Tado (comedian)
Arvin Jimenez (March 24, 1974 – February 7, 2014), known mononymously as Tado, was a Filipino comedian, actor, radio personality, businessman, published author and activist. His nickname "Tado" comes from a Tagalog expletive he frequently blurts out.[1] Tado was primarily known for the offbeat television program Strangebrew and the U92 radio program The BrewRATs!.
Tado | |
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![]() Tado in 2009 | |
Birth name | Arvin Impuesto Jimenez |
Born | Baybay, Leyte, Philippines | March 24, 1974
Died | February 7, 2014 39) Bontoc, Mountain Province, Philippines | (aged
Medium | Stand-up, television, radio, internet |
Genres | Satire/political satire/news satire, observational comedy |
Subject(s) | Mass media/news media/media criticism, Philippines politics, human sexuality, self-deprecation |
Spouse | Lei Jimenez |
Early life and career
Prior to fame, Tado had worked on various odd jobs such as a staff in a mental hospital, a waiter, a scriptwriter for television and a photojournalist. Tado graduated from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) with a degree in Psychology. He was an active member of Scouts Royale Brotherhood (SRB) International Service Fraternity and Sorority under the waving banner of Beta Tau Chapter. He was engaged in social issues as a student organizer of Sanlakas.[1]
While in PUP, Tado was influenced by his artist friends, causing him to be involved in theater, painting and photography. This led to the founding of the now-defunct PUP-based cultural organization called PANDAY PIRA (Pandayan ng Pilipinong Kultura). He eventually studied film making at the Mowelfund Institute.[1]
Tado later co-founded Dakila ("Noble"), an artists group aiming to instill modern-day heroism in everyday people, with poet Lourd de Veyra, bassist for Parokya ni Edgar, Buwi Meneses and acclaimed actor, Ronnie Lazaro.[2]
Tado also dabbled in music and had appeared with the band The Youth as their lead vocalist with original vocalist Dodong Cruz's consent. He and the band appeared on the GMA Network program Unang Hirit, singing the band's hit "Multong Bakla" ("gay ghost").[3]
Strangebrew
Tado became involved in television with the premiere of the off-the-wall magazine show Strangebrew in the then-NU 107 operated UNTV Channel 37, with Angel Rivero as his co-host, in 2001. His maroon Volkswagen Beetle took him and Rivero throughout Metro Manila on an adventure with "a unique cartoony look, a caustic wit" with "a weird sense of humor."[1]
Strangebrew and Tado became a cult hit until the show was canceled a year later, with him enshrined as a pop culture icon.[1]
In almost all episodes whenever they interview a certain person, Tado throws his famous question "Kuya/ate, sa tagal mo nang ginagawa itong trabaho na ito, umibig ka na ba?"
The BrewRATs!
He was reunited with Rivero (along with occasional Strangebrew contributor, Ramon Bautista) in Hit 99.5 FM (now 99.5 Play FM's) late-night talk show The BrewRATs![1] in which is a pun on the Tagalog slang of the male genitalia. Even with Hit FM's reformatting to 99.5 Campus FM and finally reverting to its old 99.5 RT callsign, the show was consistently placed on the station's roster of shows, and consistently occupying the late-night slot until it was moved to the morning slot from August to September 2009.
On October 1, 2009, The BrewRATs! resurfaced on U92, the radio affiliate of MTV Philippines, of which Bautista was a personality of (The Ramon Bautista Show). It went off the air a second time as a result of U92's reformat to Radyo5 92.3 News FM and has since become a show at the internet radio station DigRadio every Thursday from 9 PM to midnight.[4][5]
LimiTado
Aside from radio, Tado also designed LimiTado ("Limited"), and ran it with his wife. The graphic T-shirts' main selling points are striking messages printed on the shirt and spoofs. Other items include bags, accessories and toy collectibles such as Volkswagen die-casts.[6] He also has a tattoo shop.
Political life and activism
Tado ran for the position of city councilor of Marikina's 1st District (coextensive with Marikina's 1st congressional district) in 2010 as an independent candidate. He finished eleventh; the first eight in the tally were elected.
Tado was involved in protest actions of the Sanlakas political bloc such as the campaign against rising electricity rates,[7] and demonstrations against Charter Change.[8] He also supported the picket protest of the workers of Philippine Airlines.[9] He was also seen visiting Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, expressing his support in the Sulu Sultanate's claim over Sabah, North Borneo. He also joined the demonstration against the Priority Development Assistance Fund, known as Pork barrel.
Tado ran again for the position of city councilor of Marikina's 1st District in 2013 as a candidate under Partido Lakas ng Masa. This would be the second time he lost in the election, finishing at eleventh yet again.
Death
Tado died on February 7, 2014 in an accident when a GV Florida Transport bus fell off a road in Sitio Paggang, Talubin, Bontoc, Mountain Province in the Philippines.[10] In total, fourteen people were killed and more than 32 people were injured.
Selected filmography
Television
- Strangebrew as himself (UNTV 37, 2001–02)
- Pangako Sa 'Yo as Jason (ABS-CBN, 2000)
- Bituin as King (ABS-CBN, 2002)
- Klasmeyts (ABS-CBN, 2002)
- Masayang Tanghali Bayan as himself (Host) (ABS-CBN, 2003–04)
- Ok Fine Whatever (ABS-CBN, 2003)
- MTB: Ang Saya Saya (ABS-CBN, 2004–2005)
- Art Jam as host (ABS-CBN, 2005)
- Laugh To Laugh: Ang Kulit (Q, 2005)
- Project 11 (Q, 2006)
- Baywalk (Q, 2006)
- Camera Cafe Philippine Edition as himself (Q, 2007; GMA Network, 2007–08)
- Palos (ABS-CBN, 2008)
- The Weekend News With Ramon Bautista (TV5, 2009) as himself/guest
- Pinoy Big Brother as himself (ABS-CBN, 2009)
- Stoplight TV (TV5, 2009)
- Maynila (GMA Network, 2010)
- Showtime as himself (Judge) (ABS-CBN, 2010)
- Eat Bulaga as Himself/Guest (GMA Network, 2010)
- 30w POwhz! as Himself (Studio 23, 2010)
- Happy Yipee Yehey! as Himself (ABS-CBN, 2011)
- Wasak as Himself (AKSYON TV, 2013)
- Pepito Manaloto as Driver (GMA, 2013)
- One Day Isang Araw presents "John Tamad" (GMA, 2013)
- My Puhunan as himself on his business LimiTADO (2014, air posthumously)
- Day Off as himself (2014, air posthumously)
- AHA! as himself (GMA, 2013-2014) His last TV appearance
Film
- Radio (2001)
- Trip (2001)
- Hesus, Rebolusyunaryo (2002)
- Utang Ni Tatang (2002)
- First Time (2003)
- Astigmatism (2004)
- Dilim (2005)
- Boso (2005)
- D' Anothers (2005) as Atty. Reposo
- Coup Betat (2006)
- M.O.N.A.Y (Misteyks obda neyson adres Yata) ni Mr. Shooli (2007)
- Scaregivers (2008)
- 691⁄2 (2009)
- Ang Beerhouse (2009)
- Captive (2012)
- PakantoTADO (2012)
- Dyagwar: Havey O Waley (2012)
- Call Center Girl (2013)
- My Little Bossings (2013) Final Appearance with Vic Sotto and Kris Aquino
Music Videos
- "Nerbyoso" by Rivermaya (cameo)
- "Harana" by Parokya ni Edgar (cameo)
- "Picha Pie" by Parokya Ni Edgar
- "Swimming Beach" by Parokya Ni Edgar
- "Boy Kulot" by Rocksteddy
- "Ang Parokya" by Parokya Ni Edgar (stock footage)
- "Magkabilang Mundo" by Jireh Lim (love triangle with Donnalyn Bartolome)
- "Maquilit" by Q-York Feat. Sponge Cola (posthumous released video)
References
- Mallari, Perry Gil (2008-09-07). "Tado Jimenez seriously". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on 2009-08-30.
- "Agimat Launches a Central Website for Filipino Artists". The Philippine Daily Inquirer. 2008-08-07. Archived from the original on 2009-10-01.
- "The Youth (?)". Unanghirit.tv. 2008-09-27.
- http://pinoytuner.com/article/191/the-brewrats-are-coming Archived August 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- http://pinoytuner.com/popout/192/watch-brewrats Archived August 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- Pastor, Pam (2007-07-17). "The gospel of Tado's T-shirts". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17.
- Congress urged to repeal EPIRA law | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com
- INQUIRER Politics Archived 2013-06-06 at the Wayback Machine
- [Press Release] Tado mag-eemcee sa concert para sa PALEA | Human Rights Online Philippines
- http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/347387/news/regions/comedian-tado-among-14-dead-in-bus-crash-in-mt-province