Monday, September 29, 2008

PAQUITO DIAZ WAS ONCE AN ATENEO BLUE EAGLE



"Basta't Basketball" (1971)
Stars Paquito Diaz and Romy Diaz/ with Pablo Virtuoso, Dencio Padilla and Rosanna Ortiz/ Directed by Manuel Cinco

Trivia: Did you know that top character actor Paquito Diaz was once a popular basketball star before he entered the movies? Yes, Paquito also made a name for himself in local hoopdom when he skippered the FEU High basketball team to three (1951-54) consecutive championships in the UAAP basketball tournament and also when he played for the Ateneo Blue Eagles (senior team) in 1955-56.

"Mr. Basketball"(1958)
Stars Bob Soler, Edna Luna, Jose Romulo, Cielito Legaspi, Chiquito/ with Mr. Carlos Badion and other nation's outstanding basketball stars/ Directed by Cesar Gallardo

During his basketball days, Paquito and Cirio Santiago (producer and director of Premiere) were teammates at the Ateneo Blue Eagles team. The two became friends. In 1958, during the filming of Mr. Basketball, Cirio offered Paquito a bit role in the film together with other outstanding cagers of the country. Impressed by Paquito’s good looks in the movie, Cirio lost no time in casting him in other films in which Paquito emoted with much gusto. That's how Paquito started his career in acting


Saturday, September 27, 2008

SIGNS OF THE TIMES # 6: "HIGHWAY 54"

In 1953, a highway known as "Highway 54," was made into a movie starring The Great Profile, Leopoldo Salcedo. The name Highway 54 seems unfamiliar and clueless to most of us Filipinos born in 1960 up.


"Highway 54" (1953)- Stars Leopoldo Salcedo, Paraluman, Ben Perez, Carol Varga, Rolando Liwanag, Rosa Aguirre, Miguel Anzures/ Directed by Ben Calasanz


"Highway 54" is the country’s busiest artery of commerce and transportation. Stretching some 54 kilometers, it serves as a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of Filipinos passing or doing business in Metro Manila.

The highway was constructed in 1940 by engineers led by Florencio Moreno and Osmundo L. Monsod. It was first named as North and South Circumferential Road. But at the end of World War II, the American occupiers changed the name to Highway 54.

It forms a major part of the circumferential roads in Metro Manila. From the south, it passes through five cities--- Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, and Caloocan. Its southern endpoint is at the rotunda near the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City while its northern point is at Monumento in Caloocan City near the Andres Bonifacio monument.

In 1959, by virtue of Republic Act 2140, the highway was renamed in honor of Epifanio de los Santos, a famous son of the province of Rizal.

The highway is now merely known as EDSA.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

SIGNS OF THE TIMES # 5: MANILA STREET 1965

When I saw this amusing photo on the front page of The Manila Times circa 1965, I was reminded of Señor Enrique’s blog entry titled The Jolly Jaywalkers of Manila.” They're really a bunch of jolly jaywalkers (lol)!!!

"FORWARD MARCH"

Jaywalking has been always been a problem in urban cities like Manila. You may call it a way and 'walk' of life of most Filipinos who defied simple sign as "No Pedestrian Crossing Allowed" and risking their limbs, arms and possibly their life.

In 1965, then Manila Mayor Antonio Villegas waged a campaign against jaywalkers to restore order in main city streets.



The Manila Times/ 1965

SIGNS OF THE TIMES # 4: CHEAP CAR 1967

You can own this new Opel Kadett 2-Door Sedan De Luxe for only Php 2, 280 down payment and a monthly installment of Php 430.58 (interest included), says a 1967 newspaper ad announcing this new modern compact car.

The Manila Times/ 1967

SIGNS OF THE TIMES # 3: SA LINGGO NA PO ANG BOLA

My parents used to buy whole tickets of sweepstakes weekly and always specified Manuel Uy.

1961 PCSO AD

SIGNS OF THE TIMES # 2: LA MALLORCA PAMBUSCO

This is the 1953 ad of La Mallorca Pambusco celebrating their 27th anniversary. It was one of the dependable and reliable public transportation at that time plying the Manila to North provincial route.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

SIGNS OF THE TIMES # 1: THE MANILA WE KNEW



Someone emailed me this nostalgic piece of article. Enjoy it---

To my friends who know..... and remember the GOOD times.... Balikan natin ang nakaraan---

This might reveal your true age...... Panciteria Moderna was the place to go for pancit miki and miki bihon already wrapped in their version of 'tetra pak'. Pancit bihon was the specialty of Panciteria Wa Nam. At Ma Mon Luk siopao was at 30 centavos; mami was at 70 centavos or 2 pcs of siomai (large) with unlimited soup was at 30 centavos. So with one peso busog ka na.

The Shangri-la in the basement of Shelborne Hotel (at the back) was the place to go for dates if you wanted a dark and cozy atmosphere. The Embers (in Cubao) of Bert Nievera was also popular. The Black Angel along Shaw Blvd near the corner of Kalentong in Mandaluyong was a very good place to listen to soft music (e.g. Fleetwoods, etc) and the lights were also quite low. With Php 30- 50 in your pocket you were in pretty good shape for a date.

'Bakuran' was the in-thing at parties with 'screening' from a friend to assist you in getting a dance with a girl who was very sought after.

Wack-Wack, the Sky Room in Jai-Alai, the penthouse of the Rufino Bldg. as well as the penthouse of the Sarmiento Bldg right opposite it were the favorite places for proms and balls. Sikat ang event if the Hi-Jacks; the Electromaniacs or the Technicolors was the 'combo' playing. Alta Vista along Roxas Blvd. was the favorite place for wedding receptions at Php 8.50 per cover!

Special ringside seats for performances at the Araneta Coliseum were at Php 5.00 per. So with Php 20.00 you could safely invite someone and still have enough for a snack afterwards or a game of 'putt and putt' at the mini-golf place located at the back of Araneta.

During early 60's, 5 centavos and 10 centavos ang bayad sa jeep. Manila and Suburbs ang lahat ng biyahe ng jeep noon na 3 seater lang at pitpit ka pagbata ka pagsumakay ka. Sa Avenida Rizal at Sta. Cruz, Blumentritt, Tayuman, San Roque Church, Espiritu Santo Church, Grace Park at monumento ang mga sikat na lugar.

Yung Good Earth Emporium pwede ring idagdag sa mga magagandang shopping mall noong araw. Yung Manila Grand Opera house, Odeon, Hollywood, Cinerama, Ideal, State, Lyric, Capitol ang mga sikat na sinehan noon. Sa Q.C ay sikat yung Max's Chicken at Dayrit. Ang dollar rate noon ay 3.70Php sa 1$ ang palitan. Ang Sarsi ay cinco centavos (5 centavos) 10 Centavos ang Coke.

Pero sikat yung Canada Dry, Uva at orange ang paborito namin noon. Pag pasko madalas kami sa Sta Cruz para manood ng palabas sa Manila COD para sa Xmas season. Noon walang chippy at potato chips, ang merienda ay banana cue, camote cue, palitaw, biko, pinipig, halo-halo, carioca, pilipit, butsi, hopiang hapon, hopiang munggo, hopiang baboy, bibingka, puto, cassava, cake o budin, suma n at mani.

Ang apple ay apat-piso ang benta sa Lawton Bus terminal. Mas mahal pa yung local na chico na pineras. Ang grapes, pear, at apple ang karaniwang binebenta sa mga bus terminal na papuntang south (BLTB). Ang bus noon ay bukas lahat yung isang side kaya doon dumadaan ang mga pasahero. Ang sikat na mga Plaza noon ay Plaza Goiti, Plaza Miranda at Plaza Sta. Cruz. Sa mga bakery sa Manila ay sikat yung machacao na tinapay.

May I add: Hallili Beer (sold to the Sorianos), Tody chocolate drink in cans, Horlicks malted milk tablets; Hallili bus, Super (dog logo) Transit, Yujuico, JD & MD buses; ShoeMart Carriedo (the first SM) followed by 2nd ShoeMart beside Ideal Theater and fourth was SM Echague with a revolving restaurant at the top floor.

Safari Club beside Manila Zoo at the height of the 'Twist' craze, Dance-O-Rama with Pete Roa & Baby O'Brien, Jam Session every 6PM on television.

Now anyone who missed those days can't really claim they've seen and tasted the best. Every generation has its own set of 'Aces'. Do you recall when: You tasted Fres Gusto, Cosmos 'Sarsi' Sarsaparilla, RC Cola, Yes Cola, Teem, Darigold Evap, Liberty Condensada, Choco Vim, Sunkist Orange (in tetra packs), Magnolia Chocolait, (pronounced chocolight), Klim (the word 'milk' spelled backwards), Big 20 Hamburgers, Foot-long hotdog, Tweet & Jiggs Candies(by Mr. Krieger), Sugus Candies, Tootsie Roll, Serg' s Chocolate, Blenda Margarine, kerosene-flavored popcorn and kropeck along Dewey Blvd, dirty ice cream, Magnolia Ice Cream sandwich, Selecta ice cream (now Arce Dairy) and their fresh carabao's milk, Magnolia popsicles in orange, chocolate and langka flavors, Sison Ice Drops in monggo, and buko flavors, Milky Way's buko sherbet, Acme Supermarket' s sundaes and Coney Island's 32 flavors?

You went to: Syvel's, Assandas, Arcegas at the Maranaw Arcade, Funhouse at Bricktown, Aguinaldo, Erehwon Bookstore, Alemars Bookstore, Bookmark, Botica Boie, Makati Supermarket (in Makati!), Rizal Theater (with its spacious lobby) with D'Bankers Barbershop and Leila's Coffee Shop, Tropical Hut (and its hamburger), Acme Supermarket, Cherry Foodarama, The Regent of Manila, Hotel Mabuhay, Manila Hilton, Christmas carnival (where Dusit Hotel now stands), Villa Pansol and Lido Beach?

Rizal what?' 'Who would be crazy to build a cinema in the middle of nowhere?' It turned out to be the best theater in the city of Makati (at the same site now occupied by Shangri-La Hotel).

And ate at: The original A&W along UN Avenue in Manila, Aristocrat across Malate Church, Italian Village, café Valenzuela, Bonanza Restaurant, Brown Derby, Little Quiapo, Country Bake Shop, Selecta Restaurants (owned by the Arce family), Taza de Oro; New Europe, Madrid, Cucina Italiana, La Cibeles at A. Mabini, The Plaza, Jade Garden Restaurant, Luau, The Makati Automat, Sulo Restaurant (in Makati), Makati Fastfood Center (the first ever), Bulakena, Casa Marcos, Au Bon Vivant, Salambao Restaurant, Dairy Queen along Buendia, Di Mark's Pizza, the elegant dining room of the old Army & Navy Club. Botica Boie in Escolta, Albas in Florida, Malate Brown Derby and their signature foot-long hotdog came with its special, extra tarty mustard sauce and a hot, crispy bun. We used to park at their drive-in bays after we were exhausted from all-night partying but with enough energy to gobble down sausages and soft drinks.

The Plaza was the favorite venue for all formal school and social functions. Food was not a big factor so long as cozy couples could have their special table for two.

You shopped at: Escolta, Harrison Plaza (when it was still clean and had the bump cars), Ali Mall, Rustan's in San Marcelino, Aguinaldo's in Cubao, Quezon City; Shoemart in Makati was a small, split-level affair.

The original Rustan's was the garage of the Tantoco's residential house which was eventually converted into a dazzling shop filled with eclectic things and collectibles.

Blockbuster movies were: Love Story, Mahogany, Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Planet of the Apes, Star Wars, Logan's Run, Battlestar Galactica, Paper Chase, Enter The Dragon, Jaws, Towering Inferno, Poseidon Adventure, Carrie, Willard (theme song was Ben sang by a young Michael Jackson), Exorcist, Love Bug, Tinimbang Ka Nguni't Kulang.

You wore, carried or used Denman brush tucked in your back pants pocket, Jordache and Sassoon jeans, Bata rubber shoes, Botak running shoes, Ace flexible comb, Ace clutchbag, Carrera shades, Ray-Ban, Photochromic and Ambermatic shades, Foster Grant sungl asses, Alaskin, tie-dye shirts and pants, double-knit pants, Sergio Valente, Vidal Sassoon, Fiorucci, Banlon, Ye-ye Vonnel shirts, Nik-Nik, Bang-Bang, Faded Glory, Jazzie, Puma Topfit, Tiger Onitsuka, Happy Feet, clogs, Wet look shoes, Pierre Cardin, Brut, Jovan musk oil, Aramis, platform shoes with bell-bottom pants and wide-buckled belts.

You had your hair styled or permed by: Flavio and Carmen, Nomer's, Lita Rio, Grace Lagman, Dick & Lucy, and Kayumanggi. That was the time of Aqua Net stiff, foot-high beehives, French twist and Kiss Me liquid eye liners and Pretty Quik instant facial blotters. You sang: Bobby, Bobby, Bobby by Jo Ann Campbell, Someday by Ricky Nelson, And I Love Her by the Beatles, Cherish by the Association, Because by Dave Clark Five, Distant Shores by Chad and Jeremy, Rainy Days & Mondays by the Carpenters, You've Got a Friend by Carol King, Hundred Miles by Peter, Paul and Mar y, Evergreen by Paul Williams.

Saved whole month's allowance P50 to watch the Beatles perform live at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in 1965.

It was hip to listen to: Bingo Lacson and Jo San Diego (past midnight) of DZMT, the singing sensations from Ateneo de Manila? RJ and the Riots, The Loonilarks, Joe Mari Chan and the APO Hiking Society and dance to live combo music garbed in cocktail dresses and dark suits.

DZMT was affiliated with the Manila Times and was the only broadcast station that stayed on the air past midnight. Jo San Diego was their anchor woman (she with the velvety bedroom voice).

And danced at: Manila Hotel's Jungle Bar, Stargazer, Bayside Night Club (with live music by the Carding Cruz band), and the Nile (and the Italian singing group Five n' Fives), Queue Disco, Circuit Disco, Where else? Altitude 49, Delirium (in Greenbelt), D'Flame, Rino's, and Velvet Slum, Wells Fargo, and Coco Banana.

After graduation, jam sessions were replaced by night clubs and Bayside was the place to go for live bands and non-stop dancing.

Do you remember when: Dollar to peso exchange rate was $1 = P7, Walang Tindigan buses charged a flat rate of P1, Love Bus fare was P1.50, family size Shakey's Pizza cost less than P40, Malate streets were named after US States (Pennsylvania, Colorado, etc.); Paranaque, San Juan, Makati, Pasig, Las Pinas, Taguig, Pateros and Muntinlupa were municipalities of Rizal province; DLSU was De La Salle College, Poveda was Institucion Teresiana, Adamson University was the original St. Theresa's campus, Robinsons mall was the Assumption Convent campus, Petron was Esso, Villamor Air Base was then known as Nichols Air ;Base, bancas were aplenty in the Baclaran side of Dewey Blvd. (now Roxas Blvd.) and traffic was non-existent in Tagaytay.

PLDT telephone nu mbers were five digits and you used your index finger to dial a number one at a time.

If you remember all these things, you're history in great company and I dare say, happy to be.

Since the writer was fleeting between two generations (60's-70's), you party goers surely remember the DynaSouls (dubbed the Beatles of the Philippines) , The Tilt Down Men (The Sotto brothers, Tito, & Val, favored the Dave Clark 5) Jaime Jose & the Deltas* (remember Maggie Dela Riva?) What about gate crashing a 'Tipar' (for party) and the ensuing rumble between feuding barkadas: The Havocs, Combat*, & Exotics, meron pang kanya-kanyang busina (car honking id).

Remember BMI (Baguio Military Institute)? That school was a dumping ground for kicked out students from Manila and kids that needed discipline. Let us not forget ang mga taga 'Baste' (San Sebastian). Ang daming siga noong araw.

Sure you remember playing Pelota... And drag racing along Ortigas and behind Meralco..

Sikat ka sa barkada kung may 'syota' (girl friend) kang 'Colegiala' (Assumption, STC, St. Scho, Maryknoll, Holy Spirit; and the other schools - St. Paul's, St. Joseph, Centro Escolar ). As proof, you should be wearing her high school ring in your pinkie finger...And dapat karta 9 ...You probably took her out to the Butterfly (at UP) to listen to folk songs and sip Butterfly Iced Tea.

Did you get to date a 'chick' from Brent (Baguio) and IS (Makati)?

Of course you should have enough cash for the gaso (gas), tsibog (food/dinner) , cover charge/drinks at the Flame or Rino's, konting damo, and for the finale, enough datong (cash) para sa 'biglang liko'. Or kung gipit for cash, park at the huge lot of Folk Arts and just do it in the car...Kaya lang dapat may 'Tapwe' (Singkuwenta pesos) pang lagay sa parak (police), and a handy calling card of a military officer with a hand written note in the back that 'you should be given utmost courtesy'... .jeesh...

Then in the late 70's early 80's came the CB radio phenomenon.. Tibs on Makati Ave. for beer and happy hour at the Manila Garden; always overflowing with beer and chicken wings...Tapos masahe sa Imperial Palace or Maalikaya... To cap the night, a stop at Birds of the Same Feather for smooth jazz courtesy of Eddie Katindig.

Tapos you get to do it all over again the following day.

('pag naalala mo at least kalahati ng mga nabanggit na lugar dito....at leasst PAGA SINGKWENTA OR MORE KA NA RIN...) he, he, he...!

Monday, September 22, 2008

OCTOBER 23, 1951: FERNANDO POE (Sr.) DIES OF HYDROPHOBIA

Left- Anak ng Pawis (1947)- Stars Fernando Poe and Erlinda Cortez
Right- Ali Mudin (1948)- Stars Fernando Poe And Perla Soliman

Fernando Poe, Sr., matinee idol of the 30s and 40s, was only 37 years old when he died of hydrophobia or rabies, due to puppy bites. Poe played such popular characters as Palaris, Limbas and Hagibis in the movies and his sudden demise left the whole Poe household in disarray. Ronald Allan Poe (popular known as FPJ or Ronnie Poe) was only 11 years old that time and he sensed huge responsibilities ahead of him. Ronnie later in an interview clarified that his dad was not bitten by a puppy but he got the rabies by letting the puppy licked his wound in the notion that it will heal fast.
Here’s that story behind the headline that completely changed the life of the Poe family.


Thousands See Poe Bier:
8 Medics Battled In Vain

The Daily Mirror/ October 24, 1951
Thousands of sad-faced mourners started trekking into the Funeraria Nacional on Rizal Avenue this morning to pay their last tribute to the local cinema idol, Fernando Poe, who succumbed to hydrophobia late last night. The mourners--- among them the late actor-director-producer’s business associates, members of the local screen community, friends, relatives and fans--- started filling the funeral parlor as early as 7 o’clock this morning.
The late actor’s mother, Mrs. Marta Reyes Vda. de Poe who arrived at 8:15 a.m. from the family residence on Roosevelt Road, San Francisco del Monte, joined the widow and her children who were at the side of Poe since dawn today.
The body, according to Poe’s half-brother, Antonio Samson, will lie in state at the funeral parlor until tomorrow when it will be transferred to the Royal Productions in San Francisco del Monte, to lie in state for one day, then another day in the family residence. Interment will be on Sunday, immediately after a requiem mass to be said over the body at the Quiapo Church after which the cortege will proceed to the La Loma Catholic Cemetery.
The premiere showing of “Basag na Manika,” Poe’s latest production, which was scheduled to open at the Clover Theater this morning, was postponed and the theater closed for the day as a show of tribute to Poe.
Poe was 37 when he died at the Family Clinic on Maria Clara at 11:45 o’clock last night. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Bessie Kelly Poe, and their six children, Elizabeth, 13; Ronald Allan, 11; Andy, 9; Jenny, 7; Freddie, 4; and Evangeline, 1.
Eight doctors took part in the desperate fight to save Fernando Poe’s life, it was learned today from The Family Clinic, where he died. These are: Dr. J.R. Cruz, medical; Dr. Agustin Liboro, heart specialist; Lt. Col. Luis Martinez, bone surgeon of the Victoriano Luna Hospital; Dr. Elpidio Gamboa, contagious diseases specialist; Dr. Leopoldo Pardo, neurologist; Dr. Kurt Eulau, family physician of Poe since his childhood; Dr. Eliodoro Congco, owner of the clinic and Poe’s personal friend; and Dr. Demetrio Madrid, company physician of the Royal Productions, owned by the deceased
All imaginable remedies known by science were applied, to no avail. It was disclosed that Poe entered the hospital last Monday complaining of hip pains believed caused by a fall the actor suffered while celebrating something in his studio last week. He did not know that he was suffering from hydrophobia, and the doctors knew it only early Tuesday morning when Poe began complaining of difficulties in respiration and stiffness in the neck. It was then that Dr. Congco, approached Mrs. Poe to ask if the patient was ever bitten by a dog. It was only then that Mrs. Poe said that he was really bitten by a puppy last August and never took anti-rabies injections.
At 2 a.m., Tuesday, Poe’s infection turned for the worse, and the doctors were summoned for consultations. All said that it was hydrophobia and all the doctors opined that he could not live for 24 hours more. Poe did not know that he was suffering hydrophobia, except at the last minute when, in a moment of consciousness, he asked about his sickness from his friend, Dr. Congco.
The family recalled that three of Poe’s children were also bitten by the same puppy, but they were injected with anti-rabies serum. He was not similarly treated because he did not believe that he had the virus.
Poe was a heavily insured man. His friends said that his insurance may reach up to a half-million pesos in different local companies.


The young FPJ (foreground), 12 years old





Literary Song- Movie Magazine/ November 1951
(photos above- courtesy of Alex R.Castro)



Thursday, September 18, 2008

FRANCISCO V. COCHING'S "LABAN SA LAHAT" (1958) AND "MASIKIP ANG DAIGDIG" (1962): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION

Fernando Poe Jr., starred in two of Francisco V. Coching serial novels, Laban sa Lahat (serialized in Liwayway) in 1958 and Masikip ang Daigdig (serialized in Pilipino Komiks) in 1962.



Laban sa Lahat (1958)- Stars Fernando Poe, Jr., Leonor Vergara' Lauro Delgado, Oscar Roncal, Elvira Reyes, Belen Velasco, Jose Garcia/ Directed by Cirio H. Santiago





Masikip ang Daigdig (1962)- Stars Fernando Poe, Jr., Aura Aurea, Mina Aragon, Lauro Delgado, Ramon D' Salva, Oscar Roncal and Eddie Fernandez/ Directed by Cirio H. Santiago




click images to enlarge






Monday, September 15, 2008

FLAVOR OF THE MONTH

Chico, a popular Philippine fruit, also known as nispero or chico sapote and member of the Sapotaceae family is native to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and Central America. The plants are cultivated almost exclusively for commercial fruit production, but the sticky sap called latex was also coveted by indigenous Americans. In fact, the sap is the original source of chewing gum or chicle in Spanish.(more)

This is something--- Did you know that in 1954, chico was Magnolia Ice Cream's Flavor of the Month for December? "Ano kaya ang lasa?", someone asked me. " Hmm, siguro lasang tsiko, hehehe!"




More Product Ads

Sunday, September 14, 2008

RARE VINTAGE PRE-WAR TAGALOG MOVIE FLYERS

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.

Scanned from the original copies are these two vintage double-sided movie advertising flyers of Fernando Poe Sr. movies, Hanggang Langit (1939) from Cine Ligaya theater at Bocaue, Bulacan and Dilim at Liwanag (1940) from Cine Linda theater at Meycawayan, Bulacan distributed free to movie patrons.


Hanggang Langit (1939)- Stars Fernando Poe, Sr., Maria Miranda, Ben Rubio, Cecilio Joaquin/ Directed by Ted Del Rio

Dilim at Liwanag (1940)- Stars Fernando Poe, Sr., Lucita Goyena, Ben Rubio, Mona Lisa/ Directed by Eduardo de Castro

Thursday, September 11, 2008

PINOY MOVIE HEROES #4: PANCHO MAGALONA AS LUIS LATIGO

"The crack of his whip offers the only hope of survival for an oppressed people." He was Luis Latigo, probably the local version of the legendary Zorro. Penned by Clodualdo del Mundo, Luis Latigo was a favorite DZRH radio serial of the 60s and starred Pancho Magalona, Charito Solis, Luz Valdez, Robert Campos and Jose Vergara, under Tino Garcia direction.


Luis Latigo (1961)- Stars Pancho Magalona, Charito Solis, Luz Valdez, Robert Campos, Jose Vergara/ Directed by Tino Garcia

PINOY MOVIE HEROES #3: ALICIA VERGEL AS MASKARA (1957)

"In the darkness of the night, a masked figure in black, riding a white stead and brandishing a sword comes thwarting and defying tyranny...!" This time the hero was a woman known only as Maskara, portrayed by Alicia Vergel.


Maskara (1957)- Stars Alicia Vergel, Jose Velez, Carol Vatga, Ramon D'Salva, Elvira Reyes, Belen Velasco, Oscar Roncal, Renato Robles, Max ALvarado/ Directed by Teodorico C. Santos


Wednesday, September 10, 2008

50's CIGARETTE ENDORSERS

Hollywood actor Humphrey Bogart was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 1956. He was notorious for his heavy drinking and smoking, two things known to contribute to esophageal cancer.

The cancer had spread to his lymph nodes. His treatment included a nine hour surgery to remove the tumor, two lymph nodes, and a rib. The surgery was followed by a course of chemotherapy.

At first, Bogart seemed to respond to the treatments but after 6 months the cancer recurred and he underwent radiation therapy.

Unfortunately, Bogart could not fight the cancer and he fell into a coma and died at home on January 14, 1957 at the age of 57.

His last words: "I never should have switched from scotch to martinis.”



In the 50’s, top Hollywood stars like John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Tyrone Power, Alan Ladd were some of the popular endorsers of famous cigarette brands like Chesterfield, Camel, Philip Morris, Marlboro. Would you believe that even doctors and babies were also endorsers of such brands during that time? Take a look on some of 50’s cigarette ads, when advertised today, would have been a subject of public scrutiny and widespread protest.










Effective July 2008, cigarette ads and sponsorships will be banned in the Philippines.

The Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 mandates a total ban on cigarette ads effective July 1, said Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control-Alliance Philippines (FCAP).

According to Limpin, the ban does not affect areas considered as "point-of-sale establishments." Letters have already been sent to an inter-agency committee that will notify affected sectors about the ban.

No tobacco ads will be allowed to be published in newspapers and any other publication. Tobacco firms will also not be allowed to sponsor any sport, concert, cultural art or event. In the same manner, individual or team athletes, artists and performers are not allowed to include any cigarette or tobacco company in their sponsorships.

Law violators will pay a fine of 100,000 pesos ($2,236) or one year imprisonment for the first offense. Fines will double on the second offense. A fine of 400,000 pesos and imprisonment of not more than two years will be the penalty during the third offense.

Any official from any firm found violating the ban will be held liable. The company's permit to operate will also be revoked. see Link