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

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Katapusang Labas/ Pilipino Komiks/ 1953

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Source: Komiks materials from

the collection of Steve Santos

THE FIFTIES # 140: ARMANDO GOYENA, TESSIE QUINTANA, WITH JOSE DE CORDOVA, JOSE CRIS SOTO, ANGGE, FRANK GORDON, CASMOT, ARTURO MORAN IN "HAWAYANA" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Hawayana" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date June 14-23, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Manuel Silos

Cast Armando Goyena, Tessie Quintana, Jose de Cordova,  Jose Cris Soto, Angge, Frank Gordon, Casmot, Arturo Moran

THE FIFTIES # 153: JOSE PADILLA, JR., ARSENIA FRANCISCO, CARLOS PADILLA, WITH OSCAR KEESE, PATRIA PLATA, RAMON D'SALVA, ROSITA NOBLE, NATY RUBI, DELY ATAY-ATAYAN IN "SA HIRAP AT GINHAWA" (1953)/ UIPDATED

"Sa Hirap at Ginhawa" (1953)

Maria Clara Pictures

Release Date June 8-18, 1953/ Life

Direction Consuelo P. Osorio

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Arsenia Francisco, Carlos Padilla, Oscar Keese, Patria Plata, Ramon D' Salva, Rosita Noble, Naty Rubi, Dely Atay-Atayan, Don Antonio de la Mogueis, Luis San Juan, Benny Mack and Engracio Ibarra

THE FIFTIES # 143: TESIE AGANA (IN THE TITLE ROLE), LINDA ESTRELLA, VAN DE LEON, WITH TONY CAYADO, BOY ALANO, SYLVIA LA TORRE, ARURAY, BERT OLIVAR, PEDRO FAUSTINO IN "MUNTING KORONEL (1953)/ UPDATED

Child star sensation Tessie 'Roberta' Agana, filmdom's "Shirley Temple of the Philippines" did a movie in 1953 titled "Munting Koronel," patterned over the 1935 Shirley Temple starrer "The Little Colonel."

See Tessie Agana as Roberta

"Munting Koronel" (1953)

Sampaguita Pictures, Inc.

Release Date June 4- 13, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Octavio Silos

Cast Tessie Agana, Linda Estrella, Van de Leon, Tony Cayado, Boy Alano, Sylvia La Torre, Aruray, Bert Olivar, Pedro Faustino

Right- The Little Colonel (1935)- Stars Shirley Temple, Lionel Barrymore, Evelyn Venable, John Lodge, Bill Robinson 

THE FIFTIES # 142: LILIA DIZON, MARIO MONTENEGRO AND ROSA ROSAL, WITH JOHNNY REYES, VICTOR BLANCO, OSCAR OBLIGACION, FRANKIE GORDON IN "KUWINTAS NG PASAKIT" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Kuwintas ng Pasakit" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date May 30- June 8, 1953/ Life

Story Ding M. De Jesus

Music Constancio de Guzman

Direction Susana C. de Guzman

Cast Lilia Dizon, Mario Montenegro, Rosa Rosal, Johnny Reyes, Victor Blanco, Oscar Obligacion, Frankie Gordon, Pepita Gonzales, Cynthia Gomez, Rebecca Rocha

THE FIFTIES # 174: CESAR RAMIREZ, NENA CARDENAS, VAN DE LEON, WITH TITA MUNOZ, BOY ALANO, TONY CAYADO, MYRNA DELGADOIN F.V. COCHING'S "EL INDIO" (1953): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

El Indio (1953)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date May 20, 1953/ Life Theater

 Direction Enrique Moreno

Cast Cesar Ramirez, Nena Cardenas, Van de Leon, Tita Munoz, Boy Alano, Tony Cayado and Myrna Delgado /with Bert Olivar, Martin Marfil, Totoy Torrente, Eddie Garcia, Olive dela Torre, Conrado Conde, Ely Nakpil

Francisco V. Coching’s El Indio, serialized in Pilipino Komiks in 1952-53, is an adventure komiks novel which tells the story of Fernando, a handsome and dashing colored Spanish mestizo who went back to the Philippines to exact revenge on his father whom he believed abandoned him and his mother Blanquita. There, he discovered the cruel and oppressive colonial government, and joined the rebels in the fight against the oppressors as El Indio. El Indio is the sequel to Coching’s earlier series entitled Barbaro, and is one of most popular series in Philippine komiks history. (Komiklopedia)

El Indio was adapted into the big screen in 1953. Sampaguita Pictures was able to secure the movie right of the novel and signed up Cesar Ramirez to play the role of Fernando or El Indio. The movie also starred Nena Cardenas, Van de Leon, Tita Munoz, Boy Alano under Enrique Moreno direction. The movie had its grand opening at Life theater, May 20, 1953.

El Indio covers courtesy of Gerry Alanguilan

Comic book artist and writer Gerry Alanguilan, creator of Wasted and Elmer and a big fan of Francisco V. Coching, is in the forefront of digitally restoring Coching’s classic 50s komiks serial novel El Indio. For the past several years, Gerry, in between deadlines, was able to scan the original comic book pages and meticulously restored each page. He hopefully to see this on print next year.
http://gerry.alanguilan.com/archives/724

Click images to enlarge

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 #161: ANITA LINDA, EDUARDO DEL MAR, WITH OSCAR KEESEE, FERNANDO ROYO, PATRIA PLATA, ELENA MAYO, NELLO NAYO, JOHNNY MONTEIRO, EDNA LUNA, RITA GOMEZ, RUBEN RUSTIA IN "AGILANG ITIM" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Agilang Itim" (1953)

Premiere Productions

Release Date May 10-19, 1953/ Life

Serialized in Liwayway Magazine

Story Francisco V. Coching

Direction Teodorico C. Santos

Cast Anita Linda, Eduardo del Mar, Fernando Royo, Oscar Keese, Patria Plata, Elena Mayo, Maria Norma, Johnny Monteiro, Edna Luna, Rita Gomez, Ruben Rustia, Tony Tolman

THE FIFTIES # 178: JAIME DE LA ROSA AND CELIA FLOR IN AVELLANA'S "LOIDA: ANG AKING PAG-IBIG" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Loida: Ang Aking Pag-ibig" (1953)

LVN Pictures

Release Date May 5- 14, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Lamberto V. Avellana

Cast Jaime de la Rosa and Celia Flor

THE FIFTIES # 173: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, JOSE PADILLA, JR., WITH MARGARET MERRITT, ANGELA LUNA, CAROL VARGA (GUEST STAR), JOSE VILLAFRANCA, ELY NAKPIL, PEDRO FAUSTINO, DELY ATAY-ATAYAN IN KAMBAL NA LIHIM" (1953)/ UPDATED

Leopoldo Salcedo and Jose Padilla, Jr., two great movie icons of yesteryears appeared together for the first time in 1953 in the movie, Kambal na Lihm. Considered as a casting coup that time, the two popular actors were then the undisputed Kings of Philippines Movies. Problem with the billing was also evident in the ad layout. The movie, produced by Deegar Cinema, Inc., also starred Margaret Merritt, Angela Luna and Carol Varga, under Ricardo Brillantes direction.

"Kambal na Lihim"(1953)
Deegar Cinema, Inc.
Release Date May 5-9, 1953/ Life
Direction Ricardo Brilliantes
Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Jose Padilla, Jr., Margaret Merritt, Angela Luna, Carol Varga, Jose Villafranca, Pedro Faustino, Leon Timog, Dely Atay-Atayan, Casupang/ Guests: Bebong Osorio, Hector Reyes

THE FIFTIES #144: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, ERLINDA CORTES, WITH DON DAVID, LOPITO, GREGORIO TICMAN, NATY RUBI, AFRICA DE LA ROSA, SALVADOR ZARAGOSA, ESTER BAUTISTA IN "TINIG NG TAGUMPAY" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Tinig ng Tagumpay" (1953)

Lebran Productions 

Release Date April 30- May 4, 1953/ Life

Direction Enrique H. Davila 

Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Erlinda Cortes, Lopito, Gregorio Ticman, Naty Rubi, Africa de la Rosa, Salvador Zaragosa, Ester Bautista with Don David/ Guests Teresita de Alba and Jose Luis Medina, the child Caruso

THE FIFTIES # 155: GLORIA ROMERO, RAMON REVILLA, WITH CHICHAY, TONY CAYADO, REBECCA DEL RIO IN "COFRADIA (ANG MAHIWAGANG SINDERELLA)" (1953)/ KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

Billed as 'Ang Mahiwagang Sinderella,' Cofradia was probably inspired by the popular fairy tale character named Cinderella. The 1953 movie was based from a komiks novel created by Dominador Ad. Castillo and appeared on the pages of Mabuhay Komiks in 1952. It is a heart-touching story, as the blurb says, of a girl (played by Gloria Romero) who was afraid to love because---she was black. She becomes the subject of ridicule and humiliation and the butt of jokes, mockery and extreme embarrassments from people around her. But like the fairy tale Cinderella, Cofradia turns into a beautiful young lady with the lighting of a mysterious candle.

Left- Kislap Magazine/ April 29, 1953

Right- "Cofradia" (1953)- Stars Gloria Romero, Ramon Revilla, Chichay, Tony Cayado, Rebecca del Rio, Priscilla Concepcion, Precy Ortega/ Directed by Artemio B. Tecson

"Cofradia"(1952)/ Mabuhay Komiks/
Nobela ni Dominador Ad Castillo/ Guhit ni Ben S. Maniclang

Komiks materials-
From the collection of Steve Santos