THE FIFTIES # 149: LILIA DIZON, MARIO MONTENEGRO, ROSA ROSAL, WITH JOHNNY REYES, JOSE CRIS SOTO, EUSEBIOGOMEZ, PRISCILLA RAMIREZ, ANGGE IN "MAKABUHAY" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Makabuhay" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date September 27- October 6, 1953/ Life

Music F. Buencamino, Jr.

Direction Tony Arnaldo

Cast Lilia Dizon, Mario Montenegro, Rosa Rosal, Johnny Reyes, Jose Cris Soto, Eusebio Gomez, Priscilla Ramirez, Angge

THE FIFTIES # 151: PRISCILLA CELLONA, CARLOS SALAZAR, WITH PUGO, JOSE CRIS SOTO, ROSA AGUIRRE, NATY BERNARDO, JOSE DE CORDOVA, NORA DY, IKE JARLEGO, JR. IN "GANYAN LANG ANG BUHAY" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Ganyan Lang ang Buhay" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date May 14- 24, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Enrique Jarlego

Cast Priscilla Cellona, Carlos Salazar, Pugo, Jose Cris Soto, Rosa Aguirre, Naty Bernardo, Jose de Cordova, Nora Dy, Ike Jarlego, Jr.

THE FIFTIES # 84: LYDIA MONTANEZ (IN THE TITLE ROLE), ELENA MAYO, BAYANI CASIMIRO, JOSE CRIS SOTO IN "MARIA BONITA" (1951)/ UPDATED

"Maria Bonita"
Royal Productions
Release Date November 30, 1951/ Clover
Music Ray Alinsod and his Orchestra
Story and Direction Manuel A. Garcia
Cast Lydia Montanez, Elena Mayo, Bayani Casimiro, Jose Cris Soto, with Ernie Javier, Lucy Moran, Rene Antonio, Babes Edwards, Irene & Luz Gutierrez, Bill O' Brien, Shirley Santos, Larry Allen

THE FIFTIES # 679: NORMA BLANCAFLOR, EDUARDO DEL MAR AND BABY LINDA, WITH LUIS VIZCONDE, DONY PALACIO, JOSE CRIS SOTO (GUEST ARTIST) IN "TAIMTIM NA DALANGIN" (1951)/ UPDATED

"Taimtim na Dalangin" (1951)

Atheca Productions

Release Date May 30- June 5, 1951/ Dalisay

Direction Ding M. de Jesus

Cast Norma Blancaflor, Eduardo del Mar and baby Linda/ Also Staring Luiz Vizconde, Dony Palacio, Jose Cris Soto  (Guest Artist)

THE FIFTIES # 32: MILA DEL SOL, JAIME DE LA ROSA, WITHGIL DE LEON, EUSEBIO GOMEZ, LILA LUNA, JOSE CRIS SOTO, PAMBOY, ENGRACIO IBARRA, JUSTINA DAVID, FLORENTINO BALLECER IN "NUNO SA PUNSO" (1950)/ UPDATED

"Nuno sa Punso"
LVN Pictures
Release Date: April 26, 1950/ Life
Direction Richard Abelardo
Cast Mila del Sol, Jaime de la Rosa, Gil de Leon, Eusebio Gomez, Lila Luna, Jose Cris Soto, Pamboy, Engracio Ibarra, Justina David, Florentino Ballecer, Tony Dantes, Jose de Castro, Jr., Amandita Llave

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 94: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, CELIA FLOR, WITH TEODY BELARMINO, INDAY JALANDON, NELA ALVAREZ, GREGORIO FERNANDEZ, JOSE CRIS SOTO, OSCAR OBLIGACION, TONY SANTOS, EUSEBIO GOMEZ IN "CAPAS" (1949)/ UPDATED

"Capas"
LVN Pictures
Release Date: June 29/30- July 9, 1949/Life
Music Josefino Cenizal
Story and Screenplay Armando Garces

Music Josefino Cenizal
Direction Gregorio Fernandez

Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Celia Flor, Teody Belarmino, Inday Jalandoni, Nela Alvarez, Gregorio Fernandez, Jose Cris Soto, Oscar Obligacion, Tony Santos, Eusebio Gomez, Armando Garces, Jose De Villa

Photos, courtesy of Casa Grande

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 123: NORMA BLANCAFLOR, TONY ARNALDO, WITH ROSA ROSAL, VICTOR SEVILLA, EUSBIO GOMEZ, JOSE CRIS SOTO, ENGRACIO IBARRA, JUSTINA DAVID IN "HULING DALANGIN" (1948)/ UPDATED

"Huling Dalangin"

LVN Pictures

Release Date October 10-21, 1948/ Center

Music Constancio de Guzman

Direction Susana C. de Guzman

Cast Norma Blancaflor, Tony Arnaldo, Rosa Rosal, Victor Sevilla, Eusebio Gomez, Jose Cris Soto, Engracio Ibarra, Justina David, Eliseo Carvajal, Mike Accion, Constancio de Guzman, Juanito Montes, Leonor Carmona, Pablo Virtuoso

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 53: ROGELIO DELA ROSA, TONY ARNALDO, ROSA ROSAL AND INTRODUCING CELIA FLOR IN "HAMPAS NG LANGIT" (1948)/ UPDATED

"Hampas ng Langit"
LVN Pictures, Inc.

Release Date August 22- 31, 1948/Dalisay

Story Susana de Guzman, Inigo Ed. Regalado, Nemesio Caravana

Photography Enrique Rosales

Sound July Hidalgo

Assistant Director Juanito Montes
Direction Susana de Guzman

Cast Rogelio de la Rosa, Tony Arnaldo, Rosa Rosal/ Introducing Celia Flor/ with Merly Fernandez, Priscilla, Eusebio Gomez, Jose Cris Soto, Amandita

Rogelio de la Rosa and Celia Flor in "Hampas ng Langit" (1948)

(Photo, courtesy of Casa Grande)

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 122: ARSENIA FRANCISCO, TEDDY BENAVIDEZ, WITH PACITA DEL RIO, RAFAEL JIMENEZ, JOSE CRIS SOTO, PEDRO FAUSTINO, AFRICA DE LA ROSA IN "DOLOROSA" (1948)/ UPDATED

"Dolorosa" (1948)

Leyte Motion Pictures

Release Date June 11- 16, 1948/ Center

Music Josefino Cenizal

Direction Estrella Alfon- Rivera

Cast Arsenia Francisco, Teddy Benavidez, Pacita del Rio, Rafael Jimenez, Jose Cris Soto, Pedro Faustino, Billy Liliput, Jesse Fernandez, Africa dela Rosa

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 33: ROSA DEL ROSARIO, ROGELIO DE LA ROSA, TONY AR NALDO, WITH ROSA ROSAL, JAIME CASTELVI, ROSA MIA, ENGRACIO IBARRA,GUMERCINDO BUENCAMINO, AFRICA DE LA ROSA AND SOTO & NIEVES"HIMALA NG BIRHEN (SA ANTIPOLO)" (1947)"/ UPDATED

"Himala ng Birhen (sa Antipolo)" (1947)
LVN Pictures
Release Date: October 27- Novenber 13, 1947/Dalisay
Music Constancio de Guzman
Director Susana de Guzman
Cast Rosa del Rosario, Rogelio de la Roa, Tony Arnaldo, Rosa Rosal, Jaime Castelvi, Rosa Mia, Engracio Ibarra, Gumercindo Buencamino, Africa de la Rosa and Soto & Nieves

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 43: JOSE PADILLA, JR., MILA DEL SOL , WITH GUIA IMPERIAL, VICTOR SEVILLA, NATI RUBI, FRANCISCO MONROY, MANUEL ELORIAGA, JOSE CRIS SOTO, PATRING CARVAJAL, BAYANI CASIMIRO AND INTRODUCING TEODY BELARMINO IN "MALING AKALA" (1947)

"Maling Akala" (1947)
LVN Pictures, Inc.
Release Date September 19-29, 1947/Dalisay
Director Luis Silos

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Mila del Sol, Guia Imperial, Victor (Banahaw) Sevilla, Nati Rubi, Francisco Monroy, Manuel Eloriaga, Jose Cris Soto, Patring (Monang) Carvajal, Bayani Casimiro/ Introducing Teodolfo (Teody) Belarmino

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 150: BAYANI CASIMIRO, JOSE CRIS SOTO, PACITA DEL RIO, DEANNA PRIETO IN "OH SALAPI" (1947)

"Oh Salapi" (1947)

LVN Pictures

Release Date August 1947/ Dalisay

Direction Sano Tulia

Cast Bayani Casimiro, Jose Cris Soto, Pacita del Rio, Deanna Prieto 

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 18: JOSE PADILLA, JR., NORMA BLANCAFLOR, LIRIO DEL VALLE, WITH ALFONSO CARVAJAL, JOSE CRIS SOTO, LOPITA, TONY SANTOS, GREGORIO FERNANDEZ, ENGRACIO IBARRA IN "MISS PHILIPPINES" (1947)/ UPDATED

"Miss Philippines" (1947)
LVN Pictures
Release Date: June 3-12, 1947/Dalisay Theater
Music Ariston Avelino
Story Eriberto A. Tablan
Director Gregorio Fernandez
Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Norma Blancaflor, Lirio del Valle, Alfonso Carvajal, Jose Cris Soto, Lopita Tony Santos, Gregorio Fernandez, Engracio Ibarra

Did you know that many big names in Philippine Movies (LVN stars) appeared in cameo roles in the 1947 movie, Miss Philippines? The scene calls for the introduction of Lolita del Mar (played by Norma Blancaflor) who won the LVN Pictures next star for their upcoming project, Miss Philippines. Invited guests included stars and directors like Rogelio de la Rosa, Jaime dela Rosa, Mila del Sol, Ely Ramos, Rebecca Gonzales, Erlinda Cortes, Corazon Noble, Susana de Guzman, Manuel Silos, Ramon Estella and many more.

Norma Blancaflor and Jose Padilla, Jr. In "Miss Philippines" (1947)
(above and below)

 ---on the cover of Ilang-Ilang Magazine/ May 11, 1947---

POST-WAR ERA TAGALOG MOVIES: ROGELIO DE LA ROSA, NORMA BLANCAFLOR, WITH ART CANTRELL, JOSE CRIS SOTO, MONANG CARVAJAL, JUSTINA DAVID, GLORIA GARCIA IN "VICTORY JOE" (1946): A FILM BY MANUEL SILOS/ UPDATED

"Victory Joe" (1946)

LVN Pictures, Inc.

Release Date June 24- July 14, 1946/ Dalisay

Music Santiago Suarez, Quin Velasco

Story and Direction Octavio Silos

Cast Rogelio de la Rosa, Norma Blancaflor, Art Cantrell, Jose Cris Soto, Monang Carvajal, Justina David, Jerry and his Romancers

Victory Joe, set during the Liberation time, was one of the first movies to come out after the war. It tells of two military officers, a Filipino named Eduardo (Rogelio dela Rosa) and an American, Bob (Art Cantrell) vying for the love of Rosie (Norma Blancaflor), a pretty country girl.

Eduardo, Rosie 's boyfriend and an officer in the Philippine army, was part of the contingent fighting the advancing Japanese forces in Bataan. After the war, with no words about him, Rosie accepts an American suitor, a GI named Bob, part of the liberating American forces. She becomes an object of gossip and to dispel such nasty rumors going around, her mother sends her to a relative in Manila. However, Bob follows her.

Believing and fearing that Eduardo is killed, Rosie finally says yes to the persistent and determined Bob. But things get complicated when Eduardo, who turns out to be alive, comes home. Rosie, who is still in love with Eduardo, is now in a delicate position on how to tell Bob about it. On the other hand, Eduardo feels betrayed when he finds out that Rosie is dating and going out with the American GI.

On how Eduardo and Rosie settle their differences and finally reconcile can be viewed on the short clip below---

Courtesy of LVN Pictures

Plus... Enjoy the song and dance scenes as Rosie reminisces her good times with Eduardo (see clip below).

Courtesy of LVN Pictures

THE WAR YEARS (1942- 1945): "THE GOLDEN AGE OF PHILIPPINE THEATER"/ ROGELIO DE LA ROSA, NORMA BLANCAFLOR, WITH KATY DE LA CRUZ, TUGUING & PUGUING, BIMBO DANAO, JOSE CRIS SOTO, BAYANI CASIMIRO, REBECCA GONZALES AND AN ALL-STAR CAST IN "BULAG NA PAG-IBIG" (1943)

After their successful stage appearance in "Si, Si Señorita," Rogelio de la Rosa and Norma Blancaflor came back to the theater in "Bulag na Pag-ibig," marking their first dramatic roles onstage. Billed as a gripping drama of love and prejudice, the production was presented by Filipinas Revue and directed by Gregorio Fernandez. The cast also featured Katy de la Cruz, Puguing and Tuguing, Bimbo Danao, Jose Cris Soto, Bayani Casimiro, and others.

The stage play smashed all previous box-office records and was hailed as "their greatest dramatic triumph." It ran for 5 weeks at Life Theater, from May 4 to to June 24.

(The Tribune, May 4, 1943)

(The Tribune, May 22, 1943)

(The Tribune, May 29, 1943)

(The Tribune, June 24, 1943)

THE WAR YEARS (1942- 1945): ROGELIO DE LA ROSA, AMPARO KARAGDAG, WITH PRECIOSO PALMA, JAIME CASTELLVI, VIRAY, BAYANI CASIMIRO AND JOSE CRIS SOTO IN "CABALLERO" (1942)

"Caballero" (1942)

RDR Productions

Release Date Mach 1- 25, 1942/ Life Theater

Story Domingo Raymundo

Direction Gregorio Fernandez

Cast Rogelio de la Rosa, Amparo Karagdag/ with Precioso Palma, Jaime Castellvi, Viray, Bayani Casimiro and Jose Cris Soto

Rogelio de la Rosa in "Caballero" (1942)

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ROSA DEL ROSARIO, ROGELIO DE LA ROSA, WITH SYLVIA ROSALES, BEN RUBIO, FERNANDO ROYO, ANGELITA (RHUMBA) REY, JOSE CRIS SOTO AND PUGO & TOGO IN "ANG MAESTRA" (1941)/ UPDATED

"Ang Maestra" (1941)

RDR Productions

Release Date October 15, 1941/Life Theater

Story Rogelio de la Rosa

Music Conrado Conde and Tito Arevalo

Direction Gerardo de Leon

Cast Rosa del Rosario, Rogelio de la Rosa, with Sylvia Rosales, Ben Rubio, Fernando Royo, Angelita (Rhumba) Rey/ Featuring Jose Cris Soto, Pugo and Togo

What gimmick did the producer of RDR Productions’ "Ang Maestra" (1941) resort to in order to promote the movie?

Matinee idol Rogelio de la Rosa, who was both the male lead star and producer of the movie, wrote a personal letter to schoolteachers all over the country exhorting them to promote the movie not only to their students but likewise to their students’ families and neighbors as well. On a nationwide scale, that would mean millions of potential filmgoers. No wonder "Ang Maestra" became one of the most successful films of the prewar period, not only in terms of box-office but likewise from a critical standpoint too. (Amadis Ma.Guerrero)
(Source: A Movie Album Quizbook by Jessie B. Garcia)

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ARSENIA FRANCISCO, ANGEL ESMERALDA, YOLANDA MARQUEZ, WITH RAQUEL CARO, MARTINA JIMENEZ, BEN RACELIS, MARCELA GARCIA, LEO VIBAR, CITA DELIA, PERFECTA CARPIO, NENITA NAVARRO, CANUPLIN, SOTO AND BAYANI IN "KUNG KITA'Y KAPILING" (1941)/ UPDATED

"Kung Kita'y Kapiling" (1941)

AZ (Acuna/Zaldarriaga) Productions, Inc.
Release Date: October 10-16, 1941/ Dalisay Theater

Music Constancio De Guzman
Story Susana De Guzman

Director Tor Villano
Cast Arsenia Francisco, Angel Esmeralda, Yolanda Marquez, Raquel Caro, Martina Jimenez, Ben Racelis, Marcela Garcia, Leo Vibar, Cita Delia, Perfecta Carpio, Nenita Navarro, Canuplin, Soto and Bayani

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: LUNINGNING, SERAFIN GARCIA, WITH PATRING CARVAJAL, NENA SERRANO, MARTINA JIMENEZ, JOSE TRONI, MANUEL ELORIAGA, ARMANDO CRIS, SALVADOR ZARAGOZA, JOSE CRIS SOTO, BAYANI CASIMIRO IN "HALIMAW" (1941)/ UPDATED

 "Halimaw" (1941)

X-Otic Films

Release Date August 19- 27, 1941/ Dalisay 

Direction Tor Villano

Cast Luningning, Serafin Garcia, Patring Carvajal, Nena Serrano, Martina Jimenez, Jose Troni, Manuel Eloriaga, Armando Cris, Salvador Zaragosa, Jose Cris Soto, Bayani Casimiro

Image courtesy of Pinoy Kollektor

"Movie flyers have been used by theater owners as promotional ads to drum up business for movies. They would print them up from materials provided by the studio, adding information on local screening times and locations. Although they were cheaply produced, many of the flyers were quite nicely designed and are now considered highly collectibles. In many cases the original films have been lost, making the surviving flyers the only visual record of numerous movies."

MORE ON PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES: ROGELIO DE LA ROSA, CORAZON NOBLE, LOTA DELGADO, WITH BERT LE ROY, SALVADOR ZARAGOZA, PRECIOSO PALMA, TEDDY BENAVIDEZ, JOSE CRIS SOTO, EUSEBIO GOMEZ, JOSE LUZ BERNARDO IN "TARHATA" (1941)/ UPDATED

"Tarhata" (1941)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date June 14- 27, 1941/ Dalisay 

Story Rogelio de la Rosa 

Direction Manuel Silos 

Cast  Rogelio de la Rosa, Corazon Noble, Lota Delgado, Bert LeRoy, Salvador Zaragosa, Precioso Palma, Teddy Benavides, Jose Cris Soto, Eusebio Gomez, Jose Luz Bernardo