Ramon Revilla

Ramon Bautista Revilla Sr. (born Jose Acuña Bautista Sr.; March 8, 1927 – June 26, 2020), popularly known simply as Ramon Revilla Sr.., was a Filipino actor who served as Senator of the Republic of the Philippines.

He was known as the Hari ng Agimat and King Of True To Life Story in Philippine films.

Revilla graduated in Far Eastern University wherein he finished his bachelor's degree in commerce.

He was married to Azucena Mortel, who was born on February 16, 1944, and died on May 31, 1998, at the age of 54.

They produced seven children: Marlon, Rowena Bautista-Mendiola, Jose Mari (Bong Revilla), Rebecca Bautista-Ocampo (Princess Revilla), Edwin (Strike Revilla), Andrea Bautista-Ynares, and Diana.

With his extramarital affairs, his children numbered at least 39; Bong's spokesperson Portia Ilagan claimed that the number reached 72.

In his initial entry to the film industry, the young Revilla was cast only in bit roles which was not enough for him so he left the film industry to become head of the Secret Service Unit of the Bureau of Customs in 1965.

He returned to the film industry in 1972 with the film Nardong Putik: Kilabot ng Cavite, which started his fame.

He also returned on his own terms, creating his own film production, Imus Productions, for him to star in.

Together with partner Azucena, they ran the film outfit with Revilla writing and directing his films under the pseudonym Jose Yandoc.

His characters in the films "Pepeng Agimat" and "Nardong Putik" gave him the image of being an invincible superhuman who had in his keeping a special anting-anting (amulet of superhuman powers).

This image of his is somewhat alive because ABS-CBN adapted his 4 major films into television series entitled Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla.

In 1973, Revilla won a Famas Best Actor Award for "Hulihin si Tiyagong Akyat" together with his son Marlon Bautista for a Famas Best Child Actor Award of the same movie.

Imus Productions was also recognized as Outstanding Film production in 1975.

The next year, Revilla snagged the Outstanding Producer of the Year Award.

In 1979, he was Most Outstanding Actor and Box Office King.

On his 84th birthday, a statue was unveiled to the public.

The 10 m bronze statue was made by Filipino sculptor and national artist Eduardo Castrillo.

It was unveiled at Revilla's residence in Bacoor, Cavite.

Also during this event, Revilla's children gave him another surprise by officially opening the "Memo Revilla," a museum showcasing his old photographs and film memorabilia such as the "anting-anting" (amulet) and "panday" (sword).

His star-studded birthday celebration was attended by the biggest names in Philippine show business and politics alike.

Former presidents Joseph Ejercito Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo were among the big personalities who came to the event.

In 1992, Revilla became a senator, holding office until the end of his two terms in 2004.

An amendment to the Family Code of the Philippines, enacted into the law in February 2004, states "The illegitimate children may use the surname of their father if their affiliation has been expressly recognized by the father through the record of birth appearing in the civil register, or when an admission in a public document or private handwritten instrument is made by the father."

"The child should not suffer the stigma of his illegitimacy," Revilla Sr. once quoted saying.

In a 2004 interview with journalist Jessica Soho, Revilla admitted that he probably has more than 80 children.

Actor Ram Revilla and film producer and politician Ramon Nicolas Bautista were two of his children from his extramarital affairs.

He served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Motion Pictures and Television in the 10th and 11th Congresses, working on legislations pertaining to the advancement of the Philippine Motion Picture Industry and children's welfare.

Despite having a number of detractors, Senator Revilla was the author of some important bills, including the "Revilla Law" lowering the penalties imposed on the illegal possession of firearms, which had been increased by a law signed during the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos.

In 2011, in the 33rd Catholic Mass Media Awards Night (CMMA), Revilla was given the Lifetime Achievement Award.

On October 17, 2013, Revilla broke his silence and officially aired his emotions about Ram Revilla's murder case and Ramon Joseph's detainment:

"'I felt like the world fell on me when I was informed that my son Ramón Joseph was not allowed by the court to post bail. I do believe that my son cannot do anything heinous. My children grew up in the word of God. He was a good son. He was arrested without a warrant of arrest and he has been suffering in jail for almost two years. My son is innocent.'"

Revilla was the youngest child of the 10 children of businessman Ildefonso Bautista and Andrea Acuña.

His first family was with the mother of Evelyn Bautista, wife of former basketball player and former Senator Robert Jaworski.

On May 31, 2020, Revilla was rushed to the St. Dominic Medical Center in Bacoor, Cavite.

The next day, he was transferred to the St. Luke's Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, where he stayed in the intensive care unit for two weeks.

Revilla Sr. died of heart failure at around 5:20pm PHT on June 26, 2020, aged 93.