Tagalized, not plagiarized

MANILA, Philippines - Oops, he did it again. And just when it seemed that the comedy ceiling was out of danger from being cracked. Funny as Senator Tito Sotto’s unwitting (according to him) word for word Tagalog translation of Robert Kennedy’s 1966 Day of Affirmation speech was, it’s his argument that this somehow circumvents further charges of plagiarism that elevates the whole mess into absurdist comedy gold. But given how the rip-off, the Tagalized rip-off even, has been a longstanding protocol in domestic mainstream comedies, can you really begrudge a man for upholding a beloved showbiz tradition? Actually, yes you can. But here are 10 instances of similarly shameless ripping off that are at least funnier and funner and way safer than last week’s debacle.

'James Batman' (Artemio Marquez, 1966)

The mashing up of Bond with Batman into one character was a stroke of genius. And the bizarre result remains one of Dolphy’s most anarchic musts.

'Supergirl (Howard Petersen, 1973)

There are several generations of children who have not only been traumatized by the sight of Odette Khan piercing Ike Lozada’s gut with a sharpened bamboo stick but who likely have had a few nightmares in which they were crushed to death under the heels of frogs as big as mountains. Pinky Montilla was like the Michele Yeoh of her time, only she didn’t need the moves to kick major ass. 

'Alyas Batman En Robin' (Tony Reyes, 1991)

Much as it re-purposes the title of a 1965 knock-off, in which Bob Soler and Lou Salvador Jr. faced off against thinly-veiled facsimiles of Fu Manchu and the Frankenstein monster not to mention a giant spider, it’s really the campy magnificence of the Adam West show Tito Sotto’s erstwhile cohort Joey De Leon is ripping off here.

'Si Popeye Atbp.' (Ishmael Bernal, 

Joey Gosiengfiao, Elwood Perez, 1973)

Children know Ariel Ureta as Kimmy Dora’s Dad but he used to brandish his comic icon shtick like a boss, beating Robin Williams to the role of the spinach-guzzling sailor, and playing Dracula and Django, too, in this hard to find portmanteau. Rumor has it that Direk Joey’s Dracula episode is a minor gem. This needs to get un-lost now.

'Da Best In Da West' (Romy Villaflor, 1984)

Barilan Sa Kaboy Koral is the better Dolphy Western — and the Pinoy koboy movie really is the epitome of knock-offs, isn’t it? But good luck finding that one. This has Dolphy and Lito Lapid and Weng Weng and isn’t as much fun as that cast implies but you could do worse. Inexplicably, the sequel is a cop film

'The Game Of Death' (Jun Gallardo, 1974)

In which the title of Bruce Lee’s equally shameless and posthumously assembled last film was grafted onto a frame-by-frame re-jig of Enter the Dragon. Ramon Zamora, was actually shortlisted to play the title role in a Bruce Lee biopic. The part eventually went to Jason Scott Lee. Wonder if that had to do with the producers getting wind of this.

'W (a.k.a. W IS WAR)' (Willy Millan, 1983)

Turns out its Finnish title translates as Mad Max of Modern Times, which sort of sums up this post-apocalyptic combat revenge superhero whatever, with Anthony Alonzo standing in for Mel Gibson. Ridiculous and great.

'Rocky Tu-Log' (Jose Pepe Wenceslao, 1981)

Chiquito seemed to have a bone to pick with Stallone, or at least with his two most enduring icons. The Internet seems to lack any trace of his Rambo spoof, so my remembering he made one could all be a wishful hallucination on my part. But everybody knows this. The title is a punchline in and of itself, and its contextual brunt priceless.

'Starzan' (Tony Y. Reyes, 1989)

Even the logo was nicked from the Joe Kubert comics. But Rene Requiestas as Chee-tae is unfettered brilliance.

'Zoom Zoom Superman' (Ishmael Bernal,

Elwood Perez, Joey Gosiengiao, 1973)

Ariel Ureta was Superman, too, fighting Gina Pareno in Planet of the Apes makeup and directed by Ishma. There is no way that sentence could be made any cooler.