Bentot
Encyclopedia
Arturo Vergara Medina better known by his stage name Bentot or Ben Cosca, was a Filipino
comedian
and vaudevillian who spent most of his career under LVN Pictures
. He made many box office
hits with another famed comedian Pugo
who portrayed his father. He also appeared on the Manila bodabil
circuit in its heyday in the fifties and early sixties.
He made his first movie appearance in 1947's Maria Kapra, a musical by Sampaguita Pictures
with Angel Esmeralda
. He made his second and last movie for Sampaguita in 1951's Batas ng Daigdig aka Rule of the World. Then he moved to the rival studio of Sampaguita, LVN, and stayed until the film studio closed in 1961.
Bentot had a second life in radio and television, appearing in the radio and later TV comedy series Tang Tarang Tang with Pugo, Rosa Aguirre
and Marita Zobel
.
He is the father of former child star Bentot Jr.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and vaudevillian who spent most of his career under LVN Pictures
LVN Pictures
LVN Pictures, Inc. is one of the biggest film studios in the history of Philippine cinema and its foremost establishment in motion picture post-production until 2005...
. He made many box office
Box office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
hits with another famed comedian Pugo
Pugo (comedian)
Mariano Contreras , better known by his stage name Pugo, was a Filipino actor, comedian, vaudevillian, and film director, famous as one half of the comedy team Pugo and Togo during the 1930s up to 1950s...
who portrayed his father. He also appeared on the Manila bodabil
Bodabil
Bodabil was a popular genre of entertainment in the Philippines from the 1910s until the mid-1960s. For decades, it competed with film, radio and television as the dominant form of Filipino mass entertainment. It peaked in popularity during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines from 1941 to 1945...
circuit in its heyday in the fifties and early sixties.
Biography
Arturo Vergara Medina was born in San Simon, Pampanga in 1928.He made his first movie appearance in 1947's Maria Kapra, a musical by Sampaguita Pictures
Sampaguita Pictures
Sampaguita Pictures was a Philippine film production company. It was named for the Philippine National Flower, Sampaguita. The company has been long-defunct since the 1980s with Mike de Leon's classic "Batch '81" being the last film released...
with Angel Esmeralda
Ángel Esmeralda
Ángel Esmerelda is a prewar Filipino actor. He is the husband of Sampaguita Pictures leading lady Corazon Noble and the father of Jay Ilagan also known as Ángel Ilagan.-Filmography:*1934 - Ang Dangal*1936 - Sa Paanan ng Krus...
. He made his second and last movie for Sampaguita in 1951's Batas ng Daigdig aka Rule of the World. Then he moved to the rival studio of Sampaguita, LVN, and stayed until the film studio closed in 1961.
Bentot had a second life in radio and television, appearing in the radio and later TV comedy series Tang Tarang Tang with Pugo, Rosa Aguirre
Rosa Aguirre
Rosa Aguirre is a Filipino actress who worked for Sampaguita Pictures and Lvn Pictures. She is married to actor Miguel Anzures and mother of former child actor Narding Anzures....
and Marita Zobel
Marita Zóbel
Mary Ann Blanch Respall is a Filipina actress. She was an LVN Pictures contract star.-Biography:She was born to parents Joseph B. Blanch and Remedios Respall from Iloilo City, Both of whom are of Spanish descent...
.
He is the father of former child star Bentot Jr.
Filmography
- 1947 -Maria Kapra [Sampaguita]
- 1951 -Batas ng Daigdig [Sampaguita]
- 1957 -Phone Pal [LVN]
- 1957 -Sebya, Mahal Kita [LVN]
- 1958 -Alembong [LVN]
- 1958 -Mr. Kuripot [LVN]
Discography
- 1978 - Jeproks - Plaka Pilipino Records
- 1978 - Burloloy - Plaka Pilipino Records