1. ROSA DEL ROSARIO
The pre-war Queen of the Philippine Movies was born in
Bacolor (b. 15 Dec. 1919) as Rosa Stagner, the daughter of Agustina Del Rosario
and American Frank Stagner. Her discovery was purely accidental. Rosa accompanied
a foreign film director to Malayan Motion Pictures who was looking to work with a
local movie production outfit. The wife of the owner of Malayan —Mrs.
Jose Nepomuceno—saw her and convinced her husband to cast her in “Ligaw na
Bulaklak”. She took her mother’s surname and was billed as Rosa del Rosario.
Thus began her long, and successful career. She starred with the major leading men of her
time, but she is best known for her role as “Darna”, a comics super heroine
created by Mars Ravelo that was made into a movie in 1951, and directed by Fernando
Poe Sr.
2. LILIA DIZON
Born in 1931 as Claire Strauss, the only child of
German-Jew Abraham Strauss with Kapampangan
Regina Dizon, Lilia Dizon began her showbiz career at age 15 as a singer
at Lotus Theater. She was discovered for the movies by writer-director Susana de
Guzman and was cast in her first lead role in “Kaaway ng Babae,” (1948). At 17, she married
director Gil de Leon, sixteen years her senior. She made her mark portraying
strong woman roles in movies like “Sandra Wong,” “Kandilerong Pilak” (Asia’s
Best Actress award in 1954), and "Bathaluman” with Mario Montenegro. After
her 18 year-marriage ended, Lilia left for the U.S. in 1966 to join her father
in California. She resurfaced in 1974 as the reel-and-real life mother of
Christopher de Leon in the award-winning Brocka film, “Tinimbang Ka, Nguni’t
Kulang”.
3. CHERIE GIL
Evangeline Rose Gil Eigenmann (b. 21 Jun. 1963), known in the movie world as Cherie Gil was born to a showbiz
family. Her mother, Rosemarie Gil, comes from the old Spanish family of Gils who settled in Porac. Cherie's father is 60s matinee idol, Eddie Mesa. She started her career as actress-singer at age 9. As a
singer, she scored a hit song with “(I Love You) Boy”, later covered by the
Nailclippers. In films, she may be best known as Lavinia Arguelles in “Bituing
Walang Ningning” (1985), Sharon Cuneta’s tormentor. She often appears as a
movie villainess and still makes appearances in TV soaps, movies and in reality
TV programs.
4. HILDA KORONEL
Born in Plaridel, Angeles City (b. 17 Jan. 1957) to
Marina Higum and David Reid, Hilda was launched at age 13 in the movie “Haydee”
(1970). Her acting skills were honed by renowned director Lino Brocka who
transformed the teen sensation into to an actress of international repute. She
was the youngest recipient of the FAMAS Best Supporting Actress award when she
won for “Santiago” that same year. She took Cannes by storm with her intense
portrayal of a daughter scorned in the 1975 movie, "Insiang". Formerly
married to actor Jay Ilagan, Koronel now resides in the U.S.with second husband
Ralph Moore.
5. LIZA LORENA
The Kapampangan actress who rose to stardom via a beauty
pageant was born Elizabeth Ann Jolene Winsett y Luciano (b. 31 Oct. 1949) to
American George Winsett and Magaleña, Josefina Luciano. She had been the first runner-up
in the 1966 Bb. Pilipinas. This paved the way for movie offers. Nepomuceno
Productions gave her a screen test, which she passed. She was cast as Esperanza in a major film headlined by Charito Solis and Ric Rodrigo. As Liza Lorena, she appeared in the critically
acclaimed ”Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak” (1967), the first Philippine movie in color by De
Luxe. Her career spans 4 decades, with more than 185 movies and television
shows to her credit. Her son with Eddie Gutierrez,Ton-Ton Gutierrez, is also an actor.
6. LYDIA MONTAÑEZ
Tatiana Korionoff (b. 1933) was the daughter of Russian
Victor Paul Korionoff and Marcelina Simbulan of Arayat, Her father had fled his
country at the height of Bolshevik revolution. From China, Korionoff moved to the
Philippines where, in 1926, he found work as an engineer at the Arayat Sugar Central. He married the 18-year old Simbulan and settled in Arayat permanently. Tatiana was the eldest girl in a brood of 9. She was
discovered for the movies by Leopoldo Salcedo. She took the screen name Lydia
Montanez from her foster aunt named Lydia, and Montanez--from the mountain town
where she was born. Lydia became a contract star for Fernando Poe Sr.'s Royal
Productions, doing movies like "Lihim ni Bathala"."Maria
Bonita", "Isinanlang Pagibig" and "Mona Lisa".
7. ALMA MORENO
Moreno (b. 25 May 1959) was the child of Frank Laxamana
of Macabebe, with Jean Moreno. Named Vanessa (or Venesa) Moreno Laxamana, she
shortened her name to Alma Moreno for her first movie, ”Urduja”. Her first
starring role was in Ishmael Bernal’s “Ligaw na Bulaklak” Part 2 (1976), which
turned her into a star. For portraying sexy, Lolita-type girls on screen, she
was dubbed the "Sex Goddess of
Philippine Movies" of the 1970s-80s. Other noteworthy films: ” Eva Fonda,
16” (1976), “ City After Dark”(1980), and “Mga Bilanggong Birhen”. On TV, she was
famous for her dance moves in The Other Side of Alma and LoveliNess. She had relationships and children with Rudy
Fernandez and Dolphy. Moreno was also previously married
to Joey Marquez and Sultan Fahad Salic
of Marawi.
8. ROSITA NOBLE
The bedimpled Rosita Costenoble (b. 1934) was the first-born of German immigrant, Herman von
Costenoble, who a married local girl from Floridablanca, Maria Panlaqui. In
1951, at age 17, she was cast in the epic movie “Sta. Cristina”, under Premiere
Productions. Before long, she became one of the hottest stars on the silver screen,
known for her costumed action movies like “Ibong Adarna”, “Siete Infantes de
Lara” and “Prinsipe Amante”. She had the
distinction of being the first leading lady to be paired with an up-and-coming
young star—Fernando Poe Jr.—in “Anak ni Palaris” (1955). Rosita married
Turkish-Filipino Antonio Basmayor Tani from Albay, with whom she had 5
children.
9. PATSY
The loveable, laughable Patsy Patsotsay was born (b. 12
Apr. 1916) as Pastora Mateo. Her father hails from Lubao. She started as a
bodabil song-and-dance girl who performed alongside such veterans as Katy de la
Cruz, Tugo, Pugo and Amanding Montes. Patsy was also part of the celebrated
group of seven bungling househelps ( with Aruray, Chichay, Menggay, Elizabeth
Ramsey, Dely Atay-Atayan, Metring David) in the blockbuster movie “Pitong
Atsay” (1962). But she is perhaps most well-known as a co-host (with Lopito) of the greatest talent search in Philippine TV
history--Tawag ng Tanghalan.
10. ROSA ROSAL
Florence Danon y Lansang
(b. 16 Oct. 1931) of Sta. Rita,
Pampanga, was discovered by film producer Luis Nolasco and was introduced
in “ Fort Santiago” (1946). She became an
LVN Pictures star, most famous for her role as a vamp with the heart of gold
in the award-winning “Anak Dalita” (1956) directed by Lamberto Avellana. Other notable movies: "Sonny Boy" (1955) for which she won a FAMAS Best Actress award), "Badjao"(1956) and "Biyaya ng Lupa" (1959) .Rosal is also well-known
for her charitable and humanitarian work
with “Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko”, and the Red Cross. For her selfless efforts, she received the Ramon
Magsaysay Award for Public Service. Married to Walter Gayda with whom she has a
daughter, Toni Rose.
No comments:
Post a Comment