Gustavo r. gonzaleZ

Gustavo (Gus) R. Gonzalez was born on March 28, 1922 in Manila.  He grew up in the Ermita area and was the 3rd of 4 children of Ignacio Gonzalez & Marina Ramirez.  He attended the Ateneo de Manila College.  He later married Ursula Soliman of  Concepcion, Tarlac and Singalong, Manila.  Together they had 7 children.  Gus was a member of Dramatic Philippines under Narciso Pimentel and had dual roles as Caiphas and St. John in the classic Holy Week play “Martir sa Golgota” (Fr. Joseph Mulry S.J.'s A PASSION PLAY) presented annually at the Metropolitan Theatre.  He was a radio announcer for DZRH and was in the cast of Kwentong Kutsero, a precedent-setting radio satire aired in the 50s and 60s.  It gave fun at the establishment, especially government personalities, and exposed the foibles of politicians and government officials with humorous episodes that delighted radio audiences for many years.  Notable in Gus' radio career was his role as the voice of Kapitan Kidlat, a popular program in the 1950s created by the late Atty. Leonardo P Abutin, Sr.    It told of the adventures of Inocencio Santos, a shy and humble man working at a police station who was transformed to Kapitan Kidlat by uttering the words “Ako si  Kapitan Kidlat!”  Bestowed with superpowers by the gods, he came to the aid of the innocent and helpless against criminal elements.  Gus later became an Advertising and Public Relations Executive with Commonwealth Foods, makers of FIBISCO, Cocoa Ricoa, and instant coffee products such as Café Puro and Café Bueno.  He served as President of Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) in 1965 & 1969.  He also served as President of the Manila Overseas Press Club and wrote a column for Manila Bulletin during his incumbency.  His wife passed away in January 2008.  They are survived by 6 children & 16 grandchildren who reside in Canada, Philippines & USA.