4 weeks ago
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Evelyn Bontogon-Guerrero, widely known as Matutina from the hit 1970s sitcom "John en Marsha," passed away on Friday, as confirmed by her daughter Shiela Guerrero. She was 78.
Comedian Matutina PHOTO FROM IMDB
Matutina began her entertainment career as a radio talent before becoming a household name in television. She gained fame playing the maid to the affluent Doña Delilah G. Jones, portrayed by the late Dely Atay-Atayan, in "John and Marsha '77 (1977)," "John en Marsha ngayon '91" (1991) and "Da Best of John & Marsha sa Pelikula (1984)," among its many other sequels.
Matutina credited her radio experience for her discovery in television.
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"I got discovered on TV because of radio where I would do a number of voices: man, woman, boy, girl, elderly. Name it!" she told Julius Babao in a September 2024 interview on his YouTube channel.
Her big break came when "John en Marsha" director Ading Fernando was scouting for talent. She was cast immediately, without an audition, to play the role that would define her career.
According to Matutina, she personally chose her screen name explaining, "I told director Ading I wanted to go by that name. It was also my idea that I sound that loud to differentiate my voice from the ones I did on radio," she said.
In a November 2024 interview with Maricel Soriano on her YouTube channel, Matutina reflected on how "John en Marsha" changed her life.
"Because of 'John en Marsha,' I learned to work hard so I could send my siblings to school and help my parents as well. The timing was perfect because my life improved when I joined 'John en Marsha,'" she shared.
Details of Matutina's wake have not yet been announced.
