Arvin Jimenez

Arvin Jimenez (March 24, 1974 – February 7, 2014), commonly known as Tado, was a Filipino comedian, actor, radio personality and businessman. His nickname "Tado" comes from a Tagalog expletive he frequently blurts out. Tado is primarily known for the offbeat television program Strangebrew and the U92 radio programThe BrewRATs!.

Early life and career

Prior to fame, Jimenez had worked on various odd jobs such as a staff in a mental hospital, a waiter, a scriptwriter for television and a photojournalist. Jimenez graduated from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) with a degree inPsychology. He is an active member of Scouts Royale Brotherhood (SRB) International Service Fraternity and Sorority under the waving banner of Beta Tau Chapter. He was engaged in social issues as a student organizer of Sanlakas.

While in PUP, Jimenez was influenced by his artist friends, causing him to be involved in theater, painting and photography. This led to the founding of the now-defunct PUP-based cultural organization called PANDAY PIRA (Pandayan ng Pilipinong Kultura). He eventually studied film making at the Mowelfund Institute.

Jimenez later co-founded Dakila ("Noble"), an artists group aiming to instill modern-day heroism in everyday people, with poet Lourd de Veyra, rock guitarist for Parokya ni Edgar, Buwi Meneses and acclaimed actor, Ronnie Lazaro.

Jimenez also dabbled in music, and had appeared with the band The Youth as their lead vocalist with original vocalist Dodong Cruz's consent. He and the band appeared on the GMA Network program Unang Hirit, singing the band's hit "Multong Bakla" ("gay ghost").

Strangebrew

Tado became involved in television with the premiere of the off-the-wall magazine show Strangebrew in the then-NU 107 operatedUNTV Channel 37, with Angel Rivero as his co-host, in 2001. His maroon Volkswagen Beetle will take him and Rivero throughout Metro Manila in an adventure of "a unique cartoony look, a caustic wit" with "a weird sense of humor."

Strangebrew and Jimenez became a cult hit until the show was canceled a year later, with him enshrined as a pop culture icon.

The BrewRATs!

He was reunited with Rivero (along with occasional Strangebrew contributor, Ramon Bautista) in Hit FM 99.5's late night talk showThe BrewRATs!. (The title of the show is a pun on another Tagalog cuss word.) Even with Hit FM's reformatting to 99.5 Campus FM, and finally reverting to its old 99.5 RT callsign, the show was consistently placed on the station's roster of shows, consistently occupying the late night slot, until it was moved to the morning slot from August to September 2009.

On October 1, 2009, The BrewRATs! resurfaced on U92, the radio affiliate of MTV Philippines, of which Bautista was a personality of (The Ramon Bautista Show). It went off the air a second time as a result of U92's reformat to Radyo5 92.3 News FM and has since become a show at the internet radio station DigRadio every Thursday from 9 PM to midnight.

LimiTado

Aside from radio, Jimenez also designed LimiTado ("Limited"), and ran it with his wife. The graphic T-shirts' main selling points are striking messages printed on the shirt and spoofs. Other items include bags, accessories and toy collectibles such as Volkswagen die-casts.

Political life

Tado Jimenez ran for the position of city councilor of Marikina's 1st District (coextensive with Marikina's 1st congressional district) in 2010 as an independent candidate. He finished eleventh; the first eight in the tally were elected.

Jimenez was involved in protest actions of the Sanlakas political bloc such as the campaign against rising electricity rates, and demonstrations against Charter Change. He also supported the picket protest of the workers of Philippine Airlines. He was also seen visiting Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, expressing his support in the Sulu Sultanate's claim over Sabah, North Borneo.

Personal life

He was married with four daughters, namely, Leidulataja, Katrina May, Indi and Tila.

Death

Jimenez died in an accident involving a Florida bus on February 7, 2014. He was among the 14 people killed in the accident, which occurred around 7:20 a.m. (PST) at Banaue-Bontoc road in Sitio Panggang, Barangay Talubin, Bontoc, Mountain Province. 

Organization

• A member of Scouts Royale Brotherhood (SRB) Beta Tau Chapter

Selected filmography

Television

• Strangebrew as himself (UNTV 37, 2001–02)
• Bituin as King (ABS-CBN 2, 2002)
• Klasmeyts (ABS-CBN 2, 2002)
• Masayang Tanghali Bayan as himself (Host) (ABS-CBN 2, 2003–04)
• Ok Fine Whatever (ABS-CBN 2, 2003)
• Breakfast Supersize (Studio 23, 2004) as guest co-host
• MTB: Ang Saya Saya (ABS-CBN 2, 2004–2005)
• Art Jam as host (ABS-CBN 2, 2005)
• Laugh To Laugh: Ang Kulit (QTV 11, 2005)
• Project 11 (QTV 11, 2006)
• Baywalk (QTV 11, 2006)
• Camera Cafe Philippine Edition as himself (QTV 11, 2007; GMA 7, 2007–08)
• Balikbayan (QTV 11, 2006) as himself/guest
• Takeshi's Castle (GMA 7, 2008) as himself/guest
• Palos (ABS-CBN 2, 2008)
• Ka-Blog (GMA 7, 2008) as himself/guest
• The Weekend News With Ramon Bautista (TV5, 2009) as himself/guest
• Pinoy Big Brother as himself (ABS-CBN 2, 2009)
• Stoplight TV (TV5, 2009)
• Talentadong Pinoy (TV5, 2009) as guest judge
• Maynila (GMA 7, 2010)
• Showtime as himself (Judge) (ABS-CBN 2, 2010)
• Kaya Ng Powers as Raco (GMA 7, 2010)
• 30w POwhz! as Himself (Studio 23, 2010)
• Art Angel (GMA 7, 2010) as himself/guest
• Dog TV as Himself (SOLAR TV 9, 2010)
• Happy Yipee Yehey! as Himself (ABS-CBN 2, 2011)
• Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition as Himself (Guest Judge) (ABS-CBN 2, January 2012)
• Celebrity Bluff (GMA 7, 2013) as himself/guest Last Appearance

Film

• Radio (2001)
• Trip (2001)
• Hesus, Rebolusyunaryo (2002)
• Utang Ni Tatang (2002)
• First Time (2003)
• Astigmatism (2004)
• Dilim (2005)
• Boso (2005)
• D' Anothers (2005) as Atty. Reposo
• Coup Betat (2006)
• M.O.N.A.Y (Misteyks obda neyson adres Yata) ni Mr. Shooli (2007)
• Scaregivers (2008)
• 691⁄2 (2009)
• Ang Beerhouse (2009)
• Captive (2012)
• PakantoTADO(2012)
• My Little Bossings (2013) Final Appearance