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 City, Metro Manila. He died on May 10, 2020, from a heart attack caused by heat stroke.

Sonny Parsons
Parsons in 2013
Member of the Marikina Municipal Council
In office
June 30, 1992  June 30, 1995
Personal details
Born
Parsons Agliam Nabiula Jr.

(1958-08-22)August 22, 1958
Marikina City, Metro Manila, Philippines
DiedMay 10, 2020(2020-05-10) (aged 61)
Tayabas City, Quezon Province, Philippines
Occupation
  • Actor
  • singer
  • film director
  • former politician

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 (lit.'Legs, Body, Woman') 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.

As a result of the July 2002 attempted robbery of Parsons' house, an autobiographical film he was in the middle of shooting titled Konsehal, Halal Kang Palaban (lit.'Councilor, You Were Elected a Fighter') had to be shelved, with its producer backing out due to the incident.[1]

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. On the morning of July 18, 2002, Parsons thwarted an attempted robbery by six men at his family home in Marikina, killing two of them and injuring another.[2][3]

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.

Death

Parsons died on May 10, 2020, due to heart attack caused by heat stroke in Tayabas City, Quezon Province.[4]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleDirector
1981Legs Katawan BabaeTony Ferrer
1983JRPablo Santiago
1984CondemnedMario O'Hara
1987Sparrow Unit: The Termination SquadBen Yalung
Mga Lihim ng KalapatiCelso Ad. Castillo, Tata Esteban
1988Apat, Lima, AnimFrancis 'Jun' Posadas
AmbushFrancis 'Jun' Posadas
Sgt. Ernesto 'Boy' Ybañez: Tirtir GangSgt. Ernesto 'Boy' YbañezWilly Milan
Shoot to Kill: Boy Bicol ng AngelesJerry Tirazona, Johnny Capistrano
1989Sgt. Niñonuevo: The Fastest Gun Alive of WPDSgt. Mariano NiñonuevoRonnie San Juan
Salisi GangLeonardo Pascual
Get Commander Jack Moro: Bangsa Moro ArmyEddie Nicart
Baricuarto: Batang Cebu .45Jerry Tirazona
Kailan.... Dapat LumabanJerry Tirazona
UZI Brothers 9mmFrancis 'Jun' Posadas
Nazareno Apostol: Boy AhasJerry Tirazona
1990Masikip Na ang Mundo MoAlexander AguirreLito M. Nocon
Walang Sinasanto ang Bala KoLito M. Nocon
1991OXO VS Sigue-SigueDante Pangilinan
Digos MassacreJose "Kaka" Balagtas
1992Johnny Cuevas: Alyas Boy SusiJohnny CuevasNilo Saez
Sgt. Ernesto Baliola: Tinik sa BatasSgt. Ernesto BaliolaRicardo 'Bebong' Osorio
Arrest: Hold-up GangLeonardo Pascual
Turing Gesmundo, Kapitan LanggamRobert Talby
Itumba si Angel DelgadoNilo Saez
1993Capt. Rassul Alih, Hindi Sayo ang MindanaoCapt. Rassul AlihSonny Parsons and Jerry O. Tirazona
Parañaque Bank Robbery: The Joselito Joseco StoryArgel Lopez
AguinaldoWilliam Mayo
1996Paracale GangArmando De Guzman Jr.
1997Bala Para sa KatarunganSonny Parsons
2015Hari at Alas: Akin ang Batas Fernando Dizon

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988, 1995Coney Reyes on CameraVarious roles2 episodes[5]
1991–1992Agila
2003MagpakailanmanHimselfEpisode: "Hinagpis ng Kamatayan"
2005Bahay Mo Ba 'ToKidEpisode: "Demolisyon Na Ito!"
2008YsabellaBarangay chairman
2013Pepito ManalotoLitoGuest
2016We Love OPM: The Celebrity Sing-OffsHimselfGuest
2017FPJ's Ang ProbinsyanoFidelGuest
2017Live Jamming with Percy LapidHimselfGuest performer
2019Bravo Executive LoungeHimselfGuest performer
Final performance before his death

References

  1. Caruncho, Eric S. (August 4, 2002). "Sonny Parsons Stands his Ground". Sunday Inquirer Magazine. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. Q2. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  2. Papa, Alcuin (July 19, 2002). "'Hagibis' singer kills 2 robbers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. 1. Retrieved August 24, 2023. It was at around 6:30 a.m. when six armed men, who police said could be members of the Waray-Waray Bicolano group, barged into Parsons' home in SSS Village...
  3. Carcamo, Dennis (July 23, 2002). "2 gunmen take aim at Parsons' housemaid". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 4. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  4. "Sonny Parsons of Hagibis dies at 61". The Manila Times. May 10, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  5. "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.
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