CARMEN ROSALES: THE ORIGINAL 'SUPERSTAR' OF PHILIPPINE MOVIES

Product endorser- Camay/1955

I was inspired to post this entry on Carmen Rosales upon reading a lengthy article on the actress by Jose Mari Lee titled “The Magic of Carmen Rosales” on his blog. He unravel the mystery and magic of Carmen Rosales --- “she was such a consummated actress, a singer, a dancer, but most of all, she was a master of improvisation and mime, a rara avis in the Philippine movie industry.”

Carmen Rosales with screen partner Rogelio de la Rosa- considered one of the popular and greatest 'love teams' in Philippine cinema history

Did you know that in 1939 Carmen Rosales ( March 3, 1917- December 11, 1991) was turned down when she applied for an acting job at LVN Pictures? “No Profile” was the answer. But Excelsior Production took her in and was given a big break in the movie Arimunding-Munding (1939) under Tor Villano direction. She soon became the toast of the local entertainment world.

Still from Camelia (1949)-
Stars Carmen Rosales and Rogelio de la Rosa

In 1949, LVN Pictures, the film outfit which rejected Rosales for having “No Profile” offered her a staggering Php 40,000 to star in a movie, Kampanang Ginto, a romantic story about a novelist and a singer. The amount was said to be the highest ever paid to a local female star for a single picture. Of course, she accepted the offer.

Still from Batalyon XIII (1949)-
Stars Carmen Rosales and Jaime de la Rosa

Rosales was already a big star in the pre-war era but her career further blossomed during the post-war period, from 1946 to 1949 where great majority of her film successes were made --- Guerilyera (1946), Kaaway ng Bayan (1946), Si, Si Señorita (1947), Mameng, Iniibig Kita (1947), Hindi Kita Malimot (1948), Simpatika (1949), Kampanang Ginto (1949), Kaaway ng Diyos (1949), Batalyon XIII (1949), among others.

Her screen tandem with then matinee idol Rogelio de la Rosa, is considered one of the greatest ‘love teams’ in the history of Philippine movies. They did more than a dozen movies starting with Takipsilim in 1939 to Lydia in 1956. They were best remembered in the 1954 movie, Maalaala Mo Kaya, which broke all box-office records that time.

She won her first and only acting trophy, the 1953 Famas Best Actress for the movie, Inspirasiyon.

Rosales’ star started to fade in the late 50s until her retirement in mid 60s when younger stars, like Susan Roces and Amalia Fuentes, started to rise. However, her name was still on top of the billing.

Carmen Rosales- Rogelio de la Rosa screen tandem:
1939- Takipsilim
1940- Señorita
1940- Lambingan
1940- Diwa ng Awit
1940- Colegiala
1941- Panambitan
1941- Tampuhan
1949- Kampanang Ginto
1949- Camelia
1954- Maalaala Mo Kaya
1955- Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig
1955- Iyung-Iyo
1956- Lydia

Another trivia:
Did you know that Carmen Rosales was a guerrilla fighter during World War II? In a magazine article by Ceres Doyo, Rene Navales (eldest son of Carmen Rosales) claimed that “my mother‘s underground work took her to Santa Rosa, Laguna, where she was involved in the killing of a makapili (Japanese collaborator). She later fled to Silang, Cavite to evade capture by the Japanese. My mother was a sharpshooter who toted a .45 and sometimes wore a moustache in order to disguise herself…” “Carmen Rosales was taken to Pangasinan by an enamoured Japanese colonel named Yamamoto who wanted her to star in a propaganda movie--- or else he would kill Filipinos. Rosales gave in but the film was never finished because American troops arrived. For her act of sacrifice to save a community, the popular star earned the people’s gratitude and a barrio, Carmen, in Rosales town, Pangasinan, was supposedly named after her…”

A movie, titled Guerilyera was made in 1946.

References: "Carmen Rosales: The Original Superstar" by Ceres Doyo/Sunday Inquirer/ February 16, 1992; A Movie Album Quizbook by Jessie B. Garcia/2004

"Guerilyera" (1946)- Stars Carmen Rosales, Celso Baltazar, Oscar Moreno, Maria Ceisrina and Tita Duran/ Directed by Octavio Silos

"Si, Si, Senorito" (1947)- Stars Carmen Rosales, Oscar Moreno, and Fred Montilla/ Directed by Lorenzo P. Tuells

"Carmencita Mia" (1948)- Stars Carmen Rosales and Fernando Poe/
Directed by Paquito Bolero

"24 na Pag-ibig" (1948)- Stars Carmen Rosales, Oscar Moreno
and Danilo Montes/ Directed by Olive de la Torre

"Selosa" (1949)- Stars Carmen Rosales, Ely Ramos,
Lillian Leonardo/Written and Directed by Eddie Romero

"Simpatika" (1949)- Stars Carmen Rosales and Pancho Magalona/

Directed by Octavio Silos

"Inspirasiyon" (1953) -Stars Carmen Rosales, Norma Vales,
Van de Leon, Katy de la Cruz/ Directed by Armando Garces

"Luha ng Birhen" (1954)- Stars Carmen Rosales, Van de Leon, Norma Valesa and Luis Gonzales/ Directed by Octavio Silos

"Matandang Dalaga" (1954)- Stars Carmen Rosales, Jose 'Pempe' Padilla, Jr.,Ramon Revilla, Myrna Delgado/ Directed by Olive de la Torre

"Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig" (1955)- Stars Carmen Rosales,
Rogelio de la Rosa,Norma Vales, Luis Gonzales,
Rosa Mia/ Directed by Mar S. Torres

"Iyung-Iyo" (1955)- Stars Carmen Rosales, Rogelio de la Rosa, Eddie Arenas, Bella Flores, Edie Garcia/ Directed by Jose de Villa

"Lydia" (1956)- Stars Carmen Rosales, Rogelio de la Rosa,
Paraluman/Directed by Armando Garces

"Debutante" (1959)- Stars Carmen Rosales, Oscar Moreno, Eddie Arenas, Romeo Vasquez, Daisy Romualdez and Susan Roces in the title role/ Directed by Rosa Mia

Estela Mondragon (1960)- Stars Carmen Rosales, Paraluman, Amalia Fuentes, Tito Galla, Liberty Ilagan, Eddie Gutierrez/ Directed by Mar S. Torres

"Dayukdok" (1961)- Stars Carmen Rosales, Luis Gonzales, Amalia Fuentes, Barbara Perez, Charlie Davao, Boy Alano/ Directed by Mar S. Torres

FRANCISCO V. COCHING'S HAGIBIS (1947)" KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION

Hagibis by FV Coching
Scanned from the original/
Private Collection

Francisco V. Coching's Hagibis, which was created in 1947, was one of the longest running komiks serial in Philippine comics history. Inspired by Kulafu of Francisco Reyes and Tarzan of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Hagibis ran for 15 years in Liwayway magazine. It was followed by sequels: Anak ni Hagibis and Si Gat Sibasib. Hagibis proved to be so popular that it was made and adapted into a film with Fernando Poe, Sr, in the title role.

http://www.alanguilan.com/museum/coching.html
http://lambiek.net/artists/c/coching_francisco.htm
http://video48.blogspot.com/2008/02/art-of-francisco-v-coching.html

Hagibis (1947)- Stars Fernando Poe, Sr., Erlinda Cortez,
Pacita del Rio, Rolando Liwanag, Virginia Warne,
Cecilio Joaquin, Rosa Mia, Music by Lucio San Pedro/
Directed by Fernando Poe, Sr.

MARIO MONTENEGRO AND DELIA RAZON: LVN'S TOP BOX-OFFICE DRAW

Still from the movie Pusong may Lason (1953)

Lucy May Gritz was a chubby teenager with pretty German-Spanish mestiza features when she went to the Sampaguita studios in the late 40s to seek out her favorite movie stars. There someone spotted her and was impressed enough with her youthful charm to give her a screen test.

A few assignments as an extra later, she was borrowed from Sampaguita by one of the Silos brothers to appear in a Mila Del Sol-Teddy Benavidez picture called Malaya. When Doña Sisang saw the rushes of the film, she was very excited. She has caught a glimpse of the young mestiza and was greatly interested in her. “Hanapin nga yan,” she ordered.

The girl was located and presented to the Old Lady. Reluctant at first because she wanted to be faithful to Sampaguita, Lucy May later changed her mind and signed an LVN contract. Under the terms of the contract, she was to appear in three films for which she would be paid php300 per picture; then three more for each of which she would received php500. She did not finish that contract. Within a year after her discovery, she became leading lady to Rogelio de la Rosa in the film Prinsipe Amante. “I got php3,000,” she recalls. No matter. Three thousand pesos in 1950 was a lot of money to a young girl.

Doña Sisang had already decided that her new discovery couldn’t possibly keep her name: it sounded too foreign, and besides, was difficult to pronounce. Why not a Spanish-sounding name, wondered the Old Lady. The girl had appeared in one film as a character named Delia Razon. Doña Sisang thought that was a lovely name--- and very apt.

At about the time Delia Razon got launched on a movie career, a young man from Pagsanjan, Laguna, was trying to get a job as an artist in the set making department of LVN. His name was Roger Colin Macalalag and he had dark good looks and remarkable profile. He had come to Manila after the Liberation to look for a job and at the same time to enroll in the fine arts course at the University of the Philippines.

His first job was a commercial painter; the second, he hoped, would be an LVN artist. He was taken in as a movie extra instead. He would have remained an extra and a stuntman had not Manuel Conde, then already an independent producer, cast him as one of the swashbuckling brothers in Siete Infantes de Lara (1950).

Doña Sisang was viewing the rushes with Conde in the LVN projection room when, so an account of the incident by movie columnist Jose A. Quirino goes, she asked Conde, “Who is that dusky and handsome Infante?” Told the young man’s name, the Old Lady is said to have asked, “Why did I not hear of him before? That fellow is star material. What is happening to our talent scouts?” She promptly ordered that Macalalag be given choice roles. Not long afterwards, she also chose for him a screen name--- Mario Montenegro--- which he has since formally taken as his legal name.

Source: Dona Sisang Filipino Movies/ 1977

Their love team was a huge box-office draw and their movies a sure hits at the box office. The fans of Mario and Delia hoped not only for their idols to fall in love but also to get married.

But that was not to be. Mario fell in love and married another LVN star, Letty Alonzo. Delia, on the other hand, chose to marry Rely Reyes, who was not in anyway connected with showbiz.

Rodrigo de Villa (1952)- Stars Delia Razon, Mario Montenegro, Alfonso Carvajal, Oscar Keesee, Nestor de Villa/ Directed by Dr. Gregorio Fernandez

Dambanang Putik (1954)- Stars Delia Razon, Mario Montenegro, Milagros Naval, Jose de Cordova, Emma Alegre/ Directed by Enrique Jarlego

Among Tunay (1956)- Stars Delia Razon and Mario Montenegro/
Directed by Susana C. De Guzman

Higit sa Korona (1956)- Stars Delia Razon, Mario Montenegro, Rosa Rosal' Johnny Reyes, Alfonso Carvajal/ Directed by Richard Abelardo

Ilaw sa Karimlan (1956)- Stars Delia Razon, Mario Montenegro, Milagros Naval/ Directed by Susana C. de Guzman

Rebelde (1958)- Stars Delia Razon, Mario Montenegro, Carlos Padilla, Jr., Rebecca Del Rio/ Directed by Artemio Marquez

They starred in 15 movies:

1. Bohemyo (1951)
2. Rodrigo de Villa (1952)
3. Tatlong Labuyo (1953)
4. Pusong May Lason (1953)
5. Dose Pares (1954)
6. Prinsepe Tiñoso (1954)
7. Dambanang Putik (1954)
8. Lapu-Lapu (1955)
9. Banal o Makasalanan (1955)
10. Ilaw sa Karimlan (1956)
11. Among Tunay (1956)
12. Higit sa Korona (1956)
13. Top-Topo (1957)
14. Balae (1958)
15. Rebelde (1958)

DANILO JURADO AS "MARCELINO" (1959)

The year: 1959---
It was seven in the morning and the office of Champion Pictures was still closed. Outside the door, five-year old Danilo Jurado fidgeted by his father’s side and wondered whether they were doing the right thing. They were there to see what chances Danny had in getting chosen for the title role in Marcelino, Champion’s Lenten picture currently under production.

Roy Padilla, Champion boss and director of the picture which needed a lead star, received father and son. He interviewed Danilo, paying special attention to the child’s facial expressions. The interview over, Roy asked for a picture of the boy which was filed for reference.

Other applicants were interviewed. Yet, as the field of selection grew wider, Roy felt more certain that only Danny, the first applicant by the way, could play the role. No other candidate for the role possessed Danilo’s assets: a delicate complexion, a chiseled nose, big soulful eyes and curly locks which strayed at the forehead. After a few days, Roy declared the search ended and he called for Danilo. The boy was signed up for three years and production of the picture, already long delayed, commenced immediately.

For the studio, the discovery of Danny Jurado meant only one thing, a child for the lead role in Marcelino had been chosen and they could finish the picture in time for the Lenten season. For the boy and his family, however, it meant much more. It was a job, a good-paying job, and a better future. No more pounding of pavements, no more missed meals, no more bruises caused by rough stones on bare feet.

Danilo was a ticket vendor before this good opportunity. So were his parents. He was a ticket vendor as soon as he could walk unaided. Danilo was, to quote the studio PRO, the monkey to his parents’ organ. It was he who enticed the buyers, who made the difference of a few more pesos added to their meager daily income. Danilo’s walking hours were spent in the alleys and sidewalks of Sta. Cruz and Quiapo, at night they would retire to the slums where they lived.

This is Danny Jurado, the boy who has been chosen for the title role in Marcelino, a touching story of a child’s unquestioning faith in his God.

Source: "Big Break for a Boy" by L. de Paz/
Literary Song-Movie magazine/
March 16, 1959

Danilo Jurado is now a voice and performance instructor for a talent and promotion agency. He is also an entertainment editor of several weekly tabloids and a columnist of a monthly Filipino entertainment magazine in Las Vegas.

"Marcelino" (1959)- Stars Oscar Keese, Bert Olivar, Raul Belmonte, Pianing Vidal, Andres Iturbi and Danilo Jurado as Marcelino/ Directed by Roy Padilla

MANUEL CONDE'S MOLAVE (1961)

Molave (1961)- Stars Manuel Conde, Leroy Salvador, Rosita Noble,
Gloria Sevilla, Victor Sevilla, Bruno Punzalan, Flor Bien/
Produced and Directed by Manuel Conde

April 22 was Earth Day. It was designated by the United Nations for the whole world to try to save the Earth. Al Gore's prize-winning documentary on global warming, An Inconvenient Truth, tells about the climate crisis that threatens life on earth.

Did you know that 47 years ago the great Manuel Conde did a movie that deals on environmental problem? Yes, Conde saw that problem which we are facing right now. The movie, Molave (1961) was considered the first tagalog movie that focuses on the issue of forest denudation and the clamor for its preservation and conservation.

More on Manuel Conde

LOU SALVADOR JR. DIES IN LAS VEGAS, 66

Lou Salvador Jr., known as The James Dean of the Philippines, died of lung cancer at the age of 66 (born on Dec. 4, 1941) at 9:40 last Saturday morning, April 19, in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he had been staying for more than 25 years after he retired from showbiz.

He is survived by his second wife Carol and his children (including twins) with his ex-wife Guinevieve Poe, younger sister of FPJ. Nicknamed Jojo, Lou Jr. was one of the estimated 40 children of the original master showman Lou Salvador Sr. a.k.a. Van Ludor. Jojo was the eldest among three siblings by the same mother: Ding and Rosauro (Ross Rival, father of Maja Salvado), both deceased, and former actress Chona Sandoval (Consuelo Salvador). Jojo was the original Bad Boy (title of one of his starrers) of Philippine movies. He was among the contract stars of LVN Pictures which built him up as The James Dean of Philippines.

I talked to Jojo last week on the phone and he told me he was dying,’ said Ramon Salvador, brother of Phillip Salvador. He said that his kidney had collapsed. My parting words to him were, “We will pray for you.”

Jojo was diagnosed to have lung cancer last year. His remains have been cremated.

Ricky Lo/ Philippine Star

More on Lou Salvador, Jr.

THE TWO PRESIDENTS

RAMON ZAMORA AS "THE DRAGON"- THE ORIGINAL PINOY BRUCE LEE

No one can approximate the legendary Bruce Lee in terms of looks and fighting style other than our very own Pinoy Bruce Lee clone, Ramon 'The Dragon' Zamora.

Yari Naaaa!... (1971)- Stars Ramon Zamora, Balot, Tange and Jessica/ Directed by Ading Fernando

Ramon Zamora started his entertainment career in 1953 as a stuntman and dancer for LVN Pictures. He was given his biggest break in the highly popular TV comedy gag show Super Laff-Inn in the late 60s and early 70s. Zamora's most popular stock character in the show was a military-clad figure that bore an unmistakable physical resemblance to Hitler, who spoke in bastardized German and spouted catchphrases such as "Isprakenheit"

He starred as the durable komiks character Pedro Penduko in the 1973 Celso Ad Castillo fantasy film Ang Mahiwagang Daigdig ni Pedro Penduko. The resulting success of this film boosted Zamora’s popularity, and he soon became one of the top box-office draws in Philippine cinema in the 1970s

Ang Mahiwagang Daigdig ni Pedro Penduko (1973)- Stars Ramon Zamora, Jeanne Young, Lotis Key, Eddie Garcia, Panchito, Jingle/ Directed by Celso Ad Castillo

Bagsik at Kamandag ni Pedro Penduko (1974)- Stars Ramon Zamora, Lotis Key, Eddie Garcia, Panchito, Paquito Diaz/ Directed by Jose Wenceslao

Zamora was especially popular for a string of locally-produced martial arts films that emerged following the international success of Bruce Lee. Patterning his film persona around a Bruce Lee-type with a comedic twist, Zamora starred in such films as Pig Boss (1973), The King Plaster (1973) Shadow of the Dragon (1973), , Game of Death (1974) and Return of the Dragon (1974).

Source: wikipedia
More on Ramon Zamora

The Pig Boss (1972)- Stars Ramon Zamora, Vina Morena, Jane Laurel, Amanda Suarez/ Directed by Luis San Juan

The King Plaster (1972)- Stars Ramon Zamora, Jane Laurel, Menchie Palma, Tange and Mandy Bustamante/ Directed by Luis San Juan

Shadow of the Dragon (1973)- Stars Ramon Zamora, Jeanne Young, Eddie Garcia, Panchito, Micahel Murray and Ike Fernando/ Directed by Jun Gallardo

Dragon Fire (1974)- Stars Ramon Zamora, Gina Pareno, Marissa Delgado, Dencio Padilla, Subas Herrero and Tsing Tong Tsai/ Directed by Jose 'Pepe' Wenceslao

The Dragon Force Connection (1974)- Stars Ramon Zamora, Evangeline Pascual, Charlie Davao, Edna Luna/ Directed by Nilo Saez

The Game of Death (1974)- Stars Ramon Zamora, Evangeline Pascual, Eddie Garcia, Panchito, Roldan Aquino/ Directed by Jun Gallardo

Return of the Dragon (1974)- Stars Ramon Zamora, Lotis Key, Leila Hermosa, Paquito Diaz, Tsing Tong Tsai/ Directed by Celso Ad Castillo