# Sonny Parsons

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

| Year | Title | Role | Director |
| 1981 | Legs Katawan Babae | | Tony Ferrer |
| 1983 | JR | | Pablo Santiago |
| 1984 | Condemned | | Mario O'Hara |
| 1987 | Sparrow Unit: The Termination Squad | | Ben Yalung |
| 1987 | Mga Lihim ng Kalapati | | Celso Ad. Castillo, Tata Esteban |
| 1988 | Apat, Lima, Anim | | Francis 'Jun' Posadas |
| 1988 | Ambush | | Francis 'Jun' Posadas |
| 1988 | Sgt. Ernesto 'Boy' Ybañez: Tirtir Gang | Sgt. Ernesto 'Boy' Ybañez | Willy Milan |
| 1988 | Shoot to Kill: Boy Bicol ng Angeles | | Jerry Tirazona, Johnny Capistrano |
| 1989 | Sgt. Niñonuevo: The Fastest Gun Alive of WPD | Sgt. Mariano Niñonuevo | Ronnie San Juan |
| 1989 | Salisi Gang | | Leonardo Pascual |
| 1989 | Get Commander Jack Moro: Bangsa Moro Army | | Eddie Nicart |
| 1989 | Baricuarto: Batang Cebu .45 | | Jerry Tirazona |
| 1989 | Kailan.... Dapat Lumaban | | Jerry Tirazona |
| 1989 | UZI Brothers 9mm | | Francis 'Jun' Posadas |
| 1989 | Nazareno Apostol: Boy Ahas | | Jerry Tirazona |
| 1990 | Masikip Na ang Mundo Mo | Alexander Aguirre | Lito M. Nocon |
| 1990 | Walang Sinasanto ang Bala Ko | | Lito M. Nocon |
| 1991 | OXO VS Sigue-Sigue | | Dante Pangilinan |
| 1991 | Digos Massacre | | Jose "Kaka" Balagtas |
| 1992 | Johnny Cuevas: Alyas Boy Susi | Johnny Cuevas | Nilo Saez |
| 1992 | Sgt. Ernesto Baliola: Tinik sa Batas | Sgt. Ernesto Baliola | Ricardo 'Bebong' Osorio |
| 1992 | Arrest: Hold-up Gang | | Leonardo Pascual |
| 1992 | Turing Gesmundo, Kapitan Langgam | | Robert Talby |
| 1992 | Itumba si Angel Delgado | | Nilo Saez |
| 1993 | Capt. Rassul Alih, Hindi Sayo ang Mindanao | Capt. Rassul Alih | Sonny Parsons and Jerry O. Tirazona |
| 1993 | Parañaque Bank Robbery: The Joselito Joseco Story | | Argel Lopez |
| 1993 | Aguinaldo | | William Mayo |
| 1996 | Paracale Gang | | Armando De Guzman Jr. |
| 1997 | Bala Para sa Katarungan | | Sonny Parsons |
| 2015 | Hari at Alas: Akin ang Batas | | Fernando Dizon |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1988, 1995 | Coney Reyes on Camera | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1991–1992 | Agila | | |
| 2003 | Magpakailanman | Himself | Episode: "Hinagpis ng Kamatayan" |
| 2005 | Bahay Mo Ba 'To | Kid | Episode: "Demolisyon Na Ito!" |
| 2008 | Ysabella | Barangay chairman | |
| 2013 | Pepito Manaloto | Lito | Guest |
| 2016 | We Love OPM: The Celebrity Sing-Offs | Himself | Guest |
| 2017 | FPJ's Ang Probinsyano | Fidel | Guest |
| 2017 | Live Jamming with Percy Lapid | Himself | Guest performer |
| 2019 | Bravo Executive Lounge | Himself | Guest performer Final performance before his death |