co-starred with Hollywood sex symbol Mamie Van Doren. Chiquito also portrayed the very first male version of Darna in the film Teribol Dobol, preceding Dolphy, who later portrayed a version of the superheroine in Darna, Kuno?. By the 1980s, his brother Rene served as president and general manager of their production companies, Sotang Bastos and Archer Productions.

In 1984, Chiquito was nominated for a FAMAS Best Supporting Actor Award for his role in Lovingly Yours, Helen, a film dramatization of the radio and GMA television show hosted by Helen Vela. In 1988, a film reuniting Chiquito with Dolphy titled Basura Gang was planned but did not materialize.

Following his projects in the late 1980s, Pangan took an extended hiatus from the entertainment industry to focus exclusively on his responsibilities as Vice Mayor of Makati and his subsequent 1992 campaign for the Philippine Senate.

After a six-year absence from the screen, Chiquito made a high-profile showbiz comeback in 1994, teaming up with rapper-comedian Andrew E. in the Viva Films comedy Pinagbiyak Na Bunga (Lookalayk). The movie was a major commercial success and spawned a television spin-off that same year titled Puno't Bunga, produced by Studio Viva and broadcast on the GMA Network. Following this successful return, he spent his remaining years playing prominent supporting roles in major features, including Ang Pagbabalik ni Pedro Penduko opposite Janno Gibbs, Bangers alongside Joey de Leon, and Strict ang Parents Ko under Viva Films.

Chiquito balanced his career in entertainment with a long-standing involvement in local politics. He was elected three times as a member of the municipal council of Makati, serving from 1969 to 1972, 1988 to 1989, and from 1995 until his death in 1997.

Following his council terms, he served a brief stint as the Vice Mayor of Makati from 1989 to 1992 under Mayor Jejomar Binay. In the 1992 national elections, Chiquito launched an unsuccessful campaign for a seat in the Senate of the 9th Congress. Throughout his political career, he maintained an affiliation with the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan party.

Pangan was married to Vilma "Ely" Isidro-Pangan, with whom he had seven children. Outside of his career in entertainment and local government, he was an avid sports enthusiast, dedicating his later years to shooting and motorcycling.

In early 1997, Pangan was diagnosed with liver cancer. He died at the age of 65 due to liver cancer at the Makati Medical Center on July 2, 1997, surrounded by his family. Following his passing, Philippine media widely mourned his loss, famously calling July 2 "the day the laughter died" in honor of his decades-long contribution to comedy. He was survived by his widow and children, and his remains were interred at the Manila North Cemetery.

• 1980 – Zodiac Connection [UNCONFIRMED] (Sotang Bastos Productions)
• 1980 – Si Ali-masag sa Maynila (Mercedes Films)
• 1983 – Estong Tutong, Ikalawang Yugto
• 1984 – Kung Tawagin Siya'y Bahala Na (Archer Productions)