THE FIFTIES # 292: JOSE PADILLA, JR., ARSENIA FRANCISCO, OLIVIA CENIZAL, CAROL VARGA, WITH RUBEN RUSTIA, BABY ZOBEL, LITO ANZURES IN "PANGAKO NG PUSO" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Pangako ng Puso" (1955)

Premiere Productions/ Larry Santiago Production

Release Date June 14-23, 1955/ Dalisay

Music Josefino Cenizal

Direction Artemio Marquez

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Arsenia Francisco, Olivia Cenizal, Carol Varga, Ruben Rustia, Baby Zobel, Lito Anzures, Mely Vetales, Guillermo Carls, Baby Carmelita

THE FIFTIES # 263: JOSE PADILLA, JR., LEILA MORENA, CAROL VARGA, LAURO DELGADO AND INTRODUCING OLIVIA CENIZAL IN "PALAHAMAK" (1955)/ UPDATED

"Palahamak" (1954)

Premiere Productions, Inc./ People's Picture

Release Date January 5-14, 1955/ Dalisay

Story and Direction Artemio Marquez

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Leila Morena, Carol Varga, Lauro Delgado/ Introducing Olivia Cenizal

THE FIFTIES # 253: EFREN REYES, CORAZON RIVAS, CAROL VARGA, JOSE ROMULO, WITH RUBEN RUSTIA, PACO ZAMORA, ANGELITO ANZURES, PAQUITO SALCEDO, IMPERILA IN "ABENTURERA" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Abenturera" (1954)

Premiere Productions, Inc.

Release Date November 26- December 5, 1954/ Dalisay

Music Ariston Avelino

Story and Direction Nemesio E. Caravana

Cast Efren Reyes, Corazon Rivas, Carol Varga, Jose Romulo, Ruben Rustia, Paco Zamora, Angelito Anzures, Fely Imperial, Paquito Salcedo

THE FIFTIES # 248: JESUS RAMOS, ROSITA NOBLE, WITH LOPITO, RAMON D' SALVA, CAROL VARGA, VICENTE LIWANAG IN "SI OG SA ARMY" (1954)/ UPDATED

 "Si Og sa Army" (1954)

Larry Santiago Productions/ Premiere Productions, Inc.

Release Date November 11-20, 1954/ Life

Music Tony Maiquez

Direction Cesar Gallardo

Cast Jesus Ramos, Rosita Noble, Lopito, Carol Varga, Ramon D'Salva, Vicente Liwanag

The cast and crew of Premiere Productions, “Si Og sa Army”(1954) posed for a souvenir shot. Photo shows Jesus ‘Og’ Ramos, Rosita Noble, Carol Varga, Lydia Resma, Nello Nayo, Vicente Liwanag, production staff, officers and men of the Armed Forces---

THE FIFTIES # 240: EDNA LUNA, JUAN 'JOHNNY' MONTEIRO, CAROL VARGA, VICENTE LIWANAG, NELLO NAYO IN GERARDO DE LEON'S " SI EVA AT SI ADAN" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Si Eva at si Adan" (1954)
Manuel Vistan Productions/ Premiere Productions, Inc.
Release Date October 17- 26, 1954/ Dalisay
Direction Gerardo de Leon
Cast Edna Luna, Juan 'Johnny' Monteiro, Carol Varga, Vicente Liwanag, Nello Nayo

Popular 50s stars Edna Luna and Juan "Johnny" Monteiro (both starred together in "Paladin") changed sex identities in the 1954 Gerardo de Leon's controversial movie, "Si Eva at si Adan." The movie made an uproar when it ran problems and raised a furor with the Board of Censors because of its very hot and sensitive issues on homosexuality. Manong Gerry was way ahead of its time when he tackled such controversial themes and it takes guts on his part to do that. I also can't imagine seeing Johnny Monteiro portraying the role of a gay. Monteiro, known for his breathtaking fencing skills, appeared in countless action and adventure movies pitting him mostly with another popular action star, Efren Reyes.

THE FIFTIES # 235: NENA CARDENAS, DANILO MONTES, CAROL VARGA, RAMON D' SALVA, LETICIA OJERA, JOSE ROMULO IN "LAGING MAY UMAGA" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Laging May Umaga" (1954)

People's Pictures/ Premiere Productions, Inc

Release Date October 2- 11, 1954/ Life
Story S.G. Bautosta and M.S. Martin
Serialized in Liwayway Magazine

Direction Teodorico C. Santos

Cast Nena Cardenas, Danilo Montes, Carol Varga, Ramon D' Salva, Leticia Ojera, Jose Romulo

THE FIFTIES # 232: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, GLORIA SEVILLA, WITH CAROL VARGA, RAMON D'SALVA, ROSA AGUIRRE, ROMY BRION, ANTONIO DE LA MOGUIES IN "MISTER DUPONG (ANG DAKILANG MANGINGIBIG)" (1954)/ UPDATED

 "Mister Dupong (Ang Dakilang Mangingibig)" (1954)

Deegar Cinema, Inc./ LSG Productions

Release Date September 19- 28, 1954/ Center

Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Gloria Sevilla, Carol Varga, Ramon D' Salvca, Rosa Aguirre, Romy Brion, Antonio de la Mogueis

THE FIFTIES # 203: ANITA LINDA, REYNALDO DANTE, WITH LOPITO, CAROL VARGA, RAMON D' SALVA, VICENTE LIWANAG IN PABLO S. GOMEZ/CARLOS GONDA'S "GUWAPO" (1954)/ KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

"Guwapo" (1954)
Premiere Productions/ Manuel Vistan
Release Date May 10- 19, 1954/ Dalisay
Story Carlos Gonda (Pablo S. Gomez) 
Direction Teodorico C. Santos

Cast Anita Linda, Reynaldo Dante, Lopito, Carol Varga, Ramon D' Salva, Vicente Liwanag, Nello Nayo, Angelina Razon

Espesyal Komiks/ 1953
Nobela ni Carlos Gonda (or Pablo S. Gomez)
Guhit ni Federico Javinal

Komiks materials- Courtesy of Steve Santos/ Unang Labas

THE FIFTIES # 197: JOSE PADILLA, JR., EDNA LUNA, WITH ROSITA NOBLE, LOPITO, AMADO CORTEZ, LETICIA OJERA, CAROL VARGA, LETICIA OJERA, NELLO NAYO, PAQUITO SALCEDO, FELISA ABAD, LITO ANZURES IN "SA KABILA NG BUHAY" (1954)/ UPDATED

 "Sa Kabila ng Bukas" (1954)

Premiere Productions

Release Date March 31- April 12, 1954/ Dalisay

Direction Consuelo P. Osorio

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Edna Luna, Rosita Noble, Lopito, Amado Cortez, Leticia Ojera, Carol Varga, Bebong Osorio, Nello Nayo, Paquito Salcedo, Felisa Abad, Lito Anzures, Jose Lapid, Tony Palomer, Tony Osorio, Zeny Zabala, Candido Manahan

THE FIFTIES # 156: JOSE PADILLA, JR., NENA CARDENAS, CAROL VARGA, AMADO CORTES, WITH NELLO NAYO, FRANCISCO CRUZ, SONYA REYES IN "HABANG BUHAY" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Habang Buhay" (1953)

Manuel Vistan, Jr.

Released thru Premiere Productions

Release Date December 11-20, 1953

Direction Teodorico C. Santos

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Nena Cardenas, Carol Varga, Amado Cortez, Nello Nayo, Francisco Cruz, Sonya Reyes, Nenita Bona, Vicente Liwanag, Angelina Razon

THE FIFTIES # 139: EFREN REYES, ROSITA NOBLE, WITH CAROL VARGA, OSCAR KEESE, AMADO CORTES IN NEMESIO E. CARAVANA'S "KAPITAN BERONG" (1953): KOMIKS SERIAL & MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

"Kapitan Berong" (1953)
Manuel Vistan Production 
Released thru Premiere Productions
Release Date October 17- 26, 1953/ Life
Story and Direction Nemesio Caravana
Cast Efren Reyes, Rosita Noble, Carol Varga, Oscar Keese, Amado Cortes

"First in Spectacle!...in Thrills!... and in Romance!, says the blurb of the 1953 action-adventure movie, “Kapitan Berong.” It thrilled fans and went on to shatter box-office records when it was shown that year. I have seen the movie countless times in the 60s when it was shown on TV and as a young kid I was impressed and overwhelmed. Set during the Spanish period, the story revolves around a young man named Berong (Efren Reyes) who was born with a saber and a horse who can talk, sing and fly. Based on the novel penned by Nemesio E. Caravana, “Kapitan Berong” was serialized in Liwayway Magazine in 1952. Here's the first three installments of the popular komiks novel drawn by Ben Alcantara---

click images to enlarge

click images to enlarge

Komiks materials courtesy
of Steve Santos of Unang Labas blog

THE FIFTIES # 177: JAIME DE LA ROSA, EDNA LUNA, WITH CAROL VARGA, FERNANDO ROYO IN MARS RAVELO'S "DYESEBEL" (1953)/ A FILM BY GERARDO DE LEON/ UPDATED

 "Dyesebel"
Premiere Productions
Release Date July 4- 13, 1953/ Dalisay 

Serialized in Pilipino Komiks
Story Mars Ravelo
Direction Gerardo de Leon
Cast Jaime de la Rosa, Carol Varga, Fernando Royo and Edna Luna in the title role

Dyesebel first appeared in the pages of Pilipino Komiks in the 50s. Created by renowned and prolific Filipino novelist Mars Ravelo and drawn by Elpidio Torres, the komiks novel has been adapted into movies in 1953, 1973, 1978, 1990 and 1996. A sequel was made in 1964, “Anak ni Dyesebel.” Here's the first and last installments of that original version of Dyesebel, as it made its memorable run in 1952 to 53.

Unang Labas/ Pilipino Komiks/ 1952

click images to enlarge

Katapusang Labas/ Pilipino Komiks/ 1953

click images to enlarge

Source: Komiks materials from

the collection of Steve Santos