The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
by Boy Villasanta
He was well-loved and respected by people from all walks of life not only as an actor but as a human person, first and foremost.
Jose Ma. Moreno Rodriguez, also known as Pepito Rodriguez, died recently of undisclosed cause.
His loyal household member, Jecca Jamandre Abad, said that Pepito had fought fiercely against his illness.
“Lumaban pa siya. Sabi niya sa akin, uuwi na kami bukas sa Antipolo. Nagbibiruan pa nga kami na itakas siya sa (He was still fighting for his life. He told me that he would go home to Antipolo tomorrow. He was even joking that he would be slipped out from the) admitting room,” said Jecca who wrote the message on February 27, 2026.
Rafael Alunan III, former politician and Pepito’s first cousin was devastated when he learned of the passing of his relative.
“My first cousin, Lito (Pepito) Rodriguez, passed away early this morning. Last I heard from his youngest brother Antonio M. Rodriguez ‘Tony’ that Lito was expected to leave the hospital within 6 days. Jesus had other plans for Lito, a gentleman to the core, humble, low key, empathetic, and truly at the service of others,” noted Raffy in his social media posts on the same day Jecca sent his message to the digital world.
Pepito’s remains were inurned last Sunday, March 1, 2026, according to Alunan III.
During the two-night vigil at the Heritage Park and Crematorium in Taguig City, family, colleagues, friends, business associates, acquaintances and followers, flocked to the memorial chapel to say little prayers, novena prayers and pay their last respects to Pepito.
On the first night of the wake, Pepito’s contemporaries and fellow members of Balik-Samahan–an organization of veteran, inactive if not retired stars—were around to memorialize his life.
Spotted at the wake, aside from Alunan, were Marissa Delgado, Pempe Rodrigo, Marita Zobel, Nova Villa, Dulce, Aster Amoyo, Willie Chu, Darius Razon, Anna Ledesma and a lot more.
One conspicuous presence was action star and director Efren Reyes, the scion of the late veteran actor whose namesake reminded the earlier ascent of stars in the 50s and 60s when Sampaguita Pictures, Pepito’s mother studio and the other Big Four film outfits (LVN Pictures, Lebran and Premiere Productions) the elder Efren was identified particularly with the company of the Santiagos.
Besides, I have been hearing from Marynette Gamboa, Water Plus Productions’ lady boss about her business partnership with the Rodriguezes.
Later, after being widowed, Marynette was romantically linked with Efren and so their business association with Pepito became more prosperous and evident.
As a matinee idol launched in the mid-60s, Pepito was part of the glitz, glam and royal ten teen Stars ’66 composed of Gina Pareno, Bert Leroy, Jr., Blanca Gomez, Edgar Salcedo, Loretta Marquez, Dindo Fernando, Ramil Rodriguez, Shirley Moreno and Rosemarie Sonora.
He was the perennial screen partner of Rosemarie in films like “Juanita Banana,” “Mga Reynang Engkantada,” “Mga Batang Bakasyunista,” among others.
Pepito was 83.