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Sonny Parsons
Parsons in 2013
Member of the Marikina Municipal Council
In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1995
Personal details
Born	Parsons Agliam Nabiula Jr. (1958-08-22)August 22, 1958 Marikina, Rizal, Philippines
Died	May 10, 2020(2020-05-10) (aged 61) Tayabas, Quezon, Philippines
Resting place	Heavens Gate Memorial Garden II, Antipolo, Rizal
Parent	Parsons Nabiula (father) (father)
Occupation	Actor singer film director former politician
Nickname(s)	Jong, Sonny

Parsons Agliam Nabiula Jr. (August 22, 1958 – May 10, 2020), known professionally as Sonny Parsons, was a Filipino actor, singer, director and politician in the Philippines. He was a member of Hagibis, an all-male sing-and-dance group in the late 1970s to the early 1980s, who were coined as the Filipino version of the Village People. He was a councilor in Marikina, Metro Manila, serving from 1992 to 1995. He died on May 10, 2020, from a heart attack caused by heat stroke.

Early life

Sonny Parsons was born to Parsons Nabiula, a Constabulary officer from Sulu and former Olympic swimmer.

Singing career

In the late 1970s to 1980s, Parsons was a member of the Manila sound group Hagibis together with Bernie Fineza, Mike Respall, Joji Garcia and Mon Picazo. Their hit songs included "Legs", "Babae", "Lalake" and "Katawan" (a theme song in Palibhasa Lalake, a Philippine TV sitcom series), among others. In 2001, Hagibis reunited and released one album under Star Records. He performed in a series of concerts at various venues such as in Hobbit House (Ermita), Hobbit East (Antipolo), Bodega City (Quezon Ave) and Cowboy Grill (Malate), among others. In 2011, he was a special guest in the Philippines leg of the greatest hits tour of Bobby Kimball (original lead singer of Toto).

Acting career

In 1981, the Hagibis members made a film titled Legs, Katawan, Babae (lit. 'Legs, Body, Woman') with Laarni Enriquez, Myrna Castillo and Jess Lapid, Jr., and directed by Tony Ferrer. When Hagibis split up in the 1980s, Parsons became an actor, director, and politician. He appeared in many action films in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He starred with Ronnie Ricketts in the 1989 action film UZI Brother 9mm which was directed by Francis 'Jun' Posadas. His first TV guest appearance was in the 1991 teleserye Agila which starred Val Sotto, Aurora Sevilla and Roy Alvarez. He produced, directed, and starred in the film Bala Para sa Katarungan for Regal Films in 1997.

As a result of the July 2002 attempted robbery of Parsons' house, an autobiographical film he was in the middle of shooting titled Konsehal, Halal Kang Palaban (lit. 'Councilor, You Were Elected a Fighter') had to be shelved, with its producer backing out due to the incident.

Parsons played a guest role as the main villain to Coco Martin in the 2017 action-drama TV series FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.

Politics

In 1986, Parsons campaigned for the reelection of president Ferdinand Marcos in the 1986 snap election.

In 1992, Parsons was elected councilor in the then-municipality of Marikina. A member of the minority bloc, Parsons was among the five councilors who were vehemently opposed to the actions and policies of mayor Bayani Fernando, dubbing themselves "Voltes V" and calling for Fernando's ouster within their first year in office. Parsons attempted to run for mayor in 1995, but lost to Fernando.

In 2001, Parsons attempted to run for congress, but earned less votes than the three leading candidates: Del de Guzman, Virgilio Farcon Jr. and Celso delos Angeles Jr. Parsons attempted to run for mayor once again in 2004, at times riding a horse during his campaign sorties, but lost to incumbent mayor Marides Fernando, Bayani's wife.

In 2006, Parsons expressed his intention to move to Luuk, his father's hometown in the province of Sulu, and run for congress in Sulu's 2nd district.

Personal life

Parsons was the founder and president of the Allied Forces of the Philippines Civilian Volunteers (AFPCIV), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) whose mission is focused on humanitarian response and anti-crime operations throughout the Philippines. On the morning of July 18, 2002, Parsons thwarted an attempted robbery by six men at his family home in Marikina, killing two of them and injuring another. On May 29, 2004, Parsons' newly-bought car was alleged to have been used in the non-fatal bombing of the house of Barangay San Roque chairman Benjamin Cruz earlier that day, leading to Parsons being briefly arrested, though prosecutor Linda Conus immediately ordered him released for further investigation.

Parsons was an advocate of responsible gun ownership and shared his expertise in tactical and defensive shooting. In his last years, he served as a consultant in the National Bureau of Investigations.

Parsons was also an active member of the Law Enforcers Riders Association of the Philippines.

Death

Parsons died on May 10, 2020, due to heart attack caused by heat stroke in Tayabas in Quezon Province.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

1. Silloh, A.C. (August 24, 2002). "A true Tausug by deed". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 14. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
2. Gil, Baby A. (June 13, 2011). "The voice of Toto is back". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
3. Concepcion, Pocholo (July 10, 2011). "McCoo, Davis: What growing old gracefully sounds like". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
4. Caruncho, Eric S. (August 4, 2002). "Sonny Parsons Stands his Ground". Sunday Inquirer Magazine. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. Q2. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
5. "More stars join KBL campaign". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. January 30, 1986. AS THE Feb. 7 election nears, more and more showbiz personalities have signified their support for the KBL campaign.
6. Burgos, Jun (July 5, 1992). "New Marikina mayor calls for discipline". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp.
7. "Marikina recall plan pushed". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. June 19, 1993.
8. Donato, Agnes E. (May 19, 2001). "Mrs. Fernando takes over in Marikina". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. A23. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
9. Flores, Nelson (January 3, 2003). "Do a President Arroyo, Marikina mayor dared". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. A21. Retrieved January 21, 2025. Sonny Parsons challenged Mayor Fernando to do the ultimate political sacrifice similar to what Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo did by withdrawing from the 2004 presidential election.
10. del Puerto, Luige (April 25, 2004). "Rigors of election campaign taking toll on wannabes". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. A23. Retrieved January 21, 2025. Paos na ako," Parsons said in a phone interview. "But other than that, my health is okay. I exercise a lot.
11. Cruz, Marinel R.; del Puerto, Luige; Valle, Jocelyn (May 13, 2004). "Parsons protests, Manalo accepts". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. A26. Retrieved January 21, 2025. FORMER Hagibis member Sonny Parsons, who ran for mayor in Marikina City in last Monday's elections, is singing a song of protest these days.
12. Ortiz, Margaux; del Puerto, Luige; Pedroso, Kate; Quismundo, Tarra; Tordesillas, Charlie (May 13, 2004). "16 winning Metro bets proclaimed". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. A26. Retrieved January 21, 2025. Incumbent Mayor Marides Lourdes Fernando easily won over Sonny Parsons, while Vice Mayor Marion Andres also got re-elected.
13. Visaya Jr., Villamor (May 23, 2006). "Ex-Hagibis eyes Sulu". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Ilagan, Isabela: The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. A15. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
14. Papa, Alcuin (July 19, 2002). "'Hagibis' singer kills 2 robbers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. 1. Retrieved August 24, 2023. It was at around 6:30 a.m. when six armed men, who police said could be members of the Waray-Waray Bicolano group, barged into Parsons' home in SSS Village...
15. Carcamo, Dennis (July 23, 2002). "2 gunmen take aim at Parsons' housemaid". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 4. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
16. Balasa, Edwin (June 1, 2004). "Sonny Parsons sabit sa pagpapasabog sa bahay ng brgy. chairman". Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Filipino). Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
17. Alquitran, Non (June 2, 2004). "Parsons eyes filing of counter raps vs accuser". Philstar.com. Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
18. Dumaual, Mario (May 10, 2020). "Singer-actor Sonny Parsons of Hagibis dies at 61". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
19. "Sonny Parsons of Hagibis dies at 61". The Manila Times. May 10, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
20. "Promising stars in 'Coney Reyes on Camera'". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. January 23, 1988. p. 10. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021. Sonny Parsons and Susan Africa guest in today's episode titled 'Kailan Bingi ang Puso?'. With Reyes, they form a seemingly hopeless love triangle borne out of despair, loneliness and poverty.

External links

• Sonny Parsons at IMDb

• 1950 births
• 2020 deaths
• Filipino actor-politicians
• Filipino male film actors
• Male actors from Metro Manila
• Manila sound musicians
• 20th-century Filipino male musicians
• Metro Manila city and municipal councilors
• Actors from Marikina
• Singers from Metro Manila