Ernie Zarate

Ernesto R. Zárate (1939 – September 16, 2017), professionally known as Ernie Zarate, was a Filipino actor, writer, architect and news anchor.

Career

Zarate served as a news anchor for The Big News at ABC in the 1960s.^[1]

He served as the national director of the Philippine Institute of Architects.^[2]

Death

Zarate died from complications of diabetes at the age of 77 on the evening of September 16, 2017.^[3]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Note(s)	Ref(s).
1971	Pagdating sa Dulo
1971	Daluyong!
1972	Till Death Do Us Part
1973	Now and Forever
1973	Tanikalang Dugo
1974	Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang
1974	Mga Tigre ng Sierra Cruz
1975	Ang Manika Ay Takot sa Krus
	Huwag Pamarisan!... Mister Mo... Lover Boy Ko!
	Diligin Mo ng Hamog ang Uhaw Na Lupa
1977	Bakya Mo, Neneng
1977	Walang Katapusang Tag-araw
1978	Disco Fever
1978	Ikaw Ay Akin
1979	Okey Lang, Basta't Kapiling Kita
1979	Warrant of Arrest
1980	Nakaw Na Pag-ibig
1980	Girlfriend
1981	Sierra Madre
1984	Daang Hari
1985	Ben Tumbling
1985	Warbus	Major Kutran
1986	Mabuhay Ka... sa Baril!	Illegal recruiter
1986	Cordillera	Ka Dado
1987	Kapag Lumaban ang Api	Chavez
	Kamagong	Chavez
	Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat sa Akin	Dr. Fernando
	Feliciano Luces: Alyas Kumander Toothpick, Mindanao	The mayor
	Target: Sparrow Unit
	Kapag Puno Na ang Salop
	Anak ni Zuma
1988	Afuang: Bounty Hunter	Mr. Laurete
	Rosa Mistica	The caretaker	"Mga Pulang Rosas ni Rosanna" segment
	Haw Haw de Karabaw
	Lost Command
	Boy Negro	Chief of police
	Kumander Dante
	Sandakot Na Bala	Assemblyman
1989	3 Mukha ng Pag-ibig	University dean	"I Love You, Moomoo" segment
	Eagle Squad	Gen. Santos
	Driving Force	Accountant
	Fight for Us	Bishop Romero
	Kailan Mahuhugasan ang Kasalanan?	Judge
	Kung Kasalanan Man	Plastic surgeon
	Ako ang Huhusga
	Abot Hanggang Sukdulan	Judge
	Babayaran Mo ng Dugo
	Jones Bridge Massacre (Task Force Clabio)	Alfredo Lim
1990	Kahit Konting Pagtingin	Atty. Alvarez
	Kahit Singko, Hindi Ko Babayaran ang Buhay Mo
	Gumapang Ka sa Lusak	Rachel's father
	Bakit Ikaw Pa Rin?
	Kristobal
	Samson and Goliath
	Kaaway ng Batas	Doctor
	Andrea, Paano Ba ang Maging Isang Ina?
1991	Pangako ng Puso
	Bingbong: The Vincent Crisologo Story
	Boyong Mañalac: Hoodlum Terminator
	Ang Katawan ni Sofia
	Makiusap Ka sa Diyos	Fr. Emman
	Pakasalan Mo Ako
	Ang Totoong Buhay ni Pacita M.
1992	Jesus dela Cruz at ang Mga Batang Riles
	Mukhang Bungo: Da Coconut Nut	Col. Fidel Estrada
	Cordora: Lulutang Ka sa Sarili Mong Dugo	Fr. Emman
	Shotgun Banjo
	Gobernador
1993	Pugoy – Hostage: Davao
	Capt. Rassul Alih, Hindi Sa'yo ang Mindanao
	Galvez: Hanggang sa Dulo ng Mundo Hahanapin Kita
	Aguinaldo	CPP Chairman
	Doring Dorobo: Hagupit ng Batas	NBI Director Alfredo Lim
	May Minamahal	Tito Felix
1994	Hindi Pa Tapos ang Laban
	Markadong Hudas	Col. Romero
	Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko	Judge
	Ging Gang Gooly Giddiyap: I Love You Daddy	Attorney
	Epimaco Velasco, NBI	Jolly Bugarin
	Vampira			^[4]
1995	Alfredo Lim, Batas ng Maynila
	Tapang sa Tapang
	Ipaglaban Mo: The Movie		"Rape (Case No. 538842)" segment
	O-Ha! Ako Pa?	Dracula/first victim
	Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara	Priest
	Asero	Narding's foster father
	Minsan Pa: Kahit Konting Pagtingin Part 2	Atty. Alvarez
1996	Anak, Pagsubok Lamang ng Diyos	Prison director
	Adan Lazaro	Sen. Miranda
	Impakto	Sagrado
	Ganti ng Puso
	Radio Romance	Fernando Balmaceda
	Ama, Ina, Anak	Dado
	Pag-ibig Ko Sayo'y Totoo	Cmdre. Manalo
	Papunta Ka Pa Lang, Pabalik Na Ako	Maira's father
	Reputasyon
	Isla: The Young Version
	Virgin Island
	Bakit May Kahapon Pa?	Colonel
	Ang Probinsyano	Investigation officer
	Onyok Tigasin
1997	Daniel Eskultor: Hindi Umaatras sa Laban	Colonel
	Mariano Mison... NBI	Jolly Bugarin
	Ambisyosa
	Diliryo	Family lawyer
	Hanggang Ngayon, Ika'y Minamahal	Judge Santos
	Frame Up	Gen. Robles
	Ipaglaban Mo: The Movie II
	Kokey
	Halik	Tito Ben
1998	Silaw
	Kahit Pader, Gigibain Ko	C/Supt. Moreno
	Ben Delubyo	General
	Pusong Mamon
	Puso ng Pasko	Family doctor
1999	Type Kita... Walang Kokontra	Judge
	Pintado	Ravena
	Desperado: Bahala Na ang Itaas
	Ako ang Lalagot sa Hininga Mo	Mayor Cervantes
2000	Nag-aapoy Na Laman	Atty. Tancero		^[5]
	Tumbador	Mr. De Leon
	Baliktaran	Hepe Monsanto
	The Debut	Tito Lenny
	Ika-13 Kapitulo	Father Francis		^[5]
	Sugo ng Tondo	Col. Roberto Nebres
	Ping Lacson: Super Cop	Senator Ernesto Maceda
2001	Hindi Sisiw ang Kalaban Mo	Mr. Joson
	Kaaway Hanggang Hukay	Roland Canlas
	Maderazo: Bayad Na Pati Kaluluwa Mo	Lt. Domingo
	Pilak	Lucio Aragon
	Amasona: Kumakasa...Pumuputok
2002	Hustler			^[6]
	Batas ng Lansangan	Convict's father
	Kapag ang Palay Naging Bigas... May Bumayo			^[5]
	Teteng Baliw			^[5]
2003	The Legend: Tomagan
	When Eagles Strike	Ramiro	Original title: Operation Balikatan
	Filipinas	Deceased father	Photograph cameo	^[7]
2004	Gagamboy	Boss
2004	Beautiful Life	Fernando		^[8]
2005	Terrorist Hunter		Shot in 2003
2006	Eternity	Leoncio		^[5]
2007	Katas ng Saudi	Father-in-law		^[5]
2008	Desperadas			^[9]
2012	Ang Katiwala			^[10]

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref(s).
1962	The Big News	Himself (anchor)		^[1]
1988	A Dangerous Life	Andres Narvasa	Television film
1993–1999	Maalaala Mo Kaya	Various	5 episodes
1997–1999	Esperanza	Councilor Martin Alberto
1999–2000	Labs Ko si Babe
1999–2001	Wansapanataym	Various	3 episodes
1999–2002	Ang Munting Paraiso	Lolo Ingo
2000–2002	Pangako sa 'Yo	Mayor Enrique Zalameda
2002	S.A.T.S.U.			^[11]
2003–2004	Narito ang Puso Ko	Enrico	Guest
2004; 2014	Magpakailanman		Episodes: "Sayaw ng Tagumpay" "Kulam ng Paghihiganti"
2010	Grazilda	Leon	Guest
2011	Magic Palayok	Ipe Calevio
2013	Forever	Older Federico Gallardo
2013	Home Sweet Home	Duarte Caharian
2014–2015	More Than Words		Guest

Theatre

Year	Title	Role	Note(s)	Ref(s).
1974	Alitan sa Venezia			^[12]
2006	The Vigil			^[13]

Bibliography

Zárate, Ernie (2000). Oro, Plata, Mata!: Folk Beliefs in Philippine Architecture, National Commission for Culture and the Arts^[14]
Zárate, Ernesto R.; Rico, Joel; Zaragoza, Ramon Ma. (2003). Philippine Institute of Architects: 70 years of History, 1933–2003, Adarna Publishing
Zárate, Ernesto R. (2004). More Filipino Building Beliefs, Rendor Printing Corp.
Zárate, Ernie (2004). The Malictionary: Pronouncing Dictionary, National Book Store, Inc.^[15]

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
1979	Gawad Urian Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Ikaw Ay Akin	Nominated
2001	Palanca Awards	Essay	"Lengua Estopado Does Not Mean Stupid Language"	2nd place

References

^ ^a ^b "Newscast with depth". The Manila Times. August 7, 1962. Ernie Zarate, left, is the newscaster on Channel 5 The Big News, a program with depth[...]
^ Zárate, Ernie (2000). Oro, Plata, Mata!: Filipino Building Beliefs. p. back cover.
^ "Veteran actor Ernie Zarate dies at 77". GMA News Online. September 18, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
^ Yeatter, Bryan (2007). Cinema of the Philippines: A History and Filmography, 1897-2005. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 391. ISBN 978-0-7864-3047-5. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Tiongson, Nicanor G., ed. (2013). The Urian Anthology, 2000-2009: The Rise of the Philippine New Wave Indie Film. University of the Philippines Press. pp. 116, 511, 517, 544, 547–548, 591.
^ "Hustler in Cebu and Davao". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. February 21, 2002. p. 22. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
^ Lo, Ricky (October 28, 2003). "Filipinas mirrors plight of RP family". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 13, 2025. [...]Ernie Zarate, who actually has no role in the film, but is shown in the family picture, having died before the start of the story[...]
^ Cuyugan, Virginia D.; Lauzon, Lucenio Martin L.; Batac, Jeffrey D., eds. (August 2013). "Filmography of Filipino Films 2012". Plaridel. 10 (2). University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication: 145.
^ Zamora, Berinice I.; Quintillan, Lynette S.; del Mundo, Pol, eds. (August 2013). "Filmography of Filipino Films 2012". Plaridel. 10 (2). University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication: 145.
^ Lauzon, Lucenio Martin L.; Mendez, Maria Regina V.; Tamayo, Alex Nicolas P., eds. (August 2013). "Filmography of Filipino Films 2012". Plaridel. 10 (2). University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication: 145.
^ Torre, Nestor U. (June 4, 2002). "Top female sex symbols". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. A27. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
^ Casanova, Arthur de la Peña (1984). Kasaysayan at Pag-unlad ng Dulaang Pilipino [History and Development of Filipino Theatre] (in Filipino). Manila, Philippines: REX Book Store. p. 131. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
^ "Hontiveros-Avellana directs 'The Vigil'". The Manila Times. February 11, 2001. p. C1. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
^ Alcazaren, Paulo G. (2001). "Benchmarking Philippine Architecture". Sanghaya: Philippine Arts and Culture Yearbook. 1 (1). National Commission for Culture and the Arts: 27. ISSN 1655-1796.
^ Torre, Nestor U. (November 18, 1992). "Instructive and entertaining reading fare". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 11. Retrieved January 19, 2025. In his book titled Neither Trumpets Nor Drums, which he launches today[...]

[TMT62-1] "Newscast with depth". The Manila Times. August 7, 1962. Ernie Zarate, left, is the newscaster on Channel 5 The Big News, a program with depth[...]

[2] Zárate, Ernie (2000). Oro, Plata, Mata!: Filipino Building Beliefs. p. back cover.

[3] "Veteran actor Ernie Zarate dies at 77". GMA News Online. September 18, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2025.

[Yeatter-4] Yeatter, Bryan (2007). Cinema of the Philippines: A History and Filmography, 1897-2005. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 391. ISBN 978-0-7864-3047-5. Retrieved December 13, 2025.

[Urian2000-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Tiongson, Nicanor G., ed. (2013). The Urian Anthology, 2000-2009: The Rise of the Philippine New Wave Indie Film. University of the Philippines Press. pp. 116, 511, 517, 544, 547–548, 591.

[6] "Hustler in Cebu and Davao". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. February 21, 2002. p. 22. Retrieved December 13, 2025.

[7] Lo, Ricky (October 28, 2003). "Filipinas mirrors plight of RP family". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 13, 2025. [...]Ernie Zarate, who actually has no role in the film, but is shown in the family picture, having died before the start of the story[...]

[8] Cuyugan, Virginia D.; Lauzon, Lucenio Martin L.; Batac, Jeffrey D., eds. (August 2013). "Filmography of Filipino Films 2012". Plaridel. 10 (2). University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication: 145.

[9] Zamora, Berinice I.; Quintillan, Lynette S.; del Mundo, Pol, eds. (August 2013). "Filmography of Filipino Films 2012". Plaridel. 10 (2). University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication: 145.

[10] Lauzon, Lucenio Martin L.; Mendez, Maria Regina V.; Tamayo, Alex Nicolas P., eds. (August 2013). "Filmography of Filipino Films 2012". Plaridel. 10 (2). University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication: 145.

[11] Torre, Nestor U. (June 4, 2002). "Top female sex symbols". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. A27. Retrieved December 13, 2025.

[12] Casanova, Arthur de la Peña (1984). Kasaysayan at Pag-unlad ng Dulaang Pilipino [History and Development of Filipino Theatre] (in Filipino). Manila, Philippines: REX Book Store. p. 131. Retrieved December 13, 2025.

[13] "Hontiveros-Avellana directs 'The Vigil'". The Manila Times. February 11, 2001. p. C1. Retrieved December 13, 2025.

[14] Alcazaren, Paulo G. (2001). "Benchmarking Philippine Architecture". Sanghaya: Philippine Arts and Culture Yearbook. 1 (1). National Commission for Culture and the Arts: 27. ISSN 1655-1796.

[PDITorre-15] Torre, Nestor U. (November 18, 1992). "Instructive and entertaining reading fare". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 11. Retrieved January 19, 2025. In his book titled Neither Trumpets Nor Drums, which he launches today[...]

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