'Mr. Shooli' comedian Jun Urbano dies at 84

Veteran actor and advertising creative Manuel "Jun" Salazar Urbano Jr., popularly known as the irreverent social critic "Mr. Shooli," has died. He was 84 years old.

His death was confirmed by his son Banots Urbano in a Facebook post on Saturday. "A part of me has departed with you, love you," said the younger Urbano, who included a photo of him playfully engaging in a lightsaber duel with his father.

"I will cherish this moment for the rest of my life. I love you so much, Dad, until we meet again," Banots said in another post.

The University of the Philippines – College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) also announced Urbano's passing in a Facebook post on Saturday. 

Urbano was the recipient of this year's Gawad Plaridel, the university system's highest recognition for outstanding media practitioners.

UP CMC recognized Urbano "para sa paglikha niya ng mga produksiyon sa telebisyon at pelikula na nag-angat sa nilalaman at anyo ng komedi, na maaring gamitin ng mga susunod na henerasyon ng mga midya praktisyuner bilang modelo sa paglikha ng mga akdang pangmidya na may mataas na uri at tunay na malasakit sa bayan." [for creating television and film productions that elevated the content and form of comedy, which may be used by future generations of media practitioners as a model in creating media works that have a high level and authentic concern for the country.]

Urbano was conferred the Gawad Plaridel award in October. 

His body of work was cited for its "profound social commentary, and his remarkable contributions to multimedia commercial advertising are distinguished by their humane values and unforgettable Pinoy humor."

In August, the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) bestowed the Dr. Jose R. Perez Memorial Award on Urbano for his outstanding contribution to Philippine cinema.

In his traditional Gawad Plaridel lecture, Urbano recalled the words of his late father, National Artist Manuel Conde: "Mr. Shooli, if you want the patient to get well because he is very sick and he doesn't want to take the bitter medicine for him to get well, give him joke. Patawanin mo. 'Pag bukas na yung kanyang bibig tsaka mo ipasok 'yung gamot. [Make him laugh. When he opens his mouth, put in the medicine]. And that's what I'm doing to you," Urbano was quoted as saying by the UP System website.

Urbano told UP students and the Filipino youth: "This country is your country. The future of this country is your future. Then try to work on it. Use your knowledge to improve the country."  – VDV, GMA Integrated News