Jess Lapid, Sr.

Jess Lapid
Born Jesus Songko Lapid
(1933-10-05)October 5, 1933
Guagua, Pampanga, Philippine Islands
Died July 13, 1968(1968-07-13) (aged 34)
Quezon City, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Other names JLS
Occupation actor
Years active 1958–1968
Religion Roman Catholicism
Spouse(s) Bella F. Lapid
Children Jess Lapid, Jr.

Jesus Songko Lapid (October 5, 1933 July 13, 1968) was a Filipino actor and father of actor/diving instructor/fight director Jess Lapid, Jr. and a brother of Jose Lapid and given for a movie screen name as Jess Lapid He was shot dead inside a nightclub in Quezon City on July 13, 1968.

Early life

In the more innocent days of the 1960s, children all over the country used to sing this ditty to the tune of the Beatles’ ”A Hard Day’s Night”, as a tribute to the local showbiz’ most-talked about stars. Divina and Stella were obvious picks as they were the leading names that paved the way for “bomba” films in the 70s. Rising star Fernando Poe, was already a name to reckon with in action films, and hot on his heels was Poe’s discovery, Jess Lapid, who was popular enough to earn a line in the lyrics of this nonsense song, which alludes to his handsome-ness, second only to Da King. Indeed, Jess Lapid’s star could have shown brighter in Philippine moviedom, had he not met an early and untimely death.

He was born, Jess Lapid in October 5, 1933, in Guagua, Pampanga; an older brother, Jose, is the father and grandfather of movie stars-turned politicians Lito Lapid (now on his last term as Senator), and son Mark Lapid (former governor of Pampanga and now TIEZA Head), Many family members of the Lapid clan is a kind of Kapampangan people of Chinese descent. respectively. Jess started as 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.

Career

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. He had the good fortune for doubling for 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. At the Globe Theater where the movie was launched, a long queue of movie fans lined up around the building just get 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 “Deadly Brothers” with Joseph Estrada. He co-starred with Vic Vargas in “7 Kilabot ng Barilan”. In 1968, Jess appeared alongside action movie greats Fernando Poe Jr. and Joseph 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

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. 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.

The senior Jess can very well rest happy with the thought that the Lapid name, through his son, nephew and grandnephews, continue to contribute to the lively art of film-making in the Philippines.

Filmography

Movies

Title Year Role
Laban sa Lahat 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
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

He had just wrapped up the movie “Simaron Brothers” with Jun Aristorenas, when, on the night of 13 July 1968, he was shot to death at the Lanai Nightclub after an altercation between two groups of movie personalities. 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. Jess was brought to the National Orthopedic Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. He was 35 years old.

“Simaron Brothers” was shown post-humously 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, nephew Lito Lapid appeared as Jess Lapid in the biopic “The Jess Lapid Story”, released in 1978. He also immortalized the iconic role of Leon Guerrero, first originated by Jess in the 1968 film, “Leon Guerrero: Laban sa 7 Kilabot”".

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