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1. GREGORIO FERNANDEZ,
Lubao
(b. 25 May 1904/
d. 11 March 1973)
Actor-director Gregorio “Yoyong” Fernandez was the son of
Eugenio Aranita Fernandez and Maria
Montemayor, and grew up in an artistic milieu. To help finance his dentistry
studies, he became an actor at Mayon Photoplay Corp. where he did
“Anak sa Ligaw”. This film started his long career in Philippine
moviedom, first as an actor ( “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” , “Ang Lumang Simbahan”, and the 1921 hit,
“Ligaw ni Bulaklak” ). His first directorial debut was “Asahar at Kabaong” (1937). He would have a directing career at LVN Studios, even winning a FAMAS in
1955 for “Higit sa Lahat”. His children with Pilar Padilla became actors too:
Merle Fernandez, and Rudy “Daboy” Fernandez. Fernandez was active until the early 70s; his last film
was “Daing”, shown in 1971.
2. MANUEL CONDE, San
Fernando
(b. 9 Oct.1915/d.
11 Aug.1985)
Manuel Pabustan Urbano Sr., better known as Director Manuel
Conde, is recognized as one of the greatest Filipino directors of our time. Born
in Daet to Dionisio Urbano and Lucia Pabustan of San Fernando, Manuel enrolled
in Geology at Adamson University, hoping to be a mining engineer. But he was lured
by the movies, starting as an ‘extra’ in “Mahiwagang Biolin”. It was in LVN
that he became a director. When he started his production outfit, he starred in
his on pictures starting with the popular “Juan Tamad” series, and costume
epics like Prinsipe Paris (1949), Krus Na Kawayan (1956), Siete Infantes de
Lara (1950) and its re-make in 1973. But it was for “Genghis Khan” (1950) that
introduced Philippine cinema to the world. From among 780 film entries, it was
chosen as one of 20 films to vie for awards at the Venice Film Festival. Though
it did not win, the film emerged as one of the most acclaimed movies of the
prestigious festival. United Artists bought the film for international distribution,
where it would later be dubbed in 16 languages and became a bestseller.
3. ROGELIO DELA ROSA,
Lubao
(b. 12 Nov. 1916/
26 Nov. 1986)
Lubao’s native son, born Regidor dela Rosa, rose to become the brightest male star in the
Golden Age of the Philippine Cinema (1940s-50s). Born to Feliciano de la Rosa
and Rosario Lim, he was discovered by Gregorio Fernandez. He debuted in “Ligaw
na Bulaklak”, with Rosa del Rosario in 1932. Soon, he was being paired with Emma
Alegre, and Paraluman, but his team-up with Carmen Rosales was the longest and
most successful . By 1948, he was the highest paid movie actor in the
Philippines. . His 1955 role in “Higit sa Lahat” earned him a FAMAS 'Best
Actor' trophy as well as the Best Actor Award at the 1956 Southeast Asian Film
Festival in Hong Kong. After retirement, he entered politics, got elected as a
Senator (1957-63), ran for Presidency (retracted upon the pleading of
Macapagal, his brother-in-law, who was also running for the same position) and
became an ambassador to Sri Lanka, Cambodia and The Hague, Netherlands.
4. JAIME DELA ROSA,
Lubao
(b. 18 Sep.1921/d.
2 Dec. 1992)
Rogelio’s younger brother, Tommy, assumed the screen name
Jaime de la Rosa, and he too, would earn his place in Philippine showbiz. He was
studying Law when he was first featured in the Eastern Pictures movie, “Anak ng
Lansangan” in 1939.Making his strong presence felt, he was cast successively in
3 movies: “Cadena de Amor”, “Bawal na Pag-ibig” and “Kahapon Lamang” . Before
the war began, he was seen in a musical, “Ibong Sawi”. Two post-war roles would
etch Jaime’s image in the hearts and minds of movie fans forever. One, was in
the 1st ever “Darna” movie, starring Rosa del Rosario, as the lead’s love
interest. And, in 1953, he was Fredo, the human lover of the fabled mermaid , “Dyesebel”,
played by Edna Luna. Jaime was married to Betty Santos, also a Kapampangan.
5. EDDIE DEL MAR, Candaba
(b. 13 Oct. 1923/d. 8 Nov. 1986)
Born Eduardo Magat in Candaba, the son of Albino Magat and Benigna Sangalang, he was a medical student at UST when war intervened. After the War, Sampaguita Pictures gave him a screen test which he passed. As “Eduardo del Mar” he became a featured player in "Kapilya sa May Daang Bakal" starring Oscar Moreno and Tita Duran, and directed by Tor Villano. It was at Premiere Productions where he made his most memorable film "Sisa". As Crisostomo Ibarra, he generated much buzz and an acting nomination. The film itself won the top "Maria Clara Award" in 1951. Thus began his association with "Rizaliana movies". His 1956 film, “Ang Buhay at Pag-ibig ni Dr. Jose Rizal” would changed the course of his showbiz career. The film, which dramatized Rizal’s romances, won for del Mar the 1956 Best Actor Award trophy. Five years later, he would star in the movie adaptation of “Noli Me Tangere” that was produced to commemorate Rizal’s birth centenary in 1961. Many actors have essayed the role of Rizal since— Joel Torre, Albert Martinez Cesar Montano, to name a few—but nobody was more famously identified with that role than Eddie del Mar.
6. LUIS GONZALES, San
Luis
(b. 8 Aug. 1928/d.
15 Mar. 2012)
Luis Mercado, also known as Luis Gonzales, did over 100
films during his career, mostly by Sampaguita Pictures. He is best remembered
for essaying the role of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos in two 1965 biopics: “Iginuhit
ng Tadhana”, a Marcos’ propaganda film; and “Pinagbuklod ng Langit”. He co-starred with
Gloria Romero, who had appeared with him in the 1955 romantic comedy,
“Despatsador” and which led to other blockbusters like “Artista” , “Hootsy
Kootsy” (1955), Pagdating ng Takip Silim, Teresa, Vacationista (1956),
Colegiala, (1957), Alaalang Banal, Palaboy, (1958), Sinisinta Kita (1963) and
Show of Shows (1964). Together, they did about 30 movies. Luis would continue
to be active in the next decades and some of his memorable movies include
“Tubog sa Ginto” and “Haydee” in 1970, where he helped launch the career of
another Kapampangan, Hilda Koronel. He was married to socialite Vina
Concepcion, with whom he had 3 children.
7. EDDIE GARCIA,
Macabebe
(b. 2 May 1929)
The bemoustached kontrabida you love to hate—Eduardo
“Eddie” García started in showbiz as a swashbuckling hero in Manuel Conde’s
1950 classic, “Siete Infantes de Lara” . It also comes as a pleasant surprise
that his grandmother was from Macabebe, married to a Spaniard, which makes him
a quarter Kapampangan. Born in Sorsongon to Antonio Garcia and Vicenta Verchez,
he joined the Philippine Scouts after the war. Fresh from his assignment in
Okinawa, he answered a casting call for a costume film—and the tall,
Hispanic-looking scout made it to the Conde film. Soon, he was being called to
play villains, owing to his sleek, well-kept moustache, roles he played with
such credibility. One of his movies was aptly titled, “Contravida”, which he
did in 1955. Another memorable role is that fo a closeted gay husband in the
1970 film “Tubog sa Ginto”, by Lino Brocka. The durable actor is the only
artist inducted in three categories in the FAMAS Hall of Fame: Best Actor, Best
Supporting Actor and Best Director. The prolific Garcia continues to act in
TV shows and movies today, with over 400 appearances to his credit.
8. JESS LAPID SR., Guagua
(b. 5 Oct.
1933/d.13 Jul. 1968)
At the height of his career, ranked among the bigtime
action stars of the 60s, led by Fernando Poe Jr. and Joseph Estrada. Born as
Jesus Songco Lapid, he had started as an “extra”, then became a stuntman, where
he had the good fortune of doubling for Fernando Poe, Jr. They became fast friends,
and Poe would eventually give Lapid his break in the 1963 FPJ Productions’ “Sierra Madre”, where
he gave a noteworthy performance. His next move, “Kardong Kidlat” (1964) would
catapult him to stardom. Lapid had just wrapped up the movie “Simaron
Brothers”with Jun Aristorenas, when, on the night of 13 July 1968, he was shot
to death at the Lanai Nightclub after a row between two groups of movie
personalities, which also involved his reputed girlfriend, Nancy Roman, an actress. Lapid was just 35. As
a belated tribute, nephew Lito Lapid appeared as Jess in the biopic “The Jess
Lapid Story”, released in 1978.
9. RAMIL RODRIGUEZ,
San Fernando
(b. 22 Aug.
1944/d. 29 Apr. 2014)
Ramil Rodriguez, (Rene
Rodriguez Jr., in real life) the elder son of Rene Hizon Rodriguez and Ma. Rosa
Moreno. The Rodriguezes are from a prominent family with roots in Bacolor. They
were friends of the Vera-Perezes, who owned Sampaguita Pictures. Ramil, unlike
the younger Pepito, was the more reticent one when they were offered to make
movies. In the end, family friendship prevailed and began his showbiz career
via the 1960 movie, "Palanca". He was officially introduced in 1964's
"Leron-Leron Sinta", a musical comedy starring Susan Roces and Eddie
Gutierrez. As part of Stars '66, Ramil was paired with Loretta Marquez, and Liberty
Ilagan. He took on everything from comedies, musicals, action and drama flicks in the '60s and
evolved into a fine dramatic actor in the 80s. He starred in classics like
"Blusang Itim", "Magdusa Ka", (1986), "Asawa Ko, Huwag
Mong Agawin", "Ibulong Mo sa Diyos" (1988). Ramil found a new
set of fans with his appearances in telenovelas like 1997's "Mula Sa
Puso", "Love to Love" (2004) , "Magpakailanman" (2005)
and the highly rated "Bakekang" (2006-07). He died of lung cancer.
10. PEPITO RODRIGUEZ,
San Fernando
(b.1944)
Pepito Rodriguez was born Jose Rodriguez in 1944, younger
brother of Ramil. The Rodriguezes were from a prominent family with roots in
Bacolor. In 1963, Pepito joined the movie bandwagon as the boy-next-door type,
in the film “Haliging Bato”. He was noticed in light musical romances like
“Dance o’ Rama”, “Jukebox Jamboree” and of course, in the popular “Mga Bata..”
series. He dabbled in drama like “Alaala ng Lumipas” (1965) , “Hinango Ka Sa
Lusak” (1967), but fans seemed to like him better in lightweight romance films.
When actor Ricky Belmonte entered the picture as Rosemarie’s other love
interest, an alternative love team was formed. After appearing in “Life
Everlasting” in 1971, Pepito dropped out of circulation, only to come back almost a
decade later in the made-for-TV movie, “The Children of An Lac” as the
Vietnamese Capt. Nam. He was lured to return in the 1985 drama, “Palimos na
Pag-ibig”, and in the 1990 action film “Alias Baby Face”. He would permanently
retire from showbiz after that, and settle in the U.S. as a successful businessman.
SOURCES:
Wikipedia.com
http://www.andropampanga.com/history_sanluis.htm
Salumbides, V.icente. Motion Pictures in the Philippines, 1952
Tiongson, Nicanor, The Cinema of Manuel Conde, UST Publishing House, 2008
Salumbides, V.icente. Motion Pictures in the Philippines, 1952
Tiongson, Nicanor, The Cinema of Manuel Conde, UST Publishing House, 2008
Photo of Eddie Garcia: https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Garcia
All others: Alex Castro Collection
