Palito with Virginia in the 1980 film "The Revenge Of The Lady Fighter". File photo

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran comedian Reynaldo Hipolito, well known for his unusually thin physique that earned for him the monicker Palito (or match stick), died on Monday at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) due to complications from lung problems. He was 76.

Hipolito passed away at 7:05 a.m., according to the comedian's son Jhune. Hipolito had complained of severe pain in the chest a few minutes before he died.

“I wasn't around when Tatay died. I was in a long queue at the hospital to secure a guarantee letter for his release. When I came back, it was my sister Arlyn who said Tatay had opened his eyes and cried a few minutes before he died,” Jhune told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone on Monday afternoon. “At his bedside, I told him, 'Tatay, I know you're very tired. Take a rest now.'”

Hipolito's son added: “We could've have saved him, wala lang kaming budget (we just don’t have the budget). I cried each time I saw how Tatay had suffered. I felt so helpless.” Hipolito had been scheduled to undergo a CT Scan on April 6 but his children opted to cancel it because they lacked money for the procedure.

Hipolito's remains lie at the Loyola Memorial Chapels and Crematorium in Guadalupe, Makati City. His interment will be announced later. He is survived by his wife and six children.

Jhune added that Hipolito was taken to the Imus Family Hospital in Cavite on April 6 after he complained of severe stomach pain. Hipolito had long lost his ability to speak and was only communicating with his relatives through hand gestures, said Jhune.

Jhune said the family sought financial aid from his father's friends in show business. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes had promised to help. “We're very thankful for those who have helped,” he said.

“What's sad was that we're getting a lot of text messages from posers, introducing themselves as Robin Padilla, Kris Aquino, John Pratts, Francine Prieto and Jericho Rosales. They all said help would arrive. 'Wag naman po sana kayo ganon (Please don’t be like that).”

Jhune said actor and former president Joseph Estrada, Hipolito's contemporary, paid the comedian a visit on Sunday night. “We're grateful to him. He had made Tatay very happy when he dropped by,” Hipolito's son said.

Hipolito, a slapstick comedian in the '70s and '80s, had always gone by the screen name Palito.

Hipolito’s career peaked in the '80s when he starred in several comedy films parodying American action films such as “Rambuto,” a spoof of “Rambo,” and “James Bone,” where he played the emaciated version of the British secret agent James Bond. In the 90s, he joined Dolphy in the comedy flick “Home Along The River,” a spoof of the Hollywood blockbuster “Home Alone.”

In 2004, his life story as a survivor of the Japanese occupation during World War II and his heyday as a slapstick comedian during the '70s was featured in the drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya.” He was also a cast member of the independent film, “Enterpool: Senior Citizen in Action,” released in 2005. His last movie was “M.O.N.A.Y.” in 2007.