ROSA MIA AND ROSA AGUIRRE: THE "MATER DOLOROSA" OF PHILIPPINE MOVIES

Left- Pasang Krus (1957)- Stars Rita Gomez, Luis Gonzales, Rosa Mia, Tony Marzan/ Directed by Octavio Silos

Right- Pitong Krus ng Isang Ina (1968)- Stars Rosemarie, Ramil Rodriguez, Edgar Salcedo, Alicia Alonzo and Rosa Aguirre/ Directed by Mar S. Torres


-->The Virgin Mary is portrayed as the sorrowful mother (Mater Dolorosa), her hands clasped in prayer as she turns to contemplate her suffering son Jesus Christ.
A classic Rosa Mia starrer or a Rosa Aguirre movie depicts the typical Filipina mother who always puts their children’s welfare above everything. Both actresses typify and characterize the “mater dolorosa” of Philippine movies. They reigned supreme as the“Mothers of Tearjerkers.”
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Rosa Mia (Rosita Quinto in real life) was only in her 20s when she started in the movies in 1948 via Sumpaan. It was Fernando Poe Sr. who gave her the screen name of Rosa Mia and at an early age, she was doing mother roles. In 1951, she played mother to Tessie Agana in Roberta, the movie that brought back Sampaguita Pictures to business after its film vault was gutted by fire. It earned her the Maria Clara Best Supporting Actress award, her first. She also won another Best Supporting Actress award from FAMAS in 1956 for the movie Tumbando Cana and five or six other nominations. Among her memorable movies were Inang Mahal (1956), Pasang Krus (1957), Tatlong Ilaw sa Dambana (1958), Pitong Kalbaryo ni Inang (1962), Bakit Pa Ako Isinilang (1966), Liku-Likong Landas (1968) and many more. She also played mother to two of Marcos biopics, Iginuhit ng Tadhana (1964) and Pinagbuklod ng Langit (1969).
Rosa Aguirre, on the other hand, started her movie career in the 30s and completing 13 movies (among them, Pasang Krus in 1939) when the Second World War broke out in 1941. She was married to actor Miguel Anzures and mother to Bernardo ‘Narding’ Anzures. Rosa’s personal life was full of heartaches and miseries as she had to endure the sad fate that befell her son, who was sent to prison. Her son was responsible for the fatal slaying of actress Lilian Velez and her maid in the late 40s. She went on to do more movies under LVN Pictures---among them, Sanga-Sangang Puso (1957), Faithful (1958) and the popular Tang-Tarang-Tang (1958).

Left- Inang Mahal (1956)- Stars Van de Leon, Amalia Fuentes, Juancho Gutierrez and Rosa Mia/ Directed by Octavio Silos

Right- Tatlong Ilaw sa Dambana (Kalbaryo ng Isang Ina)/1958- Stars Rita Gomez, Luis Gonzales, Barbara Perez, Daisy Romualdez, Rosa Mia, Greg Martin and Rod Navarro/ Directed by Jose de Villa

Sanga-Sangang Puso (1957)- Stars Armando Goyena, Rosa Rosal, Charito Solis, Rosa Aguirre, Milagros Naval, Eddie Rodriguez, Jose Vergara/ Directed by Susana C. De Guzman

Mahal Kita Inay (1962)- Stars Zaldy Zshornack, Van de Leon, Cielito Legaspi, Rodolfo Cristobal, Rosa Aguirre, Vilma Valera and Charito Solis/ Directed by Artemio Marquez

Pitong Kalbaryo ni Inang (1962)- Stars Amalia Fuentes, Jose Mari, Daisy Romualdez, Jean Lopez, Greg Martin, Lito Legaspi, Eddie Garcia, Naty Santiago, Zeny Zabala, Dindo Fernando and Rosa Mia/ Directed by Jose de Villa

Sa Puso ng Isang Ina (1963)- Stars Susan Roces, Marlene Dauden, Tito Galla, Rosa Mia and Juancho Gutierrez

Left- Iginuhit ng Tadhana (1964)- Stars Luis Gonzales, Rosa Mia and Gloria Romero/ Directed by Mar S. Torres, Jose De Villa and Conrado Conde

Right- Pinagbuklod ng Langit(1969)- Stars Luis Gonzales, Gloria Romero, Rosa Mia, Vilma Santos, Gina Alajar, Jonjie Aranda/ Directed by Eddie Garcia

Left- Bakit Pa Ako Isinilang? (1966)- Stars Gloria Romero, Lolita Rodriguez, Marlene Dauden & Paraluman/ Ric Rodrigo, Vic Vargas, Bert LeRoy, Jr. and Rosa Mia/ Directed by Luciano B. Carlos
Right- Liku-Likong Landas (1968)- Stars Gloria Romero, Rita Gomez, Lolita Rodriguez, Barbara Perez, Rosa Mia, Gina Pareno and Marlene Dauden/ Mario Montenegro, Luis Gonzales, Ramon Revilla, Van de Leon, Tito Galla and Dindo Fernando

Siete Dolores (1968)- Stars Eddie Rodriguez, Nestor de Villa, Luis Gonzales, Vic Vargas, Ric Rodrigo, Rod Navarro and Eddie Garcia/ with Boots Anson-Roa, Rosa Mia, Renato Robles, Elvie Gonzales, Jose Vergara, Nello Nayo, Jose Villafranca and Joe Sison/ Directed by Luis Enriquez