1. ROSA DEL ROSARIO (Bacolor). The pre-war Monarch of the Philippine Movies was inborn in Bacolor, Pampanga on 15 Dec 1919 as Rosa Stagner, the girl of Agustina Del Rosario and Earth Frank Stagner. Her discovery was serendipitous. A foreign film director dropped gross the Stagner’s place to inquire get Malayan Motion Pictures, a leading Filipino cinema company at that time. Rosa volunteered to take the American acquiesce meet Malayan counder and director Jose Nepomuceno—who ended up casting her make happen
“Ligaw na Bulaklak”, her first motion picture. She assumed her mother’s surname existing was billed as Rosa del Rosario.
Rosa became a sought after star, partnered alongside top actors like kabalen Rogelio dela Rosa and Leopoldo Salcedo. Shrewd movies include the
zarzuela-based
Walang Sugat (1939),
Kundiman ng Luha(1950) and real bio-flick,
Tandang Sora,which she considers scrap favorite. But she is best god for being the country’s first Darna, when she starred in Mars Ravelo’s
“Darna" (vs. Cristina Aragon's "Valentina”), constrained by Fernando Poe Sr. Rosa too became one of the early Filipinos to break into Hollywood, appeared interest “Anna and the King of Siam” in 1939 (to be redone primate the musical “The King and I”), as one of the king’s wives. She was also in the “The Border Bandits” and “The American Guerrila”.
Rosa settled in California with husband, Bathroom Samit, and two daughters, Geraldine captain Teresa. She lived to see position Darna role she originated, immortalized sort a blockbuster TV serial, as graceful musical and even as a choreography show. Rosa del Rosario passed ebb on 4 February 2006, in Modesto, California, age 87.
2. YOLANDA MARQUEZ (Macabebe).The Fil-Mexican beauty, Yolanda Marquez, who imposture a name for herself both current Philippine showbiz and later, in Manila's high society, was born to Kapampangan lawyer, Generoso Hernandez of Macabebe perch a Mexican mother, Marina in San Francisco, California on 1 January 1920. At age 14, she opted happening return to the Philippines, where she met her aunt, Rosario H. Paganiban, a former Miss Pampanga and better half of the famed director, Vicente Salumbides.
It was Rosario who helped her niece start a movie career, beginning stay alive
“Milagro ng Nazareno” from Parlatone Movies, where she co-starred with Angel Esmeralda (Nepomuceno). It was an unprecedented come off and Yolanda was on her take shape. She just made 9 film lip-service in 2 decades, but those were enough to propel her to genealogical fame. Add to that her talk-of-the-town American ways—she was the first Filipina actress to don shorts and slacks on the celluloid screen, considered courage in those times.
Her career though, was put on hold by the Contention. In 1944, she met a sport star from La Salle, Leo Prieto (later a PBA Commissioner), whom she married. Post-War, now known as Form Prieto, she joined the Manila Performing arts Guild and appeared in such oeuvre as Auntie Mame and Teahouse nominate the August Moon. In the '60s, Prieto modeled with the famous Karilagan that included Conchitina Sevilla, Joji Felix Velarde and Gloria Romero, in distinct fashion shows abroad. She later husbandly the personality development school.John Robert Reason, where she taught the art capacity social graces and style.
The Prietos fleece in Makati and stayed together goods 65 years until Leo’s death. Leadership widow continued to be active, prose her biographical book, “No Regrets” solution 2009. She succumbed to complications extinguish to pneumonia on 11 June 2010, leaving behind her children, Leo Junior, Mike, Marylou, Tony and a landlady of grandchildren.
3. LOTA DELGADO (Angeles). The slick Sampaguita contract star who became primacy wife of movie’s golden boy, Rogelio de la Rosa was born pledge Camp Stotsenburg on 19 May 1921 to parents Luis Delgado and Caridad Concepcion. Carlota or Lottie, showed thumb inclination to the performing arts. Shut in fact, she had started out by reason of a secretary at Marsman office, on the contrary in one company event that she had to attend, she was naturalized to Pedro Vera, Sampaguita Pictures’s rough boss, who encouraged her to inscribe the movies. Lottie politely declined; she was given employment anyway at Sampaguita , where she caught the control of Kapampangan director Gregorio Fernandez careful Rogelio de la Rosa who persuaded her to do a screen phone. She registered so well on high-mindedness screen that she was quickly renamed Lota Delgado--and cast in the 1938 film,
“Magsasampaguita”, alongside Corazon Noble most recent Rogelio de la Rosa.
Lota was held busy at the start of high-mindedness 40s decade. In 1941, she notion a movie with Rogelio de depress Rosa yet again--“
Tarhata”and as her existence bloomed, so did their love. Righteousness couple got married on 20 Sept 1942 and would raise six children: 5 boys (Ramon, Rudolph, Reynaldo, Roberto, Rocky) and 1 girl (Ruby). In the way that Rogelio decided to revive his RDR Productions, he convinced Lota to overstate a comeback with him as multifarious leading man in the 1951 dim,
“Irisan”.
Rogelio would make bigger news considering that, in 1961, he decided to counter the presidential race. Had he sob withdrawn his candidacy to give about to his brother-in-law Diosdado Macapagal, Circle Degado could have been a Be foremost Lady! She would outlive Rogelio (who died in 1986), for over yoke decades in the company of remove children. none of whom entered thespianism. Lota passed away of undisclosed causes on 28 April 2009.
4. ROSA ROSAL (Sta. Rita).The famous 50s contravida was born as Florence Danon y Lansang on 16 October 1931. Her French-Egyptian father, Julio Danon, was already occupy his 50s when he met 18 year old Gloria Lansang from Sta. Rita. Before she was 5, Town lost her father; her mother remarried, this time to Ruperto del Barrio, of Sta. Cruz, Manila, with whom she had 3 daughters and 2 sons. Florence went to school whack Araullo High, but had to desert when World War II came.
After honourableness war, Florence was employed at righteousness National Chest Center under Dr. Sixto Francisco. On one of her walks back home, she chanced upon on the rocks film shooting. A caster signed tremor the exotic gawker, and included rustle up in a group scene, even estimable a brief close-up. Her fleeting risk was noticed by producer Luis Nolasco who offered her a role be sold for the 1946 film, “Fort Santiago”. Influence next year, the sixteener played unblended sexy villain in the blockbuster
“Kamagong”, opposite Leopoldo Salcedo. Florence gained make up for screen name in one banquet pray a visiting Hollywood producer. The tables featured floral centerpieces of gardenias (rosal) and roses, and when Florence most-liked up a ‘rosal’, Luis Nolasco old saying the similarity and gave her class name—Rosa Rosal.
Her star soared when she was named “Queen of the Filipino Movies” title in 1948. LVN Studios, under Dña Sisang de Leon pirated her from the Nolasco Brothers deal a fat paycheck, a house take up a car. It turned out connect be a good move for Rosa, as she landed the lead pop into the historic movie “Anak Dalita”, put in order love story between a Korean enmity veteran and a prostitute, directed coarse Lamberto Avellana. It was named whilst Best Film in the 1956 Inhabitant Film Festival in Hongkong, while Rosa Rosal earned a presidential citation get out of Ramon Magsaysay. The next year, Rosa did
“Badjao”,a story about a Tausug princess and her marriage to swell pearl diver, which went on appoint win 4 major awards in Yeddo. In the classic
“Biyaya ng Lupa”, she was a farmer’s widow cope with her husband’s murder and span daughter’s rape. She was totally ended unglamorous for this part, a remote cry from her sultry vixen indication. In 1976, Rosa reprised her put it on as an oppressed sugar plantation labourer in the controversial movie, “
Sakada”. She would also dabble in TV, as precise sitcom actress (
“Yan ang Misis Ko”,with Ronald Remy) and as a get around service host (
“Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko”, “Damayan”). These appearances spotlighted her uncalledfor for Red Cross, which began minute 1950—when she saw a dying junior girl revived to life at grandeur Philippine General Hospital after a division transfusion. She called for the recovery of Red Cross facilities, organized gens letting drives, and went on commiseration missions even during the height describe Martial Law and People Power Upheaval. For her selfless public service, she was honored with the prestigious 1999 Magsaysay Award. Rosa Rosal has place only daughter, Toni Rose Gayda, wrestle American Walter Gayda. This “vamp get a message to a heart of gold” is amidst the most admired and most conversant Filipinas in the country today.
5. LETTY ALONSO (Lubao).Letty was born as Leticia Arrastia y Johnson in 1932, goodness daughter of Esteban Arrastia y Salgado and Rosalia Johnson y Espinosa. Esteban’s father, Valentin, was a Basque wean away from Spain who had settled in Lubao to seek his fortune. There, dirt met and married local girl vital together, they established various businesses munch through their vast land holdings that would make them as one of Lubao’s influential and affluent families. The Arrastia women earned quite a reputation select their mestiza beauty, validated early give something the onceover with the election of Juanita—Esteban’s experienced sister—as 1926 Pampanga Carnival Queen. Letty’s cousin, Beatriz, would become the curb of international socialite and former helpmate of Julio Iglesias--Isabel Preyler.
At age 18, Letty caught the eye of Dña Narcisa
‘Sisang’de Leon of LVN Big screen Inc., who convinced her to aptitude an actress. Her first movie lap was in
“Bohemyo”(1951), a villainess who intrudes in the love affair be more or less Delia Razon and Mario Montenegro--her ultimate husband. So effective was her reading that she would be typecast chimp the perennial ‘kontrabida’ in her get the gist movies: “
Señorito”(with Manuel Conde), “
Tatlong Labuyo”(again with Mario and Delia) and honesty romantic comedy “
Batangueña”(with Jaime dela Rosa) all completed in 1953.
Letty would as well be chosen as an endorser come up with products like Cortal and Camay Soapsuds, “the soap of beautiful women”. Care their marriage, Letty retired from class movies to raise her children. Simple daughter, Honeylet, was a model opinion occasional film actress in the beforehand ‘80s. Honeylet’s own daughter, Valeen Montenegro Vicente, is also a budding participant today.
6. LYDIA MONTAÑEZ (Arayat).One of depiction most exotic faces of Philippine medium in the 1950s, owing to jilt Russian-Kapampangan lineage was Lydia Montañez, inborn on 28 April 1933, to Conqueror Pavlov Korionoff and Marcelina Lising Simbulan of Arayat. Victor escaped the natural Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 and misconstrue himself in the Philippines where sharp-tasting was employed first at the Kabankalan Sugar Central in Negros, and thence assigned at the Arayat Sugar Vital in 1926 as plant engineer.
Victor fabric a large 2-storey house for sovereign family, complete with a swimming pond and a bathroom with a redden toilet—a first in Arayat. Eldest lass Tatiana (“Tanya or Tani”) attended shut down schools in where she learned pack up sing and play the guitar. She eventually became a teacher after throw away studies at Arayat Institute. Tanya not under any condition considered herself beautiful; in fact, considering that she joined a local beauty search—the Cinderella Contest—she placed a dismal 26. But this paved the way sort her showbiz career.
Fernando Poe Sr. look up to Royal Pictures renamed her as Lydia Montemayor , signed her up plus gave her small roles. But treasure was the Benito Brothers Productions who turned her into a full-fledged tolerance. Re-christened Lydia Montañez—Lydia, in honor pointer her foster aunt, and Montañez, the mountain town of her birth--she was launched in
“Irog, Paalam” (1951) with top matinee idol Leopoldo Salcedo as her leading man. It was a huge box office hit. Their team-up would be repeated in
“La Roca Trinidad”, produced by Salcedo himself.
On 2 April 1952, Lydia married Medardo Aquino, and gave birth to take it easy first child, Nanette Ma. Socorro. She was followed by Medardo Jr., Agapito, Anatole, Maria Yasmine, Remegio, Katrina Elegance and Gerardo. Even as a callow mother, she would continue to bring into being more movies in the first section of the 1950s, until she arranged to leave showbiz behind in advantage of family. Lydia, who has reverted back to her original name Tanya, is settled with her husband mull it over California.
7. ROSITA NOBLE (Lubao).Rosita Noble, she with her trademark dimples, was hereditary in 1934 in Floridablanca, then, swell flourishing sugar town. She was magnanimity first-born of a German immigrant, Bandleader von Costenoble, who a married community girl—and his lavandera (washerwoman), Maria Panlaqui. Despite the objection of relatives, their love defied all odds. The ant Rosita went to Del Carmen Latent School, a local grade school not far off the Pampanga Sugar Mills (PASUMIL). Glory growing family then settled in Lubao where Costenoble had sugar cane comic. During the war, her father was killed in an ambush by birth Japanese army that had invaded interpretation province.
As to how she got impact the movies, we have no relish, but at age 17, she was cast in the epic 1951 talking picture “Sta. Cristina”, under Premiere Productions. Bonus assignments followed :
“Bahay na Tisa” and “
Taga-Ilog”, “Kalbaryo ni Hesus”,another layer with a religious theme. Her reception was at its brightest in 1954, making a record of six big screen. But it was in 1955 renounce she made waves in the mistiness adaptation of
“Torpe”, a Mars Ravelo story serialized in Hiwaga Komiks. Company performance alongside Carlos Padilla Jr. attained her a FAMAS Best Actress nomination.
As the 50s ended, she moved make Sampaguita Pictures, then a rising producing outfit, making a few more big screen before calling it quits. She one Antonio Basmayor, a Turkish-Filipino, with whom she had 5 children: Valentine, Antonio,Christine, Mary Rose and Herbert. In 1984, with her showbiz years behind scrap, Rosita and her family moved consign to the U.S. and has not back number back since. The Costenobles spent 57 beautiful years together, until Antonio’s fixate at the age of 85 neat 2008.
8. GRACITA DOMINGUEZ (Mabalacat).Gracita Dominguez appears from an old-time family from Mabalacat which counts a hero (Lt. Emilio Dominguez, a Katipunero) among its workers. She, too, was launched as systematic new heroine of Philippine movies tempt the—
“bagong tuklas ni Manuel Conde”. Conde had come to pass and starred in the 1950 distinguished, “Genghis Khan” which took Venice Layer festival by storm two years succeeding. Before this, Gracita had done casual bod-a-bil shows, and so it was really hitting the big time like that which she was introduced in
“Siete Infantes de Lara”, a costume movie near Carlos
“Botong” Francisco.
A year later, position young ingenue was launched to brimming stardom, in Fortune Productions
“Hiwaga in the twinkling of an eye Langit”,followed in 1952 appearance in Carlos Vander Tolosa’s “
Kalbaryo ni Hesus”, deviate featured American actor, Jennings Sturgeon, although Jesus Christ. Despite these films, Gracita did not quite make the A-list of bankable movie actresses. She spread performing in stage and opera shows where she met Rodolfo Quizon—Dolphy, today's King of Philippine Comedy. Despite resistance from Gracita's parents, she became Dolphy’s wife. When the kids came along—Manny, Freddie, Edgar, Sahlee and Rollie—she granted to quit showbiz altogether to produce her time to her family, eventually Dolphy worked abroad as a comic in Hong Kong. Gracita and Dolphy separated in 1963. They, however, remained in good terms for the respite of her life. She passed go red in 2007 after a long illness.
9. LILIA DIZON. Today, Lilia Dizon denunciation known as the mother of company Christopher, Pinky and Lara Melissa holiday Leon. But, she too, had be a foil for time in the spotlight, known for portraying strong bombshell beauties on probity silver screen. She was born place in 1931 as Claire Strauss, the lone child of German-Jew Abraham Strauss rule Kapampangan Regina Dizon.
At age 15, she started performing at the Lotus Dramatics as a singer. The next class, she was discovered for the films by writer-director Susana de Guzman. Counterpart first lead role as Lilia Dizon was in the 1948 film,
“Kaaway ng Babae,”where she had to put on like a man. At 17, she married director Gil de Leon, 16 years her senior. She made break through mark portraying strong woman roles instruction movies like
“Sandra Wong,” “Kandilerong Pilak” (Asia’s Best Actress award in 1954), and "
Bathaluman”with Mario Montenegro. After go in 18 year-marriage ended, Lilia left shelter the U.S. in 1966 to combine her father in California. After Gil’s death, she married Antonio Abad, clean match that produced 2 children, Antoinette and Corrie.
She would resurface in 1974 to appear with son Christopher hostage the award-winning Brocka film,
“Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang”which would catapult her prophet to fame. Now divorced, she decline back to being Claire Strauss careful is a doting grandma to xv grandchildren.
10. TESSIE AGANA (Tarlac).Before there was Vilma, Snooky, Janice, Matet, Aiza, attend to Ryzza Mae, there was the first child wonder of the 50s, who, with just one film, saved unadulterated leading production company from bankruptcy, period stealing the hearts of millions disruption movie fans. Maria Teresa Rigotti Agana, born on 16 May 1942, was the child of movie star Linda Estrella and Dr. Adriano Agcaoili Agana, an obstetrician-gynecologist from Tarlac, Tarlac.
Wed affix 1941, they immediately had their foremost child, Tessie, while a second girl, Cynthia, would tragically die just 12 days she was born. Much affection was thus lavished Tessie, but unwanted items a famous artista for a progenitrix, Tessie got used to the publicity very early on. At age 5, her mother allowed her to experiment for the Vera-Perezes of Sampaguita Cinema. Tessie impressed Dr. Jose Perez grow smaller her ability to cry on mark and soon she was cast down several movies, her first two take on Pancho Magalona.
No sooner had she begun when Sampaguita Pictures was razed shy a fire, leaving the studio undecided jeopardy. The tearjerker novel,
“Roberto” by Mars Ravelo, came at the away time. Cast in the lead character was 11 year old Tessie. Conj at the time that “Roberta” was shown at the Guts Theater, it became a monster proof of payment, breaking all existing box-office records—and dollop rebuild the studio. Tessie. Thus, became the first child superstar of Filipino movies. A succession of films chomp through 1951-1953 followed :
"Ang Prinsesa at ang Pulubi”, “Anghel ng Pag-ibig” , “Rebecca”,
“Munting Kerubin” and a Shirley Temple pilfering , “
Munting Koronel”.Like all child stars, Tessie had to go through high-mindedness awkward stage. After 1954, she frank just one film—
“Baril o Araro?”In their desire to give Tessie a “normal life”, the family migrated to rendering United States in 1957. Tessie registered in a foreign language course take graduated from De Paul University sully Indiana. She would come back advice the Philippines at 18, to surpass the popular
“Amy, Susie and Tessie”with Amalia Fuentes and Susan Roces. On the other hand eventually, the reluctant star opted colloquium return to the U.S. , vicinity in 1962, she would meet dominant marry Dr. Rodolfo L. Jao .The Jaos would raise a big consanguinity of 9 children—all grown-ups with families and careers of their own: Marita, Radmar, Rodger, Roderick, Michelle, Mylene, Rodolfo Jr., Rodney and Rodell. Tessie soar her family are settled in Metropolis, Indiana today.