Video 48: LOLITA RODRIGUEZ, 81

Veteran actress and one of Philippine Cinema icons, Lolita Rodriguez passed away on Monday (November 28). She died in California after a stroke. She was 81.

Literary Song-Movie Magazines/ April 1955 and April 1956 issues

Lolita Rodriguez, Dolores Clark in real life, was born on January 29, 1935 in Urdaneta Pangasinan. In 1953, at the age of 18, she entered the movies. She was given walk-on roles. As an extra, she used to earn 5 pesos per appearance. Her first movie was Ating Pag-ibig, followed by Gorio at Tekla, El Indio, Cofradia, Kiko, Reyna Bandida, Sa Isang Sulyap mo Tita and Diwani.

She was introduced as second lead in Pilya (1954) where she portrayed Gloria Romero’s older sister. Her first starring role was Jack and Jill (1955), the same movie that established Dolphy as the top comedian of the country. After being nominated twice, she finally won her first Famas Best actress award in 1956 for the movie Gilda. In the first nomination, despite her credible portrayal as a tomboyish jeepney driver in Jack and Jill, she lost the 1954 award to a fellow Ilocana (Gloria Romero in Dalagang Ilocana) by a mere two votes. The next year, she again lost to Rosa Rosal (Sonny Boy) by only one vote.

From a comedy to light drama roles in 1954, Lolita eventually landed to a more mature and heavy drama roles in the 60s.

1. Pilya (1954)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Ric Rodrigo/ Introducung Lolita Rodriguez Directed by Tony Cayado
2. Sabungera (1954)- Stars Ric Rodrigo, Lolita Rodriguez, Dolphy, Boy Alano/ Directed by Tony Cayado

3. Batas ng Alipin (1955)- Stars Ric Rodrigo, Lolita Rodriguez, Tito Galla, Liberty Ilagan/ Directed by Octavio Silos
4. Binibining Kalog (1955)- Stars Ramon Revilla, Lolita Rodriguez, Rudy Frnacisco, Rosa Mia/ Directedby Octavio Silos

5. Jack and Jill (1955) - Stars Rogelio de la Rosa, Lolita Rodriguez and Dolphy/Directed by Mar S. Torres
6. Rosana (1955)- Stars Ric Rodrigo, Lolita Rodriguez, Norma Vales/ Introducing Daisy Romualdez/ Directed by Armando Garces

7. Tanikalang Apoy (1955)- Stars Paraluman, Rita Gomez, Lolita Rodriguez, Van de Leon, Eddie Garcia, Etang Discher, Bella Flores, Matimtiman Cruz/ Directed by Jose de Villa
8. Gilda (1956)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Eddie Arenas, Rosa Mia, Eddie Garcia, Zeny Zabala/ Directed by Armando Garces

9. Kanto Girl (1956)- Stars Oscar Moreno, Lolita Rodriguez, Aruray, Bella Flores/ Directed by Oliive de la Torre10. Busabos (1957)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Eddie Arenas, Rudy Francisco, Daisy Romualdez/ Directed by Jose de Villa

11. Gabi at Araw (1957)- Stars Ric Rodrigo, Lolita Rodriguez, Marlene Dauden, Eddie Garcia, Tolindoy/ Directed by Octavio Silos
12. Taga sa Bato (1957)- Stars Paraluman, Lolita Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales, Van de Leon and Eddie Garcia/ Directed by Conrado Conde

13. Tarhata (1957)- Stars Fred Montilla, Ramon Revilla, Van de Leon, Barbara Perez and Lolita Rodriguez/ Directed by Armando Garces
14. Kundiman ng Piso (1958)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Eddie Arenas, Tony Marzan, Marlene Dauden/ Directed by Tony Cayado

15. Mapait na Lihim (1958)- Stars Ric Rodrigo, Lolita Rodriguez, Van de Leon, Marlene Dauden, Etang Discher/ Directed by Octavio Silos
16. Alipin ng Palad (1959)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales, Eddie Garcia, Tony Cayado,Bella Flores, Zeny Zabala/ Directed by Octavio Silos

17. Cicatriz (1959)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Luis Gonazales, Barbara Perez, Carlos Salazar, Greg Martin, Rosita Noble, Bella Flores, Zeny Zabala,Venchito Galvez, Ven Medina/ Directed by Tony Cayado
18. Lupa sa Lupa (1960)- Stars Gloria Romero, Lolota Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales, Bella Flores and Eddie Garcia/ Directed by Mar S. Torres

In 1963, two great Sampaguita talents, Lolita Rodriguez and Marlene Dauden and drama king Eddie Rodriguez starred in Sapagka’t Kami’y Tao Lamang, the movie that turned out to be a sensational and phenomenal hit. The movie garnered the year’s top FAMAS awards--- Best Actor for Eddie Rodriguez; Best Supporting Actress for Marlene Dauden; Best Director for Armando De Guzman. It started the series of the so-called love triangle movies featuring the three dramatic icons in Philippine movies.

Ms. Dauden was memorable in such dramas as Anino ni Bathala (1958) and Kamandag (1959). In both films, Marlene won the FAMAS best supporting actress trophies. She was also awarded the FAMAS Best Actress awards twice: Sa Bawa’t Pintig ng Puso (1964) and Kapag Puso’y Sinugatan (1967).Lolita, on the other hand, was also a FAMAS Best Actress awardee twice: Gilda (1956) and Tinimbang Ka’t Nguni’t Kulang (1974).
Eddie was one of the greatest dramatic actors of Philippines movies and starred in such classics as Kundiman ng Lahi (1959) and Malvarosa (1959).
Together, the troika of Eddie, Lolita and Marlene made their mark in the local movie industry, pooling their talents to come up one hits after another.

Sapagka't Kami'y Tao Lamang (1963) -

Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Marlene Dauden and

Eddie Rodriguez/ Directed by Armando De Guzman

Iginuhit sa Buhangin (1965)-
Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Marlene Dauden and
Eddie Rodriguez
Directed by Armando de Guzman

Hindi Nahahati ang Langit (1965)-
Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Marlene Dauden and
Eddie Rodriguez with Vilma Santos/
Directed by Lauro Pacheco

Kay Tagal ng Umaga (1965)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Marlene Dauden and Eddie Rodriguez/ with Vilma Valera and Vilma Santos/ Directed by Lauro Pacheco

Saan Ka Man Naroroon (1966)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Marlene Dauden and
Eddie Rodriguez/ Directed by Lauro Pacheco

Kapag Puso'y Sinugatan (1967)- awarded FAMAS Best Picture- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Marlene Dauden and Eddie Rodriguez/ Directed by Fely Crisostomo

Sino Ang May Karapatan? (1968)-Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Marlene Dauden and Eddie Rodriguez with Vilma Santos / Directed by Ding M. De Jesus

Ikaw... (1969)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Marlene Dauden and
Eddie Rodriguez/ Directed by Luis Enriquez

"Tubog sa Ginto" (1970)

Lea Productions

Release Date December 25, 1970/ Dalisay

Story Mars Ravelo

Cinematography Steve Perez

Music Doming Valdez

Screenplay and Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Lolita Rodriguez, Hilda Koronel, Jay Ilagan and Eddie Garcia/ Also Starring Luis Gonzales, Marissa Delgado, Mario O'Hara, Veronica Palileo

"Stardoom" (1971)

Lea Productions

Release Date October 8, 1971/ Opera

Story Orlando Nadres

Cinematography Fredy Conde

Music Jose Mari Chan

Screenplay and Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Lolita Rodriguez, Eddie Garcia, Walter Navarro and Hilda Koronel/ Introducing Lotis Key/ Also Starring Caridad Sanchez, Tita Munoz, Mary Walter, Ruben Rustia, Mario O'Hara and Jimmy Morato/ Co-starring Veronica Palileo, Celeste Legaspi, Joonee Gamboa, Glenn Bernardo, Marco Polo, Estrella Kuenzler