Chicháy

She was born in Tondo, Manila, the daughter of a ship steward, Jose Pacifico Custodio and Maria Robles of Bulacan.[1]

She entered show business as a teen, joining the "Samahang Antonieta" as a singer with her sister Iluminada. She also appeared as a chorus line dancer at the bodabil shows of Katy de la Cruz.[1] Soon a regular at the bodabil circuit, she received her stage name "Chichay" from Atang de la Rama. The name was a corruption of the Japanese word "Chiisai", meaning "short", in reference to Chichay's own short height and she got famous for her toothless appearance but in reality she still got 2 molars left.[1]

Chichay appeared in her first film, Sampaguita Pictures's Huwag Ka Nang Magtampo, in 1949. She became a star in 1953 after appearing in Gorio and Tekla, opposite Tolindoy.[1] In the next decade, Chichay and Tolindoy became a popular comic duo, often paired together in films.

In 1954, the thirty-six-year-old Chichay was cast as the over-protective grandmother of Fred Montilla's titular role, Bondying, an adaptation of a comic character created by Mars Ravelo. Chichay would make two more Bondying films with Montilla.[1] Remarkably, thirty-five years after the first Bondying film, Chichay would be called upon to play the very same role in the Viva Films remake starring Jimmy Santos (actor).

In 1962, she shared equal billing with other comediennes in "Pitong Atsay" (1962) as a rebellious canteen servant. It was a box-office riot that a sequel was released, "Pitong Atsay strikes again" (1963). Also she played the comic-villainess,"Alupihan" in Tarsan and Tansan" (1963) with Dolphy and Vic Vargas.

Chichay remained a contract star with Sampaguita Pictures for almost two decades. After her stint with Sampaguita, she remained in demand as a character actress, often in comic roles. In 1972, she was nominated for a FAMAS Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Bilanguang Puso. She also played support to the country's top actresses—Vilma Santos in "Yakapin mo ako Lalaking Matapang" (1980), Nora Aunor in "Darling Buntis ka na Naman" (1978) and "Totoo ba ang Tsismis (1980), Sharon Cuneta in "Forgive and Forget" (1982). She also starred with Fernando Poe Jr and Susan Roces in "Mo Retreat, No Surrender si Kumander" (1987).

Chichay also crossover to television in the 1960s when she played support to Nida Blanca and Nestor de Villa in "The Nida-Nestor Show" (1969–72) which was actually a variety show. She would provide the laugh antics in between the skits, the sing and dance potions. Other credits include the titular role in "Ginang Milyonarya" (1973–75) over ABS-CBN with Rudy Manlapaz as her clumsy driver. The witchy mom-in-law of Pancho Magalona in "Ang Biyenan kong Mangkukulam" (1977–78), the old fashioned granny of Bing Pimentel in "Ang Lola kong Baduy" (1977–78), Nida Blanca's mom in "Mana-Mana Yan" (1978) the temperamental canteen owner, Aling Farah Pusit in the kiddie show, "Kaluskos Musmos" (1978-1981) and as "La Ching" in "2 + 2 = Gulo" (1982–86) with Vic Sotto, Maricel Soriano and Herbet Bautista. Her last known TV show was "Chicks for Cats" (1987).

In 1945, she married Hercules Saenz Moya of Iloilo.

She was active in film until her death in 1993. Among her last roles was as Lola Basyang in the 1986 Regal Films fantasy movie, Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang.