MARICEL SORIANO: 80's FAST-RISING YOUNG DRAMATIC ACTRESS (1983-89)

Maricel Soriano has been known for her comic roles as Taray or Inday in many movies she made. She did light dramas in Oh My Mama (1981), Hindi Kita Malimot (1982) and Mother Dear (1982) before showing her full range as a dramatic star in 1983 when she did Saan Darating ang Umaga ? and Minsan May Isang Ina where she pitted talents with established stars. Maricel was great when she had a touching and emotional scene with Nida Blanca in Saan Darating ang Umaga ?: "Wala sa kulay ng damit, wala sa haba ng pagluluksa… nasa puso, nasa isip… ayokong mag-itim… ayokong magluksa… dahil ayokong isiping patay na ang daddy!” The role earned Maricel the year’s Famas Best Supporting Actress award. In 1984, Maricel as Clarissa delivered one of her famous and memorable lines in a climatic scene with Gina Alajar (in the role of Nancy), "Ayoko ng tinatapakan ako, ayoko ng masikip, ayoko ng mabaho, ayoko ng walang tubig, ayoko ng walang pagkain, ayoko ng putik,” in the movie finale of Maryo J. delos Reyes’ Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit. The movie turned out to be Maricel’s first significant movie. The young star has more to offer as she delivered yet another outstanding and sensitive portrayal as the pregnant Carmen Castro in the 1985 Ishmael Bernal’s Hinugot sa Langit, a controversial movie on abortion. "…natatakot ako sa Diyos, baka itapon ako sa impiyerno!" said the worried Carmen as she contemplates on aborting the child or not. In one of the final scenes, Carmen, after an abortion, went hysterical when her landlady (played by Charito Solis) was killed, angrily confronted the assailant, screaming "…walanghiya ka… wala kang karapatang pumatay". The movie won the 1985 Gawad Urian for Best Direction, Editing, Production Design and Sound. Only 20 that time (born 1965), the young Maricel showed early signs of maturity as an actress and established herself as one of the emerging and important dramatic stars to come out in the 80s.

As Maricel continues to do more comedy roles towards the end of the 80s, she manages to appear in some notable drama movies--- Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (1986), where she had a confrontational scene with veteran actress Vilma Santos: Maricel to Vilma: "Ang anak hindi napapalitan pero ang asawa nahihiwalayan!!!"; Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa (1987)--- another head-on verbal conflict, this time with Lorna Tolentino: Maricel to Lorna: "Huwag kang umasta na akala mo kung sino ka, dahil sampid ka lang dito." Lorna: "Bakit, pareho lang naman tayo ha. Pinulot lang sa lupa." She capped the decade with a TV drama special, Maricel Regal Drama Special (1987) and sterling performances in Babaeng Hampaslupa (1988), Sa Akin pa rin ang Bukas (1988) and Kung Maibabalik ko Lang (1989).

Saan Darating ang Umaga? (1983)- Stars Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa, Raymond Lauchengco and Maricel Soriano/ Introducing Jaypee de Guzman/ Directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes

Minsan May Isang Ina (1983)- Stars Nora Aunor, Charito Solis, Maricel Soriano, Bembol Roco, William Martinez Manilyn Reynes/ Directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes



Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit (1984)- Stars Charito Solis, Ronaldo Valdez, Liza Lorena, Gina Alajar, Michae de Mesa, William Martinez, Arlene Muhlach and Maricel Soriano/ Directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes

Left- Hinugot sa Langit (1985)- Stars Charito Solis, Dante Rivero, Al Tantay, Amy Austria, Rowell Santiago and Maricel Soriano/ Directed by Ishmael Bernal

Right- Pahiram ng Ligaya (1985)- Stars Eddie Rodriguez, Liza Lorena, Albert Martinez, Luis Gonzales, Marissa Delgado and Maricel Soriano/ Directed by Edd Palmos

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (1986)- Stars Vilma Santos, Snooky Serna, Maricel Soriano, Richard Gomez, Eddie garcia and Gabby Concepcion/ Directed by Emmanuel H. Borlaza

Left- Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa (1987)- Stars Lorna Tolentino, Gabby Concepcion, Eddie Garcia and Maricel Soriano/ Directed by Ishmael Bernal

Right- Sa Akin Pa Rin ang Bukas (1988)- Stars Nida Blanca, Luis Gonzales, Perla Bautista, Marissa Delgado, Caridad Sanchez, Richard Gomez, Eric Quizon, Ramon Christopher, Lotlot de Leon, ALice Dixson and Maricel Soriano/ Directed by Artemio Marquez

Left- Babaing Hampaslupa (1988)- Stars Janice de Belen, Gina Alajar, Liza Lorena, Leni Santos, Carmina Villarroel, Edu Manzano, Rowell Santiago, Richard Gomez and Maricel Soriano/ Directed by Mel Chionglo

Right- Kung Maibabalik Ko lang (1989)- Stars Gloria Romero, Eddie Garcia, Maricel Soriano, Pops Fernandez, Lotlot de Leon, Lani Mercado, Miguel Rodriguez, Eric Quizon, Ramon Christopher/ Directed by Artemio Marquez