"Kanina, bago ka dumating, may apat na nagpa-picture sa ‘kin," he boasted to PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) over a cup of cappuccino inside a popular coffee shop in downtown Manila.
Such crowing despite the comedian's years of inactivity can make a listener smirk with amusement or out of plain annoyance. But passersby threw him glances of recognition and that was enough to put doubt to rest.
DISCOVERING THE STAGE. Reynaldo Hipolito was only 21 when he first discovered the world of stage acting. So enamored was the skinny student of Arellano University in Manila that he decided to choose acting over his studies; but of course, much against his parents' protests. That was around 1959.
"Napasabak ako sa stage show kaya tumigil ako sa high school," he reminisced, his voice almost drowned out by the schmaltzy music blaring out of the café speakers.
Soon his theater exploits led him to the glitzy world of the silver screen. With his gaunt frame and looking like a plain man-on-the-street, one would think the theater trained youngster could not bag any lead role.
Like any other upstart, Hipolito had a handful of cameo roles in his resumé. Some roles were so small that he could not even glimpse his image in the final edit of the film. Vividly he recounted one incident when he dragged his parents to the moviehouse to see one of his films.
"Na-extra ako sa Prinsipe Amante. Noong pinalabas sa sinehan ‘yong pelikula sinama ko pa nanay at tatay ko. Sabi ko, ‘panoorin ninyo, nandoon ako,'" he narrated.
But Hipolito's plan to make his parents proud backfired—though comically—the minute his supposed scene, which was shot in Intramuros, Manila, was supposed to unfold on the big screen. The proud son was only one in a multitude of uniformed extras.
"Puro kami naka-uniporme 'tsaka ang dami namin, hindi man lang ako nakita," he laughed. "Hinahanap ako ng tatay at nanay ko habang pinapanood namin. ‘Anak nasaan ka diyan?' tinatanong nila. Sabi ko, ‘andiyan ako, andiyan ako, ayon o!'" he insisted over and over. But now he admits, "Pero sa totoo lang, kahit ako hindi ko makita [yong] sarili ko sa screen."
BECOMING PALITO. Hipolito's distinct emaciated frame would serve as his ticket away from doing bit roles.
He revealed to PEP the origin of his famous screen name. "Ang nickname ko talaga is Rene. Eh, kung tawagin nila ko, ‘Hipolito, Hipolito' kaya ginawa ko na lang na Palito."
He said that his toothpick frame is not a result of genes or illegal drugs.
"Ako lang ‘yung hindi sinuwerteng tumaba," he said, referring to his family.
Whether it's a good thing or not, his appetite when it comes to food has always been modest. "Kasi ako pag busog na, ayoko na. E, karamihan pag busog na, ayaw pang umayaw."
