"Ang sinasabi nga namin ang daddy po karinyo brutal. Ang mga kastila ganun yata, e. Matangos ang ilong, mataas ang pride, pero ganun po talaga ang daddy ko, e. And we learned to love him that way," actor Ricky Davao said about his late father Charlie Davao.

Paul Mata

Charlie Davao fought bravely until the end

Bong Godinez

Monday, August 16, 2010
05:45 PM

"He was a man of few words."

That's how Sampaguita Pictures luminary Boots Anson-Roa portrayed the late character actor Charlie Davao (Charles Dabao in real life) in a conversation with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last Thursday, August 12.

Charlie succumbed to colon cancer on August 8 at the age of 75. He was laid to rest on the morning of August 13 at the Heritage Park in Taguig City.

Boots Anson-Roa mentioned, however, that Charlie Davao had quite a sense of humor, which belied his strong Spanish features and serious screen roles throughout his career.

"Charlie was very mapagbiro and mahilig mang-good time," recalled Boots, whose broadcaster husband Pete Roa died of cancer on August 9, 2007.

Ricky Davao wept during the memorial mass and eulogies celebrating  the life of his father that evening

"Underneath that strict exterior, he was a fun-loving family man,"  Ricky recalled nostalgically.

"'Yong dad ko po masyadong mapaglaro. Naaalala ko po 'yong mga kabataan namin, lagi niya kaming ginu-good time. He would sometimes go home fully made up lagi tapos medyo aarte na nasaktan. Kami naman po aakayan namin siya paakyat ng kuwarto niya tapos atsaka niya kami yayakapin sabay tatawa.

"One time po umuwi siya, kinarga niya ako, humalik tapos lahat po ng nakaharap sa akin nagtatawanan. 'Yon pala lumalabas na po ang fangs niya kasi galing siya sa shooting ng isang pelikula na kung saan ay Dracula siya, kasama po si Tita Bella Flores."

ROAD TO STARDOM. As a good-looking youth from Iloilo, the former University of the East (UE) student and part-time print-ad model was eager to become a movie star.  He auditioned upon learning that Sampaguita Pictures was on the lookout for new talents.

His showbiz debut was in 1959 via the film Isinumpa. Charlie was particularly proud of his Agent 009 role in the 1965 action flick, Pitong Matahari. A slew of films followed, establishing Charlie Davao  as one of the country's versatile actors.

Charlie often portrayed villain and supporting roles to major stars like Rudy Fernandez, Lito Lapid, Ramon Revilla Sr., and Fernando Poe Jr.

The popularity of television soaps did not affect Charlie's career. He went on to star in several primetime and afternoon shows. Some of these were Basta't Kasama Kita, Mula sa Puso, Sa Piling Mo, Sine Novela Presents: Ngayon at Kailanman, Totoy Bato, Darna and Rosalinda.

DISCIPLINARIAN. Ricky Davao admited that their father-and-son relationship was far from perfect.

"We had our differences," he said.

Although Charlie liked to play pranks on his close friends and relatives, he was a stern disciplinarian as a father.

"Lagi niya kaming pinagsasabihan, pinapagalitan, paminsan-minsan napapalo. Meron pong kasabihan na 'spare a rod and spoil a child,' in which we reacted like typical teenagers. Nagtatampo kami sa kanya, nakikipagtalo paminsan-minsan and, of course, in our young minds, he was wrong and we were right," Ricky recalled.

Charlie was not one to openly express his innermost feelings. His usually reserved conduct and desire to impose authority often evoked mixed reactions among his growing children.

"Ang sabi po ng mga kaibigan niya karinyoso siya. Sa amin po siguro nung mga baby pa kami, pero nung kami'y teenagers na, hindi po siya ma-hug na tao. Hindi po siya ma-I love you na tao. Dapat po makilala ninyo ang daddy ko dahil isang hawak sa balikat, isang sakal sa likod ng aming neck, e malaking bagay na po 'yon," explained Ricky.

Charlie's first marriage was in 1959 with a Spanish-language professor named Emma Marie. Their union was blessed with four children: Bing, Ricky, Mylene (who died in an accident when she was only five), and Mariella.

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