Bentot

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Vergara and the surname or paternal family name is Medina.
Bentot
Born
Arturo Vergara Medina

(1920-07-13)13 July 1920
San Simon, Pampanga, Philippines
Died19 June 1986(1986-06-19) (aged 65)
Manila, Philippines
Occupation(s)Comedian, vaudevillian
Years active1947–1978

Arturo Vergara Medina (13 July 1920 – 19 June 1986), better known by his stage name Bentot or Ben Cosca, was a Filipino comedian and vaudevillian who spent most of his career under LVN Pictures.[1] He had many box office hits with another famed comedian Pugo who played his father in their films.[2][3] He also appeared on the Manila bodabil circuit[4] in its heyday in the fifties and early sixties.

Biography

Arturo Vergara Medina was born in San Simon, Pampanga in 1920.

He made his first movie appearance in 1947's Maria Kapra, a musical by Sampaguita Pictures with Angel Esmeralda. He made his second and last movie for Sampaguita in 1951's Batas ng Daigdig aka Rule of the World. Then he moved to the rival studio of Sampaguita, LVN, and stayed until the film studio closed in 1961.

Bentot had a second life in radio and television, appearing as Bitoy in the radio and later TV comedy series Tang Tarang Tang[5] with Pugo,[6] Sylvia La Torre,[7] Rosa Aguirre, and Marita Zobel.

He is the father of former child star Bentot Jr.

Death

Bentot died in June 19, 1986 in Manila, Philippines at the age of 65 due to heart failure, a month shy of his 66th birthday.

Filmography

Film

  • Maria Kapra (1947)
  • Batas ng Daigdig (1951)
  • Phone Pal (1957)
  • Sebya, Mahal Kita (1957)
  • Alembong (1958)
  • Mr. Kuripot (1958)
  • Nukso ng Nukso (1960)[8]
  • Oh Sendang! (1960)
  • Krus Na Daan (1960)
  • Prinsipe Diomedes at ang Mahiwagang Gitara (1961)
  • Lalaban Kami (1961)
  • Dugo ng Sugatan (1964)
  • Pagkatapos ng Kasal ("Sama ng Loob" segment, 1965)
  • Tatlong Mabilis (1965)
  • Mga Saragate (1965)
  • Tatlong Mabilis sa Hongkong (1966)
  • Pitong James Bonds (1966)
  • Sexy sa Laban (1966)
  • Pitong Zapata (1967)
  • Si Inday sa Balitaw (1970)
  • John & Marsha (1974)
  • Loose Connection (1975)
  • Kung May Tiyaga May Nilaga (1975)
  • Harabas Is My Name (1975)
  • Yolindina (1975)
  • Taho-Ichi (1976)
  • The Crazy Professor (1985)
  • Praybeyt Depektib Akademi (1986)

Television

  • Talagang Ganyan (1976)[9]

Discography

References

  1. ^ "TRIBUTE TO DIOMEDES MATURAN". Philippine Headline News. April 10, 2002. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  2. ^ Filipinas Magazine. Filipinas Pub. 1997. p. 66. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  3. ^ "REMEMBERING 10 WHOLESOME TV SHOWS". Philippine Headline News. June 8, 2002. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  4. ^ "A trek down memory lane". Philippine Graphic. Archived from the original on 2009-11-09. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  5. ^ "REMEMBERING DEAD STARS". Philippine Headline News. November 1, 2003. Archived from the original on 2010-01-10. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  6. ^ Villacorte, Rolando E. (1985). Baliwag, Then and Now. R.E. Villacorte. p. 346. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  7. ^ Gil, Baby (December 7, 2022). "Sylvia la Torre: Entertainment icon in every sense of the word". Philippine Star. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  8. ^ Mercado, Monina Allarey (1977). Doña Sisang and Filipino Movies. A. R. Mercado Management. p. 108. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  9. ^ Reyes, Rod T. (July 4, 1990). "Setting Up GMA Channel 7". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. p. 13. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
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