Roderick Paulate

Roderick Mendenilla Paulate is a Filipino actor, TV host, comedian and former politician. Paulate had previously hosted TV shows like Vilma On 7, Tonight With Dick & Carmi, Magandang Tanghali Bayan, and The Singing Bee. Paulate is also a comedian in shows Abangan Ang Susunod Na Kabanata, Oki Doki Doc, Mana Mana, Ang Tanging Ina: The Comedy Series, and Tweets For My Sweets. Paulate was also a dramatic actor in the TV shows, Malayo Pa Ang Umaga, Makita Ka Lang Muli, Rosalinda, Munting Heredera and the long-running action drama series, FPJ's Ang Probinsyano, in which he plays a mayor-politician.

Biography

Child actor

Paulate began his career as a child actor. He received his first Best Child Actor award from the Manila Film Festival for the movie Kasalanan Kaya in 1968. His first FAMAS award was for Anghel Na Walang Langit in 1970.

Gay roles

Roderick's first foray in gay roles was in 1979 when he appeared in Maryo J. De Los Reyes' High School Circa ’65. He became Roda Coburns in the early evening sitcom, "Tepok Bunot" over BBC-Channel 2 with Bibeth Orteza, Isabel Rivas and Tony Mabesa. A producer then gave him the lead role in Charot, a movie inspired by Dustin Hoffman's gender-bending performance in Tootsie. His movie Inday Inday sa Balitaw was a huge success, that in 1987 he made four gay movies in a span of eight months: Jack en Poy, Bb. Tsuperman, Kumander Gringa, and 1+1=12+1. Paulate continued to play gay roles in movies and television. Paulate' influenced Vice Ganda, Allan K., and Paolo Ballesteros.

Non-gay roles

Paulate soon after tackled non-gay roles on both movies and television, displaying his versatility. His first known non-gay role during his peak years as a comedian was Last Two Minutes which he played a vertically challenged basketball coach with PBA Legends Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codiñera & Paul "Bong" Alvarez, and Regal teen stars Zoren Legaspi, Jeffrey Santos, Aljon Jimenez, Carmina Villarroel, Ruffa Gutierrez & Aiko Melendez. He also played the role of Ding, a mentally-challenged homeless mute in 1980 in the first Philippine TV series Malayo Pa Ang Umaga, about village life in the Philippines in the second world war under Japanese Imperial Army occupation. Paulate's 1st fantasy drama role was Engkanto, released in 1992 with the late hip hop king Francis Magalona. He played a straight tree man who saves the environment from nasty illegal loggers.

Singer and performer

Dubbed as the Rick Astley Of The Philippines, Paulate also ventured into singing where he was influenced by his singing idol Rick Astley. He was in-demand as a performer/host in various defunct variety shows, notably Tonight With Dick & Carmi, Vilma & Magandang Tanghali Bayan.

Awards

All in all, Paulate has received six Best Child Actor awards and 17 awards during his adult years starting with Inday, Inday sa Balitaw in 1986 when he received the Best Supporting Actor trophy. In 1996, Paulate was named Best Actor in Drama at the Asian Television Awards, and then in 2000, for his role in the Maalaala Mo Kaya episode "Wristwatch" and again in 1981, for his very difficult role in Malayo Pa Ang Umaga, the very first successful TV series in the Philippines.
Paulate is also inducted to the Philippines Eastwood City Walk Of Fame in 2012 for contributing his acting, singing, hosting and also being a comedian.

Political career

Paulate was elected as councilor for Quezon City's 2nd district in 2010. Paulate was removed from office by the Office of the Ombudsman as councilor of Quezon City because of hiring ghost employees. He was barred from running for any public office.
Despite barring him from running for public office, Paulate ran for his third term as a councilor and was eventually elected.
On December 12, 2016, however, the Court of Appeals overturned the ruling of the Office of the Ombudsman's dismissing Paulate together with 3 other officials of the Quezon City local government from the public service.
Paulate unsuccessfully ran for vice mayor in 2019, as the running mate of former 2nd district representative Chuck Mathay. He also sought a return to the city council in 2022 for the 2nd district under the Malayang QC ticket of Mike Defensor, but was also unsuccessful.
On December 2, 2022, the Sandiganbayan convicted him of one count of graft and nine counts of falsification of public documents in connection with his hiring of ghost employees. He faces between 10 1⁄2 to 62 years in prison, a total fine of ₱90,000, and is permanently barred from holding public office. Paulate and his accomplice, his driver and liaison officer Vicente Bajamunde, were also ordered to compensate the government with the amount of public funds they embezzled, amounting to ₱1.109 million with 6% interest per annum until full payment. He filed a motion for reconsideration but it was denied by the court on January 23, 2023.

Personal life

Paulate is single. He has previously dated Jackie Aquino, a daughter of former Senator Butz Aquino.

Education

He attended his primary education at José Rizal College and graduated in 1976.
He attended his secondary education at José Rizal College and graduated in 1984.
He attended his tertiary education at University of the Philippines, Manila campus and studied Political science, then shifted to Theater arts.

Electoral history

Filmography

Film

Television

Year	Title	Role
1972	Bahay-bahayan	Rod
1993–1995	Malayo Pa Ang Umaga	Ding
1988–1991	Tonight With Dick & Carmi
1991–1997	Abangan Ang Susunod Na Kabanata	Benny Dela Croix
1994–1996	Game Na Game Na!	Himself / Host
1998–2000	Oki Doki Doc	Dickson
1998	Wansapanataym Christmas Special
1998–2003	Magandang Tanghali Bayan	Himself / Host
2001	Eto Na Ang Susunod Na Kabanata	Benny Dela Croix
2003	Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas	Truman
2003	Ang Tanging Ina	Goliath
2005	M.R.S.	Himself / Host
2005	Bora: Sons of the Beach	Dodong
2006–2007	Makita Ka Lang Muli	Valetin Barba / Vicar Barbarosa
2007–2008	That's My Doc	Major Ret Retualo
2009	Rosalinda	Florencio
2011–2012	Munting Heredera	Emmanuel "Manny" Mejia
2011	Spooky Nights Presents: Ang Munting Mahadera	Rody
2012	Tweets for My Sweet	JB Mercado
2012	Protégé: The Battle for the Big Artista Break	Mentor
2012–2013	H.O.T. TV	Himself / Host
2013	The Ryzza Mae Show	Himself / Guest
2013	It's Showtime	Himself / Guest
2013	Gandang Gabi Vice	Himself / Guest
2013–2015	The Singing Bee	Himself / Host
2016	Magpakailanman: Gay Organ Donor - The Genesis Laviana Story	Geni
2016	Magandang Buhay	Himself / Guest
2017	Wansapantaym: Amazing Ving	Chris Cristobal
2018–2019	FPJ's Ang Probinsyano	Mayor Adonis Dimaguiba
2019–2020	One of the Baes	Paps Fernando
2024–2025	Da Pers Family	Chef K
2025	Mga Batang Riles	Pol Alhambra
2025	Rainbow Rumble	Himself / Contestant