Way back in 2010, GMA7 premiered
a sitcom starring rapper-comedian Michael V called “Pepito Manaloto,” about an
impoverished family man who wins a lottery jackpot and starts navigating
through the wealthy life with his wife and children. On near-regular occasions
Pepito has been pestered in the show by Tommy Diones (played by Ronnie
Henares), a scam artist hoping to get-rich-quick at Pepito’s expense, usually
leading of his latest request for handouts by declaring, “Pepito my friend.”
Who would have expected over the past week that this sitcom line will become a
meme attached to Tokyo Olympic gold-medalist weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz?
But there it is as told by Inquirer.net; a funny photo edit that
has been circulating in social media, about the “Pepito Manaloto” supporting
character Tommy asking for some scratch from Hidilyn Diaz, “Hidlyn My Friend”
and all, has become viral all of last week. And over the weekend, the actor who
brings Tommy to life in the Kapuso sitcom, Ronnie Henares, has acknowledged and
given his thumbs up to the newly-minted joke meme on his official Instagram
page. He even wrote a little comment in character as Tommy Diones to ride the surprise
humor for all it is worth.
“Somebody is spreading this
around!” commented Henares on IG. “In fairness, I already owe Pepito over a million
in debt. Perhaps, with all of the millions Hidilyn will get, maybe she could
spread at least one million.” In the screen-cap from the FP page “PepengPinakamalupet,” the meme image consists of a photo of Diaz celebrating her gold
medal win in Tokyo, with the background dotted in million-peso values.
Underneath is a scene from Pepito Manaloto with Henares as a smirking Tommy, with
the accompanying subtitle replacing the name “Pepito” to read “Hidilyn my
friend.”
Just to refresh, after Hidilyn
Diaz won the women’s 55-kilo weightlifting event at the Tokyo Olympics last
week, she was earmarked for multiple cash rewards and incentives for the honor
she claimed the country, including P10 million for national athletes winning
gold, another several million from donors in the private sector, and still a
few more millions from the pocket of President Rodrigo Duterte, along with a
new house and lot in her Zamboanga hometown. Somehow the grasping Tommy Diones,
as made iconic by Ronnie Henares, just feels right butting in to ask for money.
“Pepito Manaloto” is currently running a prequel storyline, subtitled “Ang
Unang Kuwento” since July 17, weekly on Saturdays at GMA7.
Image courtesy of Philippine Star
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