Billy Balbastro
Filemon R. Balbastro, Jr., better known as Billy Balbastro, was a Filipino lawyer and entertainment columnist.Early life
Balbastro was born in Oton, Iloilo. By the age of fifteen, Balbastro was covering the entertainment beat for the Philippine Free Press and the Kislap-Graphic. He graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1962, and worked for ten years in the Commission of Elections with stints in Vigan and Romblon. His columns appeared in the Abante and Abante Tonight tabloids. From 1982 to 1985, Balbastro was the president of the Philippine Movie Press Club.
Balbastro hosted a showbusiness-themed radio program, Showtime with Billy, which aired over DZMM. He also was a member of the Committee for Cinema of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.Filmography
Radio
- Showtime With Billy
TV Show
- Movie Magazine
- Two for the Road
- Troika Tonite
Movies
- Sinong Pipigil sa Pagpatak ng Ulan?
- High School Circa '65
- Kaaway ng Batas
- Lt. Madarang: Iginuhit sa Dugo
- Lab Kita... Bilib Ka Ba?
- Costales
- Tapatan ng Tapang
- Tampisaw
- Takaw-tingin
- Anak ni Brocka
- Kaleldo
- Twilight Dancers - Mr. Big Judge
- Troika
Death
Billy Balbastro died from lung cancer on February 2, 2008 in Parañaque.
