Sonny Parsons
Parsons Agliam Nabiula Jr. (August 22, 1958 – May 10, 2020), known professionally as Sonny Parsons, was a Filipino actor, singer, director and politician in the Philippines. He was a member of Hagibis, an all-male sing-and-dance group in the late 1970s to the early 1980s, who were coined as the Filipino version of the Village People. He was a councilor in Marikina. He died on May 10, 2020 from a heart attack.
Sonny Parsons | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg.webp) Parsons in 2013 | |
| Born | Jose Parsons Agliam Nabiula Jr. August 22, 1958 Marikina, Philippines |
| Died | May 10, 2020 (aged 61) Tayabas, Quezon, Philippines |
| Other names | Jong, Sonny |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1979–2020 |
Singing career
In the late 1970s to 1980s, Parsons was a member of the Manila sound group Hagibis together with Bernie Fineza, Mike Respall, Joji Garcia and Mon Picazo. Their hit songs included "Legs", "Babae", "Lalake" and "Katawan" (a theme song in Palibhasa Lalake, a Philippine TV sitcom series), among others. In 2001, Hagibis reunited and released one album under Star Records. He performed in a series of concerts at various venues such as in Hobbit House (Ermita), Hobbit East (Antipolo), Bodega City (Quezon Ave) and Cowboy Grill (Malate), among others. In 2011, he was a special guest in the Philippines leg of the greatest hits tour of Bobby Kimball (original lead singer of Toto).
Acting career
In 1981, the Hagibis members made a film titled Legs Katawan Babae with Laarni Enriquez, Myrna Castillo and Jess Lapid, Jr., and directed by Tony Ferrer. When Hagibis split up in the 1980s, Parsons became an actor, director, and politician. He appeared in many action films in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He starred with Ronnie Ricketts in the 1989 action film UZI Brother 9mm which was directed by Francis 'Jun' Posadas. His first TV guest appearance was in the 1991 teleserye Agila which starred Val Sotto, Aurora Sevilla and Roy Alvarez. He produced, directed, and starred in the film Bala Para sa Katarungan for Regal Films in 1997. Parsons played a guest role as the main villain to Coco Martin in the 2017 action-drama TV series FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.
Personal life
Parsons was the founder and president of the Allied Forces of the Philippines Civilian Volunteers (AFPCIV), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) whose mission is focused on humanitarian response and anti-crime operations throughout the Philippines. In a robbery incident, he pursued and killed 2 of the robbery suspects.[1]
Parsons was an advocate of responsible gun ownership and shared his expertise in tactical and defensive shooting. In his last years, he served as a consultant in the National Bureau of Investigations.
Parsons was also an active member of the Law Enforcers Riders Association of the Philippines.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Legs Katawan Babae | Tony Ferrer | |
| 1983 | JR | Pablo Santiago | |
| 1984 | Condemned | Mario O'Hara | |
| 1987 | Sparrow Unit: The Termination Squad | Ben Yalung | |
| Mga Lihim ng Kalapati | Celso Ad. Castillo, Tata Esteban | ||
| 1988 | Apat, Lima, Anim | Francis 'Jun' Posadas | |
| Ambush | Francis 'Jun' Posadas | ||
| Sgt. Ernesto 'Boy' Ybañez: Tirtir Gang | Sgt. Ernesto 'Boy' Ybañez | Willy Milan | |
| Shoot to Kill: Boy Bicol ng Angeles | Jerry Tirazona, Johnny Capistrano | ||
| 1989 | Sgt. Niñonuevo: The Fastest Gun Alive of WPD | Sgt. Mariano Niñonuevo | Ronnie San Juan |
| Kailan.... Dapat Lumaban | Jerry Tirazona | ||
| Salisi Gang | Leonardo Pascual | ||
| Get Commander Jack Moro: Bangsa Moro Army | Eddie Nicart | ||
| Baricuarto: Batang Cebu .45 | Jerry Tirazona | ||
| UZI Brothers 9mm | Francis 'Jun' Posadas | ||
| 1990 | Walang Sinasanto ang Bala Ko | Lito Nocon | |
| Nazareno Apostol: Boy Ahas | Jerry Tirazona | ||
| 1991 | OXO VS Sigue-Sigue | Dante Pangilinan | |
| Digos Massacre | Jose "Kaka" Balagtas | ||
| 1992 | Johnny Cuevas: Alyas Boy Susi | Johnny Cuevas | Nilo Saez |
| Sgt. Ernesto Baliola: Tinik sa Batas | Sgt. Ernesto Baliola | Ricardo 'Bebong' Osorio | |
| Arrest: Hold-up Gang | Leonardo Pascual | ||
| Turing Gesmundo, Kapitan Langgam | Robert Talby | ||
| Itumba si Angel Delgado | Nilo Saez | ||
| 1993 | Capt. Rassul Alih, Hindi Sayo ang Mindanao | Capt. Rassul Alih | Sonny Parsons and Jerry O. Tirazona |
| Parañaque Bank Robbery: The Joselito Joseco Story | Argel Lopez | ||
| Aguinaldo | William Mayo | ||
| 1996 | Paracale Gang | Armando De Guzman Jr. | |
| 1997 | Bala Para sa Katarungan | Sonny Parsons |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988, 1995 | Coney Reyes on Camera | Various roles | 2 episodes[3] |
| 1991–1992 | Agila | ||
| 2003 | Magpakailanman | Himself | Episode: "Hinagpis ng Kamatayan" |
| 2005 | Bahay Mo Ba 'To | Kid | Episode: "Demolisyon Na Ito!" |
| 2008 | Ysabella | Barangay chairman | |
| 2013 | Pepito Manaloto | Lito | Guest |
| 2016 | We Love OPM: The Celebrity Sing-Offs | Himself | Guest |
| 2017 | FPJ's Ang Probinsyano | Fidel | Guest |
| 2017 | Live Jamming with Percy Lapid | Himself | Guest performer |
| 2019 | Bravo Executive Lounge | Himself | Guest performer Final performance before his death |
References
- "Former action star kills 2 robbers".
- "Sonny Parsons of Hagibis dies at 61". The Manila Times. May 10, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- "Promising stars in 'Coney Reyes on Camera'". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. January 23, 1988. p. 10. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
Sonny Parsons and Susan Africa guest in today's episode [...] titled 'Kailan Bingi ang Puso?'. With [Coney] Reyes, they form a seemingly hopeless love triangle borne out of despair, loneliness and poverty.