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Jess Lapid Sr.

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In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Songco and the surname or paternal family name is Lapid.
Jess Lapid
Born
Jesus Songco Lapid

(1933-10-05)October 5, 1933
Guagua, Pampanga, Philippine Islands
DiedJuly 13, 1968(1968-07-13) (aged 34)
Quezon City, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Other namesJLS
OccupationActor
Years active1958–1968
SpouseBella Flake
Children3 (including Jess Jr.)
RelativesLito Lapid (nephew)

Jesus Songco Lapid (October 5, 1933 – July 13, 1968) was a Filipino actor and father of actor, diving instructor, fight director Jess Lapid Jr. He was given a movie screen name Jess Lapid. His older brother is Jose Lapid, father of Lito Lapid.

He was shot dead inside a nightclub in Quezon City on July 13, 1968.

Early life

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He was born Jesus Lapid on October 5, 1933, in Guagua, Pampanga; an older brother, Jose, is the father and grandfather of movie stars-turned politicians Lito Lapid (now a Senator), and son Mark Lapid (former governor of Pampanga and now TIEZA Head) respectively. Jess started as a grip for Premiere Productions.[1] He then became an extra in his first film from Premiere Productions, “Larawan ng Pag-Ibig” in 1961. He then shifted to being a stuntman, after finding out that they earned more than extras. [citation needed]

Career

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He rose to become the top stuntman of Premiere, often doubling for more established stars—riding horses, falling from cliffs, getting shot at by villains.[2] He had the good fortune for doubling for action movie star Fernando Poe Jr., and soon, the two would become fast friends.

When Poe ventured into film productions, he made Jess one of the regulars in his films, giving him roles that required real acting, rather than choreographed stunt actions. Jess rose to the occasion and proved to be a convincing character actor. He tried him out in “Pasong Diablo”, in 1961.

It was in the FPJ Productions, “Sierra Madre” (1963) that Poe decided to give Jess the full star treatment—from a more prominent billing to major publicity exposures. But it was Jess himself who pulled it off, by turning in a sensational performance that erased all doubts about his just being a “mere stuntman”.

It was Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions picked him up and eventually made him into a superstar in the movie “Kardong Kidlat” (1964) which became such a smashing success at the box office tills.[2] At the Globe Theater where the movie was launched, a long queue of movie fans lined up around the building just to get in and watch the talk-of-the-town film.

1964 proved to be a bright and busy year for Jess, appearing in movies like “Bilis at Tapang” with Romeo Vasquez and “Vendetta Brothers” with Joseph Estrada and Eddie Garcia.[3] He co-starred with Vic Vargas in “7 Kilabot ng Barilan”. In 1966, he got to team up with Gloria Romero in the film Batang Muntinglupa, which would be the only movie they did together.[4] The film also starred a young Jay Ilagan.[2] In 1968, Jess appeared alongside Poe Jr. and Estrada in “3 Hari”, an FPJ productions offering.

As he was raking it in, he invested in his own film outfit, Jela Productions, and began producing his own movies.

Personal life

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Of his 3 children, one went on to follow in his footsteps. His namesake, Jess Lapid Jr. also became a movie actor, and a film and fight director, and also now currently a scuba diving instructor. He appeared in a 1980 spin-off film that made his father famous, “Ang Bagong Kardong Kidlat”. Jess Jr. capped his career with a Best Supporting Actor award for the movie “Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin” in 1993.

Filmography

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Movies

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Title Role Year
Laban sa Lahat Jesus Lapid 1958
Ang Kanyang Kamahalan 1959
Tough Guy 1959
Krus na Daan 1960
Huwag Mo Akong Limutin 1960
Cuatro Cantos 1960
The Flash Elorde Story 1961
Baril sa Baril 1961
Mga Trigreng Taga-Bukid 1962
Batang Maynila 1962
Kambal na Baril 1962
Pitong Kabanalan ng Isang Makasalanan 1962
Markang Rehas 1962
Suicide Commandoes 1962
Dead or Alive 1962
Cuatro Condenados 1962
Asiong Meets Alembong 1962
Limang Kidlat 1963
Kung Gabi sa Maynila 1963
Ang Babaeng Isputnik 1963
Isputnik vs. Darna 1963
Kung Hindi Ka Susuko ...! 1963
Sierra Madre 1963
Ang Sangano at Colegiala 1963
Tres Kantos 1963
Sigaw ng Digmaan 1963
Patapon 1963
Ito Ang Maynila 1963
Labo-Labo 1964
Kardong Kidlat Kardong Kidlat 1964
Bilis at Tapang 1964
Deadly Brothers 1964
Ito Ang Mga Lalaki 1965
Black Jack Hari 1965
Tatlo sa Tatlo 1965
Labanang Lalake 1965
Guillermo Bravado Guillermo Bravado 1965
Batang Muntinlupa 1966
Soliman Brothers 1966
San Bernardo 1966
Katapat ng Bawat Lakas 1966
Huling Baraha 1966
Pistolero Pistolero 1966
Vagabond 1967
Umpisahan Mo at Tatapusin Ko! 1967
The Mark of Kardo 1967
Operation Impossible 1967
Marko Asintado 1967
Kidlat Meets Gringo 1967
Kardong Kaliwa 1967
Barako He-Man 1967
Ang Limbas at Ang Lawin 1967
Alamat ng 7 kilabot 1967
Sibad 1967
Tatlong Hari 1968
Cuadro de Jack 1968
Zaragoza Zaragoza 1968
Valiente Brothers 1968
Simarron Brothers 1968
Raton Ariel Raton Ariel 1968
Leon Guerrero: Laban sa 7 kilabot Leon Guerrero 1968
Killer Patrol 1968
Kardong Pusa Kardo the Catman 1968
Journey to Hell: The Lucky 9 Commandos 1968
3 Kilabot sa Barilan Kardong Kidlat 1968
Fandong Asintado 1973

Death and legacy

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After wrapping up the movie “Simaron Brothers” with Jun Aristorenas, on the night of 13 July 1968, Lapid Sr. was shot to death at the Lanai Nightclub after an altercation between two groups of movie personalities.[5] Jess was brought to the National Orthopedic Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. He was 34 years old. Persistent reports linked the incident to another Kapampangan actress, Nancy Roman, also his leading lady. A suspect, Mario Henson, gave himself up to the police, and at least one gunman from Angeles was implicated in the crime.

A public viewing of his body was held at the Santo Cristo Chapel, then his body was brought to his hometown on July 13, 1968.[6] His remains is at Guagua Cemetery in Pampanga.

“Simaron Brothers” was shown posthumously at the Globe Theater, and the blurb capitalized on his sensational death by touting his last movie as a “picture that will project the living image of Jess Lapid in the hearts of millions..”.

As a belated tribute, his nephew Lito Lapid appeared as Jess Lapid in the biopic “The Jess Lapid Story”, released in 1978.[7] He also immortalized the iconic role of Leon Guerrero, first originated by Jess in the 1968 film, “Leon Guerrero: Laban sa 7 Kilabot”.

Lapid Sr. is now remembered as one of the first stuntmen who successfully transitioned from being a stuntman to a star actor alongside Lito Lapid, Poe Jr., Dante Varona and Baldo Marro.[8] He is also remembered as one of the best action stars of his era.[7]

[edit]
  • He was portrayed by his real life son, Jess Lapid Jr. was played the role his late father from the hit FPJ Movie, Epimaco Velasco Story: NBI, was released by VIVA Films, FLT Films & FPJ Productions in 1994.

References

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  1. ^ "Being a movie actor | Tempo – The Nation's Fastest Growing Newspaper". Tempo. May 6, 2020. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Dolor, Danny (July 24, 2011). "Jess Lapid at his peak". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  3. ^ E, Baby (August 1, 2020). "Robin Padilla hinihintay tulungan si John". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  4. ^ Dolor, Danny (March 22, 2015). "Gloria, Jess' one and only team-up". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  5. ^ "FASTEST GUN' SLAIN". The Sydney Morning Herald. July 14, 1968. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  6. ^ "Lapid comes home". The Manila Times. July 16, 2008. pp. A2. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  7. ^ a b E, Baby (November 6, 2020). "Paalam, Letty…". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  8. ^ Lo, Ricky (July 25, 2019). "Dingdong takes cudgels for industry's 'unsung heroes'". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
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