Amparo Robles Custodio-Moya (January 21, 1918 – March 31, 1993), known professionally as Chicháy, was a Filipina comedian and actress. Her short and stocky stature, scratchy voice, and prematurely-aged appearance allowed her to portray grandmothers while only in her thirties.
Biography
Early life
She was born in
Tondo, Manila, the daughter of a ship steward, Jose Pacifico Custodio and Maria Robles of
Bulacan.
Career
She entered 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.
[ Soon a regular at the bodabil circuit, she received her stage name "Chichay" from ]Atang de la Rama
Honorata de la Rama-Hernandez (January 11, 1902 – July 11, 1991), commonly known as Atang de la Rama, was a singer and bodabil performer who became the first Filipina film actress.
Atang de la Rama was born in Pandacan, Manila on January 11, 1 ...
. The name was a corruption of the Japanese word "Chiisai", meaning "short",[
Chichay appeared in her first film, Sampaguita Pictures's ''Huwag Ka Nang Magtampo'',][ In the next decade, Chichay and Tolindoy became a popular comic duo, often paired together in films.
In 1954, the 36-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.][ 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 Jimmy Santos may refer to:
* Jimmy Santos (singer), Afro-Uruguayan vocalist
* Jimmy Santos (actor)
Jaime Santos (born October 8, 1951), professionally known as Jimmy Santos, is a Filipino actor, comedian, TV host, and former professional basketb ...
.
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 vs. 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 'ko, Lalaking Matapang'' (1980), Nora Aunor
Nora Cabaltera Villamayor (born May 21, 1953), professionally known as Nora Aunor (), is a Filipino actress, recording artist, and film producer. Aunor has also appeared in several stage plays, television shows and concerts. She is known as Ph ...
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.
Ronald Allan Kelley Poe (August 20, 1939 – December 14, 2004), known professionally as Fernando Poe Jr., and often referred to by his initials FPJ, was a Filipino actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, and politician. His long and s ...
and Susan Roces
Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora-Poe (July 28, 1941 – May 20, 2022), known professionally as Susan Roces (), was a Filipino actress. She was the wife of Ronald Allan Kelley Poe, better known as Fernando Poe Jr. Roces was regarded as the "Quee ...
in '' No Retreat... No Surrender... Si Kumander'' (1987).
TV career
Chichay also crossover to television in the 1960s when she played support to Nida Blanca and Nestor de Villa
Gines Francisco Soriano (July 6, 1928 – February 21, 2004), also known as Nestor de Villa, was a Filipino actor frequently cast in musical films. He was a gifted dancer, often paired with frequent on-screen partner Nida Blanca in both mov ...
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 BBC-2 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'' (1978–81) and as "La Ching" in ''2 + 2 = Gulo'' (1982–86) with Vic Sotto, Maricel Soriano and Herbert Bautista. Her last known TV show was ''Chicks for Cats'' (1987).
Personal life
In 1945, she married Hercules Saenz Moya of Iloilo.
Death
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''. She was posthumously awarded a star on the Eastwood City Walk of Fame in 2017.
Filmography
*1948 - ''Itanong mo sa Bulaklak'' remiere
*1949 - ''Carmencita Mia'' ar*1949 - ''Kung Sakali ma't Salat'' ayani*1950 - ''Huwag ka ng Magtampo!'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1950 - ''Kilabot sa Makiling'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1950 - ''Mga Baguio Cadets'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1950 - '' Huling Patak ng Dugo'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1950 - ''Kulog sa Tag-araw'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1951 - ''Anghel ng Pag-ibig'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1952 - ''Rebecca'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1952 - ''Barbaro'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1952 - ''Madam X'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1952 - ''Kerubin'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1952 - ''Buhay Pilipino'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1953 - ''Ang Ating Pag-ibig'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1953 - ''Gorio at Tekla'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1953 - ''Cofradia'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1953 - ''Tulisang Pugot'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1953 - ''Mister Kasintahan'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1954 - ''Ukkala'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1954 - ''Nagkita si Kerubin at si Tulisang Pugot'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1954 - ''Ang Biyenang Hindi Tumatawa'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1954 - ''Anak sa Panalangin'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1954 - ''Bondying'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1955 - ''Tatay na si Bondying'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1955 - ''Artista'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1955 - ''Uhaw sa Pag-ibig'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1955 - ''Sa Dulo ng Landas'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1955 - ''Waldas'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1955 - ''Bim Bam Bum'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1956 - ''Chavacano'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1956 - ''Rodora'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1957 - ''Busabos'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1958 - ''Zorina'' hampion*1958 - ''Ang Nobya kong Igorota'' hampion*1959 - ''Handsome'' - Sampaguita Pictures
*1962 - ''No Man Is an Island'' - Gold Coast Pictures
Notes
References
*
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chichay
1918 births
1993 deaths
Filipino women comedians
People from Tondo, Manila
Actresses from Manila
20th-century Filipino actresses
20th-century comedians