Reynaldo Oliver Malonzo (born May 17, 1952), professionally known as Rey Malonzo, is a former Filipino actor, film director and politician in the Philippines. He was a famous action star doing mostly

martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...

in his films during the 1970s up to the 1980s. Malonzo served as mayor of

Caloocan Caloocan, officially the City of Caloocan (; ), is a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 1,661,584 people making it the fourth-most populous city in the Philippines. Caloo ...

from 1995 to 2004. In 2024, he announced his intention to run for the congressional seat of Caloocan's 1st district in the

2025 So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...

Education

He graduated with a degree in

police science Police science or police studies is the study of police work. It is a subfield of criminology and sociology. As an interdisciplinary science, the field includes contributions from political science, forensic science, anthropology, psychology, juris ...

from the

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), also officially as the University of the City of Manila, is a Local colleges and universities (Philippines), municipal public university in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. It is funded by the city g ...

Film career

In the 1970s, Malonzo rose to popularity by way of

kung fu Chinese martial arts, commonly referred to with umbrella terms Kung fu (term), kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (sport), wushu (), are Styles of Chinese martial arts, multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater Ch ...

and

karate (; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ), also , is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tī'' in Okinawan) un ...

movies. Malonzo, together with Ramon Zamora gave rise to the so-called Pinoy

Bruce Lee Bruce Lee (born Lee Jun-fan; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born Hong Kong martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy which was formed from ...

clones in the late 1970s. They starred in such films as ''Bruce Liit'' (1978) with

Niño Muhlach Niño Muhlach (born Angelo Jose Rocha Muhlach, October 27, 1971) is a Filipino actor. He is the father of Filipino child actor Alonzo Muhlach. Early life Niño was born by Alexander Muhlach and Rebecca Rocha, he has five siblings. A nephew ...

, ''Ang Hari at ang Alas'' (1978), ''The Deadly Rookies'' (1978) with

Rio Locsin Maria Theresa Rosario Garcia Nayve-Israel (born October 3, 1961), known professionally as Rio Locsin, is a Filipino actress. Known primarily for her roles in films with underlying social themes, she began her career playing daring characters a ...

and ''Kambal Dragon'' (1978). He did also a string of martial arts films including ''Chaku Master'' in 1974, and ''They Call Him Bruce Lee'' in 1979. In the 1980s, he became a director using his alternate name, Reginald King in his films, ''Pedrong Palaka'' (1980), ''Tigre ng Sierra Madre'' (1982), ''Roman Sebastian'' (1983), and ''Maestro Bandido'' (1983) among others. In 1987, he starred with American actors David Anderson, Brett Baxter Clark, and

Robert Patrick Robert Hammond Patrick (born November 5, 1958) is an American actor. Known for portraying villains and authority figures, Patrick is a Saturn Award winner with four other nominations. Patrick dropped out of college when drama class sparked his ...

for the film '' Eye of the Eagle''. In 2000, Malonzo portrayed

Andrés Bonifacio Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro (, ; November 30, 1863May 10, 1897) was a Filipino people, Filipino revolutionary leader. He is often called "The Father of the Philippines, Philippine Philippine Revolution, Revolution", and considered a nationa ...

in the television film ''Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa'', directed by Lorli Villanueva. It was later intended to be reshot and entered into the

2003 Metro Manila Film Festival The 29th Metro Manila Film Festival was held in the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay, Philippines, from December 25, 2003 to January 8, 2004. Maricel Soriano and Eric Quizon were chosen the Best Actress and Best Actor respect ...

, but the plan did not come to fruition. In 2019, he returned to television via ''

FPJ's Ang Probinsyano ''FPJ's Ang Probinsyano'' (international title: ''Brothers''; ) is a Philippine television drama action series broadcast by ABS-CBN and Kapamilya Channel. The series is based on the 1996 Philippine film of the same title. Directed by Ma ...

''.

Political career

Malonzo became a

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

for three consecutive terms in

. In 1995, he ran for mayor and defeated Macario 'Boy' Asistio. A year later, Asistio loyalists filed a recall petition against Malonzo. A recall election was conducted, and Malonzo still emerged as the winner. He was reelected as mayor in the 1998 polls. In 2001, Malonzo won a third term, this time against former Congressman Luis Asistio. Upon being term limited, he ran for representative of the 1st district of Caloocan, but lost to former vice mayor

Oscar Malapitan Oscar "Oca" Gonzales Malapitan (born June 14, 1955) is a Filipino politician who currently serves as the representative from the 1st District of Caloocan in the House of Representatives of the Philippines since 2022 and previously from 2004 to ...

. He later ran for vice mayor of Caloocan in

2010 The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...

as Asistio's running mate, but lost to former 2nd district representative

Edgar Erice Edgar "Egay" Ranes Erice (born June 15, 1960) is a Filipino politician who served as the representative for Caloocan's second congressional district from 2001 to 2004 and from 2013 to 2022. Erice ran for mayor of Caloocan in 2022 and lost to ...

. In 2024, Malonzo expressed his support for the 2025 Caloocan mayoral run of former senator

Antonio Trillanes IV Antonio "Sonny" Fuentes Trillanes IV (; born August 6, 1971) is a former Philippine naval officer and politician who served as a senator of the Philippines from 2007 to 2019. He is known for his involvement in the Oakwood mutiny of 2003 and t ...

, with whom his son PJ is the running mate. He eventually ran again for representarive of the 1st district of Caloocan.

Personal life

Malonzo is married to fellow actress Gwendolyn "Gigi" Emnace. They have two children: Christopher "PJ" Malonzo and Charles King Malonzo.

Filmography

Film

Television

http://pcij.org/imag/PublicEye/starstudded3.html "Rey Malonzo"

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Malonzo, Rey 1952 births Living people Filipino actor-politicians Filipino film directors Filipino male film actors Filipino male television actors Male actors from Manila Mayors of Caloocan Nationalist People's Coalition politicians Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila alumni People's Reform Party politicians