Arvin Jimenez, known mononymously as Tado, was a Filipino comedian, actor, radio personality, businessman, published author and activist. His nickname "Tado" comes from a Tagalog expletive he frequently blurts out. Tado was primarily known for the offbeat television programStrangebrew and the U92 radio program The BrewRATs!.
Early life and career
Prior to fame, Tado had worked on various odd jobs such as a staff in a mental hospital, a waiter, a scriptwriter for television and a photojournalist. Tado graduated from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines with a degree in Psychology. He was an active member of Scouts Royale Brotherhood 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, Tado 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. He eventually studied film making at the Mowelfund Institute. Tado later co-founded Dakila, an artists group aiming to instill modern-day heroism in everyday people, with poet Lourd de Veyra, bassist for Parokya ni Edgar, Buwi Meneses and acclaimed actor, Ronnie Lazaro. Tado 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".
Strangebrew
Tado became involved in television with the premiere of the off-the-wall magazine show Strangebrew in the then-NU 107 operated UNTV Channel 37, with Angel Rivero as his co-host, in 2001. His maroon Volkswagen Beetle took him and Rivero throughout Metro Manila on an adventure with "a unique cartoony look, a caustic wit" with "a weird sense of humor." Strangebrew and Tado became a cult hit until the show was canceled a year later, with him enshrined as a pop culture icon. In almost all episodes whenever they interview a certain person, Tado throws his famous question "Kuya/ate, sa tagal mo nang ginagawa itong trabaho na ito, umibig ka na ba?"
The BrewRATs!
He was reunited with Rivero in Hit 99.5 FM late-night talk showThe BrewRATs! in which is a pun on the Tagalog slang of the male genitalia. 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, and 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. 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, Tado also designed LimiTado, 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. He also has a tattoo shop.
