Comedian Matutina Dies
MATUTINA – The veteran comedian has sadly passed away at the age of 78.
Matutina, whose real name was Evelyn Bontogon-Guerrero, was a comedian and actress best known for her memorable role as the loud, quirky housemaid in the iconic 1970s sitcom John en Marsha, which starred Dolphy and Nida Blanca. Her screen name, “Matutina,” was her own idea, chosen to reflect a distinctive, loud voice that set her apart from her radio work, where she performed various characters, including men, women, children, and elderly voices.
Before breaking into television, Matutina made her mark in radio, where she worked as a voice talent on RPN 9. Her exceptional talent for creating multiple voices led to television offers, including the role of the housemaid in John en Marsha. Despite being one of the show’s central comedic characters, Matutina’s career also saw her venture into TV commercials and other small roles, though her first and only film, Matutina, did not succeed commercially.
As she aged, Matutina faced health challenges, including osteoporosis, which left her wheelchair-bound. Despite these struggles, she maintained a positive and humorous outlook on life, staying connected to her fans and reminiscing about her glory days on John en Marsha. Today, she is one of the last remaining cast members of the sitcom, with many of her co-stars having passed away. Matutina’s resilience, humor, and contributions to Philippine entertainment continue to endear her to many.
Matutina has sadly passed away at the age of 78. Her daughter, Shiela Guerrero, confirmed the news to GMA News Online on February 14 through Facebook Messenger.
According to the medical certificate provided by Guerrero, Matutina’s immediate cause of death was Acute Respiratory Failure due to Volume Fluid Overload. The certificate also listed Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease, caused by Hypertensive Nephrosclerosis, as the preceding cause. Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease was noted as the underlying cause of death.