Jose Romulo

Jose Romulo (born Romulo Alib Zuño; October 11, 1931 – August 5, 2015) was a Filipino actor, active in Philippine cinema during the 1950s. He was nicknamed the "brown Adonis" of Philippine film.^[1]

Jose Romulo
Born	Romulo Alib Zuño (1931-10-11)11 October 1931 Rosario, Batangas, Philippines
Died	5 August 2015(2015-08-05) (aged 83) Parañaque City, Philippines
Other names	"The First Brown Adonis"
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1950s–1960s
Notable work	DI-13, El Jugador, Pandora, Gabi ng Lagim
Spouse	Lydia
Children	5

Early life and career

Romulo was born on October 11, 1931, in Rosario, Batangas, Philippines. Before entering the entertainment industry, he served as a police officer in his hometown.^[2] He was discovered by Premiere Productions.^[1]Romulo's acting was inspired by Leopoldo Salcedo.^[1]

Film career

Jose Romulo made his breakthrough as the lead actor in DI-13, a movie based on a popular serialized komiks novel about a fictional police detective. Over the course of his career, he appeared in nearly 200 films, often playing leading roles during the 1950s.^[2]

Filmography^[2]

Year	Title	Role
2000	Tumbador	Amigo
1998	Armadong Hudas	Roman Reyes
1997	Isinakdal Ko Ang Aking Ina	Gustavo
	Eseng ng Tondo
1995	Pulis Probinsya II	Maj. Enriquez
1994	Ikaw Lamang, Wala Nang Iba
	NBI: Epimaco Velasco, the True Story	Putik's Man
1993	Gaano Kita Kamahal	Rolly's Father
	Manila Boy	Col. Quinzon
	Alejandro 'Diablo' Malubay	Maj. Barreto
	Gascon... Bala ang Katapat Mo
1992	Warden	Daniel
	Andres Manambit: Angkan ng Matatapang	Chief
	Amang Capulong - Anak ng Tondo II	Maj. Valdez
	Bad Boy II	Police Chief
	Alyas Lakay
1991	Mayor Latigo	Ka Omeng
	Moro	Rashid Lucman
	Kumukulong Dugo	Col. Mirasol
	Hepe: ...Isasabay Kita sa Paglubog ng Araw	Rivera
	Boyong Mañalac: Hoodlum Terminator	Malapon P, Chief
	Takas sa Impiyerno	Chief
1990	May Isang Tsuper ng Taxi
	Huling Lalaki sa Bitayan	Tata Betoy
	The Smokey Mountain
	Mula Paa Hanggang Ulo	Hepe
	Sa Diyos Lang Ako Susuko
1989	Binuhay Mo Ako Ngayon, Papatayin Kita Bukas!
	Boots Oyson: Sa Katawan Mo ... Aagos Ang Dugo!	Amando
	Pamilya Banal	Emong
	Hindi Pahuhuli ng Buhay	Kumander Acosta
	Maria Luisa Brigade: The Beginning
	Alyas: Boy Life	Gusting Daga
	Tadtarin ng Bala Si Madelo
1988	Aguilar, May Oras Ka Rin
	One Day, Isang Araw
	Ang Supremo
	Buy One, Take One	Police Chief
	Ex-Army	Kumander Tala
	Alyas Pusa: Ang Taong May 13 Buhay
1987	Aguila at Falcon
	Kapag Puno Na Ang Salop
	Boy Tornado	Kid Amante's Trainer
	Sparrow Unit: The Termination Squad
	Feliciano Luces: Alyas Kumander Toothpick, Mindanao
	Balweg	Macli-ing Dulag
	Di Bale Na Lang	Emong (uncredited)
	Batas sa Aking Kamay
	Operation: Get Victor Corpuz, the Rebel Soldier
1986	Dalagita
	Payaso
	Pepe Saclao: Public Enemy No. 1	Pepe's elder brother
	Agaw Armas	Mang Canor
	Batang Quiapo	Major Corrales
	Anak ng Supremo
1985	Victor Lopez Jr. (Robinhood ng Tondo)
	Sangley Point Robbery	Hepe
	Isa-Isa Lang!	Mr. Moreno
	Escort Girls	Gigi's father
	Mission Order: Hulihin si ... Avelino Bagsic ang Rebelde
1984	Huwag Kang Papatay	Mayor Alcaraz
	Sigaw ng Katarungan	Badong
	Pasukuin Si Waway
1983	Lintik Lang Ang Walang Ganti
	Kapag Buhay Ang Inutang	Celso
	Gamu-gamo sa Pugad Lawin	Pilo
1982	Daniel Bartolo ng Sapang Bato
	Kumander .45
	Classified Operation	Jose Romulus
	Get My Son Dead or Alive
1981	Pagbabalik ng Panday	Ama ng mga Taong Lawin
	Bandido sa Sapang Bato	Ka Pepeng
	Ang Maestro
	Geronimo
	Laya
	Shoot the Killer
1980	Ang Agila at ang Falcon
	Leon ng Central Luzon
1979	Ang Lihim ng Guadalupe
	Dobol Dribol
	Isa Para sa Lahat, Lahat Para sa Isa
1978	Salonga
	Mercenario
	Joe Quintero	Ponso
	Kumander Ulupong
	Malabanan: Kilabot Hunter ng Cavite
	Blood Run
	Ang Lalaki... Ang Alamat... Ang Baril
1977	Bontoc
	Bianong Bulag: One-Eyed Terror of Cavite
1976	Bongbong	Luis
	Mapang-akit... ang Dilim ng Gabi!
	Alakdang Gubat
	Bergado, Terror of Cavite
1975	Huwag Mo Akong Paandaran
	Niño Valiente
	Dugo at Pag-ibig sa Kapirasong Lupa	Mulong (uncredited)
	Hit and Run	Kapitan
	Walang Duwag sa Kayumanggi
	Dugo ng Tarikan
1974	South Seas
	Kill RP Nine-O
1973	Dugo ng Bayan
	Sto. Cristo
	Batang Bicol
1972	Superbeast	Vigo
	Rio Tigre
	The Hot Box	Crao
	Mga Ligaw ng Punglo
	Viva Zaldo
1971	Asedillo
	Basta't Basketball
	Adios Mi Amor
1970	San Diego
	The Man from A.N.K.L.A.
1969	Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin
	Ginintuang Kamay
	The Gunman
	Batang Matadero
1968	Tatak: Sacramentados
	Mine Hunter
	Barbaro Cristobal
	Ang Mangliligpit
1967	Marko Asintado
	Ex-Convict
	Bravados
	Metrocom
1966	Hanggang May Buhay
	Estranghero sa Sapang Bato
	Wanted: Johnny L
	Swanie
	Sarhento Aguila at ang 9 na Magigiting
	Pistolero
	Ang Haragan
	Dakilang Balatkayo
1965	Lady Killer
	Bandido Aguilar
	Darmo Solo
	Dugo sa Pantalan
	Ang Mga Sandatahan
	Maginoong Tulisan
1964	Scout Rangers
	Saan Mang Sulok ng Daigdig
	9 Laban sa Lahat
1963	12 Kuba	Hunchback
	Sigaw ng Digmaan
	Sa Iyo O Sa Akin
	Ang Tatay Kong Kalbo
	Limang Kidlat
	The Big Show
1962	Tatak Mondragon
	Ang Nabubuhay Sa Patalim
	Baliw O Martir
	Sakdalista
	Mapusok na Paghihiganti
	4 Valientes
1961	Bangkay Kaming Hahakbangan
	Presinto 13: Sa Lahat ng Dako
	Nagsasalitang Kalansay
	Viva Caballeras
	Divina, Diyosa ng Apoy
1960	Wala Kang Kapantay
	Lintik Lang ang Walang Ganti
	True Confessions
	Cuatro Cantos
	Viuda de Oro
	Gabi ng Lagim
	Batingaw
	Materiales Fuertes
1959	Bigtime Berto	Berto's victim
	Ultimatum
1958	4 na Pulubi
	Bon Voyage
	Mr. Basketball
	Obra Maestra
	Mga Liham kay Tiya Dely
1957	Wala Nang Luha
	Familia Alvarado
	Sweethearts
	Bicol Express
	Barumbado
1956	Exzur
	Lalo Kitang Mahal
	Prinsipe Villarba
	Apat na Kasaysayang Ginto
	Santa Lucia
1955	Dakilang Hudas
	Unang Halik
	El Jugador
	Pandora
	Ha Cha Cha
	El Conde de Monte Carlo
	Adventures of DI-13	DI-13
1954	Abenturera
	Laging May Umaga
	Paladin
	Salabusab
1952	Ang Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo	Isagani

Freelance work

In the 1960s, Romulo transitioned to freelance acting and frequently collaborated with FPJ Productions, owned by actor Fernando Poe Jr. One of his notable performances in this period was in the film Lakay, where he took on a significant supporting role.^[1]

Personal life

Jose Romulo was married to Lydia, with whom he had five children: Rey, Rizaldy, Marivic, Carmen, and Richmond. His daughter Marivic recalled her father as a generous and loving parent who often entertained his family with stories about the movie industry.^[1]

Death

On August 5, 2015, Romulo died at the age of 83 due to pneumonia^[3] resulting from complications of diabetes. He died at Parañaque Doctors Hospital in Parañaque City. His nephew, Nestor Cuartero, a journalist for Tempo and the Manila Bulletin, remembered him as "a gentleman of the old school" and "a true actor."^[1]

Romulo's interment took place on August 9, 2015, at Loyola Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque City.^[3]

Legacy

Jose Romulo is remembered as the "brown Adonis" of Philippine cinema.^[1]