German Moreno

Kuya Germs, home for his last parade

A galaxy of the brightest and biggest stars, TV personalities and media executives gathered together last January 13 at GMA Network to pay their last respects to the Master Showman German "Kuya Germs" Moreno and honor his life of love, loyalty, and passion.

Hosted by Dingdong Dantes and Jean Garcia, the necrological service for Kuya Germs was overwhelming with memories and fondness for the beloved showbiz icon.

From his humble beginnings as a janitor in Clover Theatre, to his thriving career in Sampaguita Pictures, up to his ground-breaking variety shows in GMA including Germside, Germspesyal, GMA Supershow, That’s Entertainment and Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman, Kuya Germs became the industry’s star builder extraordinaire because of his hard work, integrity, perseverance, and most of all, love for his craft. He was a well-loved pillar of the Philippine entertainment industry and throughout his highly-celebrated career, he was truly the epitome of a loyal Kapuso as he spent almost 5 decades of his showbiz life at his second home, GMA Network.

It was graced by GMA Network Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Felipe L. Gozon and his wife Mrs. Teresa M. Gozon, former Congressman Gilberto M. Duavit Sr., GMA President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., GMA Board Directors Joel G. Jimenez and Laura J. Westfall, GMA Films President Annette Gozon-Abrogar and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong together with Kuya Germs’ family, friends, former colleagues in the media and the Kapuso community and other Network officers.

Expressing his admiration and testifying to Kuya Germs’ loyalty is Atty. Gozon, “Speaking for myself, I cannot imagine a broadcast network without Kuya Germs.…but I think Kuya Germs will appreciate more if we keep his legacy alive by loving and nurturing show business with all our hearts and all our minds and with utmost sincerity.”

“Mahigit na 45 years si Kuya Germs dito sa Kapuso Network. And in most of my dealings with him, in my capacity as CEO, we were often guided only by gentleman’s agreement. Kuya Germs is not a man who needed written contracts. I could not help but admire by how he was driven by trust; trust that people will always be good-hearted and live up to their commitments. Kuya Germs was also all about loyalty. May mga unos man kaming pinagdaanan noon, hinangaan ko ang kanyang pagiging mapagkumbaba at ang kanyang likas na pagmamahal sa GMA. His humility truly made him a person larger than life,” said Atty. Gozon.

Proving as well how Kuya Germs was man of humility and generosity were eulogies from his close friends including Gilberto M. Duavit Sr., Joel G. Jimenez, GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment TV Lilybeth G. Rasonable, First Vice President for Program Management Jose Mari Abacan, Marichu “Manay Ichu” Maceda of Sampaguita Pictures, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, and Cecilio Pedro of Lamoiyan Corporation.

Though in deep sadness, Kuya Germs’ family led by his son Federico, grandchildren Jorell, Francheska, Raffy and Gabby, niece and family matriarch Dr. Vivian Nite dela Cruz, and nephew John Nite also expressed their gratitude to the people who paid tribute to Kuya Germs and shared their fondest memories of their ‘Papa.’

“I think everybody knows that he is a hardworking person. Monday to Sunday he works and that’s how dedicated my father was, and that’s how he loved his professions because he prayed for it, he asked for it. Every single opportunity that he got, he took care of it, he loved it, he gave his all. He is a generous man. Wala na siyang ibang inisip kung hindi kami: pamilya, kaibigan, and his contemporaries. My father is known as a star-builder and I can probably say that most of the stars in the industry came or started from him. But now I will share to you why he is successful in doing that because every child has a dream. My father would be the one to spark that light. He believes that for every child that dreams, they deserve to be given that opportunity to achieve their dreams. That is the secret of my father,” said Federico.

For his valuable contributions and loyalty to the network, GMA management presented a posthumous plaque of appreciation and recognition to Kuya Germs.

Among the notable names in the industry who came to pay their respects to the Master Showman were Jessica Soho, Marian Rivera, Dennis Trillo, Manilyn Reynes, Alessandra de Rossi, Keempee de Leon, Derrick Monasterio, Thea Tolentino, Jake Vargas, Mikoy Morales, Carmi Martin, Alessandra de Rossi, Eddie Ilarde, Diva Montelaba, Bibeth Orteza, Rafa Siguion-Reyna, Louise delos Reyes, Celia Rodriguez, Vina Morales, Senator Bongbong Marcos, KC Concepcion, Erik Santos, Bela Padilla, Betong Sumaya, Denice Barbacena, Angeli Pangilinan, Joey Generoso, Ramon Christopher, Maricel Morales, Michael Angelo, Shaina Magdayao, Prince Villanueva, Rochelle Barrameda, Maritoni Fernandez, Lance Raymundo, Shirley Fuentes, and among many others.

Celebrating the colorful life that Kuya Germs led, performances were also delivered by Gary Valenciano, Christian Bautista, The Company, Gerphil Flores, and Dulce.

A funeral mass was held yesterday morning (January 14) at GMA 7 before he was laid to rest at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina. Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid rendered a heartfelt song for the Master showman during the mass. Federico once again thanked all the people who paid tribute and supported his Papa throughout his career.

All the words that were said and the tears that were shed would not seem enough to gratify the profound love that they have for Kuya Germs. (30)

GMA Network statement on the passing of German “Kuya Germs” Moreno

GMA Network deeply mourns with the entire entertainment industry the passing of our beloved German 'Kuya Germs' Moreno.

The Master Showman will be greatly missed by his friends and fans both here and abroad, especially those in show business, where he devoted the best years of his life. Kuya Germs was responsible for building the careers of the biggest stars we now have.

The epitome of a loyal Kapuso, his dedication to the industry will serve as an inspiration to all. We pray for his eternal repose.

German Molina Moreno (October 4, 1933 – January 8, 2016), also known as Kuya Germs or the Master Showman, was a Filipino television host, actor, comedian and talent manager (star-builder) popular during the 1980s.

Early life

His parents were Jose Moreno y Caloy (Pepe), a Filipino-Spanish, and Aurora Molina. He had one sister, Pilar Moreno Nite. His father passed away after an accident involving an American soldier. Moreno first worked for an aunt's taxi company and also sold bibingka, peanuts, and cigarettes. He became a jeepney barker.

Personal life

He had an adopted son named Federico Moreno. His grandson Luis Moreno is anarcher. His nephew, John Nite is also a TV host who is currently seen on Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman on GMA 7.

Career

Early career

Moreno became involved in the entertainment industry working as a janitor and telonero (curtain raiser) of Clover Theater in 1957. His first break was a role as Jesus Christ for the Manila Grand Opera House. He later went on to pursue a career as a comedian of the bodabil stage and the post-war screen.

Later career

In 1963, Moreno took his comedy act to Sampaguita Pictures, the home of biggest stars at that time such as Dolphy, Panchito,Gloria Romero, and Susan Roces. He hosted a premiere night at the Life Theater but refused Nene Vera-Perez's attempt to pay him and instead asked for movie roles instead. Moreno then had roles in the movies Dance-O-Rama, Mga Batang Iskwater, Class Reunion and Mga Batang Bakasyunista. It was in his Sampaguita stint where he met his longtime co-host Ike Lozada.

Moreno also became a disc jockey as Eddie Ilarde's sidekick in the radio program "Ngayon Naman" on CBN. In 1969, he transferred radio stations to DZTR as a pinch-hitter for Helen Vela, Bingo Lacson, and Ben David. Moreno would then be given his own timeslot from 11pm to 12mn for "Bisita Artista", "Music Factory", with Lozada and Inday Badiday and the famous "Guy and Pip Song Festival". In the last decades of his life, he would host his own hour-long show on dzBB during weekdays at 2:30pm.

Moreno's biggest break came on television in the late 1970s when he became host of the Sunday noontime variety show, GMA Supershow (first known as Germside and Germspesyal). He eventually became the host, starbuilder and producer of That's Entertainment, a youth-oriented variety show developing the biggest stars in the Philippine entertainment industry. He was also known by giving gift packs from the show's sponsors to every guests of his programs.^[7] Aside from his hosting stints in two GMA shows, Moreno also hosted Superstar, a Sunday musical-variety show of Nora Aunor, co-hosted with Jograd dela Torre. He was also the host of a late-night show entitled Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman. He is also the close friends of Aunor.

Moreno also produced TV films such as Kung Mayroon Mang Pangarap, Ganti, Sa Paglinaw Ng Tubig, Ikaw, Ako at Ang Awit,Dalawang Ina, Dalawang Pag-ibig, Larawan ng Isang Ina, and Ina.

He is the founder of the Eastwood City Walk of Fame in Quezon City, Philippines, patterned to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California. Since 1996, FAMAS started to give out the Youth Achievement Award, named after him. The German Moreno Youth Achievement Award is given to a batch of young stars that have exemplar performances in the motion picture industry.

It was followed by the German Moreno Power Tandem Award in 2014 by the Philippine Movie Press Club, recognizing the most phenomenal love teams in Philippine television.^[15] He was also the former president of Katipunan ng mga Artistang Pilipino sa Pelikula at Telebisyon (KAPPT). He also endorsed prominent brands such as Vaseline Shampoo and Dazz Diswashing Paste.

In April 2013, Moreno celebrated his 50th anniversary in the Philippine entertainment industry with a tribute special entitled "50 Years With The Master Showman" at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila, Pasay City. The special was attended by Moreno's "anak-anakan"'s (his discoveries) throughout his five decades in showbiz.

Health and death

Moreno suffered a mild stroke on January 2, 2015. His condition improved soon after, according to his son Federico Moreno. Few months later, he returned to Walang Siyesta! and Walang Tulugan.

One year later, he suffered another stroke. He was rushed to the St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City on 8 January 2016, where he died on the same day at 3:20 a.m from cardiac arrest according to his nephew John Nite. He was 82 years old.He was buried in Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.