THE FIFTIES # 226: TESSIE AGANA, LINDA ESTRELLA, VAN DE LEON, LUCAS PAREDES IN "KUNG AKO'Y MAGING DALAGA" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Kung Ako'y Maging Dalaga" (1954)

Alta Pictures, Inc.

Release Date August 19-29, 1954/ Center

Music Tito Arevalo

Lyrics Luis Ma. Trinidad

Direction Artemio B. Tecson

Cast Tessie Agana, Linda Estrella, Van de Leon, Lucas Paredes

THE FIFTIES # 225: CARMEN ROSALES, ALICIA VERGEL, CESAR RAMIREZ AND OSCAR MORENO IN PABLO S. GOMEZ' "MN": KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION (1953/54)/ UPDATED

MN--- “Ano ang tunay na kahulugan ng dalawang titik na ito? Anong uri ng kasaysayan ang napapaloob dito? Pag-ibig? Poot? Kapalaluan? Kakumbabaan?” These are some of the intriguing questions asked and readers are curious.

MN was serialized in Pilipino Komiks in 1953 to 54 and ran for 26 installments (September 26, 1953 to September 11, 1954). It was created by Pablo S. Gomez and Carlos Gonda (fyi, Carlos Gonda is the pen name of Pablo S. Gomez) and drawn by Fred Carillo.

Unang Labas

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Ika-2-na labas

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Pablo S. Gomez’ “MN” stands for Marissa Navarro, a character played onscreen by screen legend Carmen Rosales. It tells of a story of Marissa, a strict, heartless, domineering and fiery heiress and daughter of a wealthy landowner, who instills and sows fear among its populace. She gets the ire of one of the tenants, Ada (played by Alicia Vergel). However, she meets her match in Armando (Cesar Ramirez), another lowly tenant, and eventually falls in love with him. Marissa’s strange character was a result of her sad experiences with another man, Oscar (played by Oscar Moreno).

Movie Adaptation (1954)

"MN" (1954)
Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date August 13- 22, 1954/ Life
Music Ariston Avelino
Cast Carmen Rosales, Alicia Vergel, Oscar Moreno and Cesar Ramirez

On the set of "MN"- Carmen Rosales poses with co-stars Alicia Vergel and Cesar Ramirez and director Mar S. Torres (in checkered shirt)

THE FIFTIES # 224: RIC RODRIGO, LOLITA RODRIGUEZ, DOLPHY, BOY ALANO, WITH ROSA MIA, REBECCA DEL RIO, HORACIO MORELOS IN "SABUNGERA" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Sabungera" (1954)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date August 8- 17, 1954/ Dalisay

Direction Tony Cayado

Music Pastor de Jesus

Cast Ric Rodrigo, Lolita Rodriguez, Dolphy, Boy Alano, Rosa Mia, Rebecca del Rio, Horacio Morelos

THE FIFTIES # 223: JOSE PADILLA, JR., EDDIE DEL MAR, ROSITA NOBLE, FERNANDO ROYO, ELVIRA REYES, OSCAR KEESEE, LOPITO, VICENTE LIWANAG, LYDIA RESMA, LEONORA RUIZ, MARIO BARRI IN "SEX GANG" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Boldly filmed to stop Flesh-Traffic and to protect the honor of our Maria Claras," says the blurb of the 1954 movie, Sex Gang. Where as sex trade and human trafficking are so rampant nowadays, I never expected that a movie like this existed way back in the 50s.

"Sex Gang" (1954)

Golvel Pictures

Release Date August 9- 18, 1954/ Center

Direction Mike Velarde

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Eddie Del Mar, Rosita Noble, Fernando Royo, Elvira Reyes, Oscar Keesee, Lopito, Vicente Liwanag, Lydia Resma, Leonora Ruiz and Mario Barri

THE FIFTIES # 222: TESSIE QUINTANA, CARLOS SALAZAR, WITH TONY SANTOS, ALFONSO CARVAJAL, CARMENCITA ABAD, NORA DY, OSCAR OBLIGACION IN "ABARINDING" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Abarinding" (1954)

LVN Pictures

Release Date June 24- July 3, 1954/ Dalisay

Story Jose Miranda Cruz and Artemio Marquez

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Direction Joe Climaco

Cast Tessie Quintana, Carlos Salazar, Tony Santos, Alfonso Carvajal, Carmencita Abad, Nora Dy, Oscar Obligacion, Juanita Rodriguez

THE FIFTIES # 221: JOSE PADILLA, JR., ANITA LINDA, WITH PATRIA PLATA, ROBERTO DANTES, GREGORO TICMAN, PATSY MATEO IN "BASAGULERA" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Basagulera" (1954)

Everlasting Pictures

Release Date July 29- August 7, 1954

Direction Nardo Vercudia

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Anita Linda, Patria Plata, Roberto Dantes, Gregorio Ticman, Patsy Mateo

THE FIFTIES # 687: DELIA RAZON, MARIO MONTENEGRO, WITH TONY SANTOS, ALFONSO CARVAJAL, VEN MEDINA, FRANK GORDON, ARTURO MORAN, CARMENCITA ABAD, OSCAR OBLIGACION IN "PRINSIPE TIÑOSO" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Prinsipe Tinoso" (1954)

LVN Pictures

Release Date July 24- August 2, 1954/ Life

Direction Gregorio Fernandez

Cast Delia Razon, Mario Montenegro, Tony Santos, Alfonso Carvajal, Ven Medina, Frankie Gordon, Oscar Obligacion, Arturo Moran, Carmencita Abad, Cecilia Lopez, Liza Rivera, Lourdes Yumul

Based on the original script of Manuel Conde, the 1954 version of Prinsipe Tenoso tells of Prince Tenoso who is exiled by his father, the king after freeing the pitiful giant from jail. In gratitude, the giant gives Tenoso a magic handkerchief that can tame animals and can give him his wishes. As a beggar, Tenoso is despised by the princes, the king's soon-to-be sons-in-law, but eventually is recognized as the hero responsible for curing the king's illness, and winning the king's battles against the moors. (source: The Cinema of Manuel Conde)

The kingdom of Ungria




Mario Montenegro as Prince Tenoso and his sidekick, Oscar Obligacion


Delia Razon as Princess Florcefida

the giant

Mario Montenegro, disguised as a beggar and Gregorio Fernandez

Delia Razon


Cecilia Lopez and Delia Razon


Mario Montenegro and Delia Razon


Delia Razon and the Queen


The three princes, soon to be the king's sons-in-law--- Frankie Gordon, Tony Santos and Ven Medina


The King


Mario Montenegro

THE FIFTIES # 220: FRED MONTILLA, LINDA ESTRELLA, TESSIE AGANA, WITH NORMA VALES, RUDY FRANCISCO, CHICHAY, TOLINDOY, LUIS GONZALES, IMELDA CONCEPCION IN "NAGKITA SI KERUBIN AT SI TULISANG PUGOT" (1954)/ UPDATED

 "Nagkita si Kerubin at si Tulisang Pugot" (1954)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date July 19-28, 1954/ Dalisay

Story Clodualdo del Mundo and Gemiliano Pineda

Direction Octavio Silos

Cast Fred Montilla, Linda Estrella, Tessie Agana, Norma Vales, Rudy Francisco, Chichay, Tolindoy, Luis Gonzales, Imelda Concepcion

 Nobela ni Clodualdo del Mundo and Gemiliano Pineda

Guhit ni Teny Henson and Manuel Carrillo

Inilathala sa Hiwaga Komiks/ 1954

THE FIFTIES # 219: NENA CARDENAS, ROSITA NOBLE AND CORAZON RIVAS, WITH LAURO DELGADO, RUBEN RUSTIA, BOY FRANCISCO, NATY BERNARDO IN MARS RAVELO'S "3 SISTERS"/ KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

"3 Sisters" (1954)
Premiere Productions, Inc.
Release Date July 14-23, 1954/ Life
Story Mars Ravelo
Music Ariston Avelino
Direction Cesar Gallardo
Cast Nena Cardenas, Rosita Noble, Corazon Rivas, Lauro Delgado, Ruben Rustia, Boy Francisco, Naty Bernardo/ with Nello Nayo, Lito Anzures, Paquito Salcedo, Zeny Zabala

"3 Sisters" by Mars Ravelo/ Serialized in Pilipino Komiks/ 1954

---Unang Labas---

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From the Collection of Steve Santos/
Unang Labas Blog

THE FIFTIES # 218: TITA DURAN, PANCHO MAGALONA AND DOLPHY, WITH BAYANI CASIMIRO, CARDING CRUZ IN "SA ISANG HALIK MO, PANCHO" (1954)/ UPDATED

 "Sa Isang Halik Mo Pancho" (1954)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date July 13-22, 1954/Center

Music Tirso Cruz and his Manila Hotel Orchestra

Direction Armando Garces

Cast Tita Duran, Pancho Magalona, Dolphy, Bayani Casimiro, Carding Cruz

THE FIFTIES # 687: NIDA BLANCA, NESTOR DE VILLA, WITH EMMA ALEGRE, FLORENTINO BALLECER, NENITA VIDAL, PRISCILLA RAMIREZ, MARIA ROLDAN, MANDING CLARO IN "TIN-EDYER" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Tin-edyer" (1954)

LVN Pictures Inc.

Release Date July 9- 18, 1954

Serialized in Espesyal Komiks

Story Virgilio Redondo

Music Carlos Aguilar

Direction Tony Arnaldo

Cast Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa/ Also starring Emma Alegre, Florentino Ballecer, Nenita Vidal, Priscilla Ramirez, Maria Roldan, Manding Claro