Biography
Chiquito was born Augusto Valdez Pangan, Sr., 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. In the next several years, he was a fixture in the Manila bodabil circuit, popular for his skill in dancing the boogie-woogie.
Chiquito was befriended by Fernando Poe, Sr., and with Poe's assistance, started a film career. He broke into films with Sanggano from Palaris Pictures. He would star in over a hundred films, mostly comedies, in the next 5 decades. He brought to life on film several memorable comic characters, such as the Larry Alcala creation Asiong Aksaya, the caveman Barok, Charley the mute in Bamboo Gods And Iron Men and the quack doctor Mang Kepweng. He established his own production company, Sotang Bastos Productions, named after his favorite film role from the 1950s. He would ride on the crest of ever popular comedy spoofs of Hollywood genres such as the gangster film and the western. In one of these Western spoofs, 1970's The Arizona Kid, he co-starred with the sometime Hollywood sex symbol Mamie Van Doren. Chiquito also portrayed the very first male version of Darna in the film Terebol Dobol, preceding Dolphy, who only later came out with his own "portrayal" of the superheroine in Darna Kuno.
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.
Chiquito also entered into local politics. He was elected three times as member of the local council of Makati City, serving from 1969 to 1972, 1988 to 1992, and from 1995 until his death. He also served a brief stint as Vice-Mayor of Makati. In 1992, Chiquito made an unsuccessful bid to the Senate of the 9th Congress.
In 1994, Chiquito made a brief showbiz comeback when he teamed up with rapper-comedian Andrew E. in the movie "Pinagbiyak na Bunga (Lookalayk)" under Viva Films. The movie was a big success and later on had a television spin-off that same year entitled "Puno't Bunga" aired over GMA Network. He later had supporting roles in movies like "Ang Pagbabalik ni Pedro Penduko" (opposite Janno Gibbs), "Bangers" (with Joey de Leon and Andrew E.), and "Strict ang Parents Ko" (with Amanda Page).
Chiquito died at age 65 due to liver cancer at the Makati Medical Center on July 2, 1997.
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