Jesus Songco Lapid (October 5, 1933 – July 13, 1968) was a Filipino actor and father of actor, diving instructor, and fight director Jess Lapid Jr. He was given the movie screen name Jess Lapid. His older brother is Jose Lapid, father of Lito Lapid.
He was fatally shot inside a nightclub in Quezon City on July 13, 1968.
Early life Jesus Songco Lapid was born on October 5, 1933, in Guagua, Pampanga,. His older brother, Jose, is the father and grandfather of movie stars-turned politicians Lito Lapid (now a Senator), and his son is Mark Lapid (former governor of Pampanga and now TIEZA Head). Jess started as a grip for Premiere Productions. He then became an extra for Premiere Productions, and shifted to being a stuntman after finding out that they were paid more.
Career Jesus Songco Lapid was a stuntman of Premiere, often doubling for more established stars. His stunts included riding horses, falling from cliffs, and getting shot at by villains. He doubled for action movie star Fernando Poe Jr., which eventually led to a close friendship.
In May 1960, during a visit to Cebu City, Lapid managed to shield fellow actor Zaldy Zshornack from knife-wielding assailants, receiving three stab wounds in his right arm while Zshornack fired two warning shots to scare away the assailants.
When Poe ventured into film productions, he made Jess one of the regulars in his films, giving him roles that required real acting, rather than choreographed stunt actions. Jess rose to the occasion and proved to be a convincing character actor. Poe tried him out in Pasong Diablo, in 1961. It was then in the FPJ Productions, Sierra Madre (1963) that Poe decided to give Jess the full star treatment from a more prominent billing to major publicity exposures.
It was Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions picked him up and eventually made him into a superstar in the movie “Kardong Kidlat” (1964) which became such a smashing success at the box office tills. At the Globe Theater where the movie was launched, a long queue of movie fans lined up around the building just to get in and watch the talk-of-the-town film.
1964 proved to be a bright and busy year for Jess, appearing in films like Bilis at Tapang with Romeo Vasquez and Vendetta Brothers with Joseph Estrada and Eddie Garcia. He co-starred with Vic Vargas in “7 Kilabot ng Barilan”. In 1966, he got to team up with Gloria Romero in the film Batang Muntinglupa, which would be the only movie they did together. The film also starred a young Jay Ilagan. In 1968, Jess appeared alongside Poe Jr. and Estrada in “3 Hari”, an FPJ productions offering.
As he was raking it in, he invested in his own film outfit, Jela Productions, and began producing his own movies.
Personal life Of his 3 children, one went on to follow in his footsteps. His namesake, Jess Lapid Jr. also became a movie actor, and a film and fight director, and also now currently a scuba diving instructor. He appeared in a 1980 spin-off film that made his father famous, Ang Bagong Kardong Kidlat. Jess Jr. capped his career with a Best Supporting Actor award for the movie “Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin” in 1993.
Filmography Film Year Title Role 1958 Laban sa Lahat Jesus Lapid 1959 Ang Kanyang Kamahalan 1959 Tough Guy 1960 Krus Na Daan 1960 Huwag Mo Akong Limutin 1960 Cuatro Cantos 1961 The Flash Elorde Story 1961 Baril sa Baril 1962 Mga Trigreng Taga-Bukid 1962 Batang Maynila 1962 Kambal Na Baril 1962 Pitong Kabanalan ng Isang Makasalanan 1962 Markang Rehas 1962 Suicide Commandoes 1962 Dead or Alive 1962 Cuatro Condenados 1962 Asiong Meets Alembong 1963 Limang Kidlat 1963 Kung Gabi sa Maynila 1963 Ang Babaeng Isputnik 1963 Isputnik vs. Darna 1963 Kung Hindi Ka Susuko ...! 1963 Sierra Madre 1963 Ang Sangano at Colegiala 1963 Tres Kantos 1963 Sigaw ng Digmaan 1963 Patapon 1963 Ito ang Maynila 1964 Labo-Labo 1964 Kardong Kidlat Kardong Kidlat 1964 Bilis at Tapang 1964 Deadly Brothers 1965 Ito ang Mga Lalaki 1965 Black Jack Hari 1965 Tatlo sa Tatlo 1965 Labanang Lalake 1965 Guillermo Bravado Guillermo Bravado 1966 Batang Muntinlupa 1966 Soliman Brothers 1966 San Bernardo 1966 Katapat ng Bawat Lakas 1966 Huling Baraha 1966 Pistolero Pistolero 1967 Vagabond 1967 Umpisahan Mo at Tatapusin Ko! 1967 The Mark of Kardo 1967 Operation Impossible 1967 Marko Asintado 1967 Kidlat Meets Gringo 1967 Kardong Kaliwa 1967 Barako He-Man 1967 Ang Limbas at ang Lawin 1967 Alamat ng 7 Kilabot 1967 Sibad 1968 Tatlong Hari 1968 Cuadro de Jack 1968 Zaragoza Zaragoza 1968 Valiente Brothers 1968 Simarron Brothers 1968 Raton Ariel Raton Ariel 1968 Leon Guerrero: Laban sa 7 Kilabot Leon Guerrero 1968 Killer Patrol 1968 Kardong Pusa Kardo the Catman 1968 Journey to Hell: The Lucky 9 Commandos 1968 3 Kilabot sa Barilan Kardong Kidlat 1973 Fandong Asintado
Death and legacy After wrapping up the movie Simaron Brothers with Jun Aristorenas, on the night of 13 July 1968, Lapid Sr. was shot to death at the Lanai Nightclub after an altercation between two groups of movie personalities. Jess was brought to the National Orthopedic Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. He was 34 years old. Persistent reports linked the incident to another Kapampangan actress, Nancy Roman, also his leading lady. A suspect, Mario Henson, gave himself up to the police, and at least one gunman from Angeles City was implicated in the crime.
A public viewing of his body was held at the Santo Cristo Chapel, then his body was brought to his hometown on July 13, 1968. His was buried at Guagua Cemetery in Pampanga.
Simaron Brothers was shown posthumously at the Globe Theater, and the blurb capitalized on his sensational death by touting his last movie as a “picture that will project the living image of Jess Lapid in the hearts of millions..”.
As a belated tribute, his nephew Lito Lapid appeared as Jess Lapid in the biopic The Jess Lapid Story, released in 1978. He also immortalized the iconic role of Leon Guerrero, first originated by Jess in the 1968 film, “Leon Guerrero: Laban sa 7 Kilabot”.
Lapid Sr. is regarded as one of the stunt performers who transitioned to leading roles in action films, alongside actors such as Lito Lapid, Fernando Poe Jr., Dante Varona and Baldo Marro. He is associated with the action film genre during his era.
In popular culture He was portrayed by his nephew, Lito Lapid, in the 1978 biopic film The Jess Lapid Story He was portrayed by his son, Jess Lapid Jr., in the 1994 film Epimaco Velasco: NBI.
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