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Monday, March 29, 2010

ROGELIO DE LA ROSA, ROSA DEL ROSARIO, TONY ARNALDO, ROSA ROSAL IN "HIMALA NG BIRHEN SA ANTIPOLO" (1947): A FILM BY SUSANA C. DE GUZMAN


"Himala ng Birhen sa Antipolo" (1947)
LVN Pictures
Cinematography Ray Lacap
Sound July Hidalgo
Music Constancio de Guzman
Direction Susan C.de Guzman
Cast Rogelio dela Rosa, Rosa del Rosario, Tony Arnaldo, Rosa Rosal, Jaime Castellvi, Rosa Mia, Engracia Ibarra, Gumercindo Buencamino, Africa dela Rosa, Soto & Nieves/ Introducing Blanca Nieva




Penned and directed by Susana C. de Guzman, Himala ng Birhen sa Antipolo, tells of Ramon (Rogelio de la Rosa), a graduating medical student, who fell in love with Pacing (Rosa del Rosario), a strong devotee of the Virgin of Antipolo. Though Ramon was not that religious and seldom goes to church, he courted Pacing, even going to church with her. Pacing gifted Ramon a framed image of the Virgin of Antipolo that would guide him, particularly with his studies. Ramon eventually finished his medical course and successfully passed the board. He became a topnotch surgeon.

The touching and beautiful song, "Tayo na sa Antipolo," is captured in the clip below---



Courtesy of LVN Pictures

Ramon’s father, Don Julian remarried a very young woman, Lolita (Rosa Rosal). Ramon felt that the woman was only after his father’s wealth. Lolita had eyes on Ramon but was having an affair with another man.

When Pacing’s mother got ill, Ramon was tapped to do the operation. But he was nowhere to be found and when he did the operation it was too late. Pacing’s mother died and was blamed for it. It was Lolita who orchestrated on why Ramon can’t be found.

Ramon later discovered Lolita’s immoral relationship but his father thought that it was his son who was having an affair with his wife. The incident made Ramon more depressed. He was devastated more when he received a letter informing him of the hospital’s decision to replace him. He turned his anger to the framed image of the Virgin of Antipolo and smashed it that resulted in an ugly cut in his palm.

Guilt dawned on Lolita and she bared the whole truth to her husband and to Pacing. As Pacing and his brother headed towards Ramon’s place, they figured in a vehicular accident. Pacing was badly injured and needed a surgical operation. Ramon was tasked to do the operation but it was impossible because of his injured hand. Pacing asked Ramon to seek guidance and forgiveness to the Virgin of Antipolo. A miracle occurred and his hand was healed. The final scenes on the movie can be viewed on the clip below---


Courtesy of LVN Pictures

6 comments:

TheCoolCanadian said...

Simon:

It's always nice to see simple times in the lives of Filipinos. Watching the film clips makes you wish to be one of those picnickers in Antipolo. Unfortunately, the hinulugang taktak is gone. It is now dry, and the area is now full of million-dollar homes.

I noticed that the song Aking Bituin had a little difference in lyrics than the one recorded by Ruben Tagalog. Obviously, the soundtrack was not sung by Ruben Tagalog. I wonder which one came first: the movie or the recording.

Rosa del Rosario was one pretty lass, wasn't she. And Rosa Rosal was just a supporting actress then.

Despite Susana C. de Guzman's convoluted and contrived melodrama, this film is worth preserving for its historical value alone. The new generation could at least see what Hinulugang Taktak looked like, plus what sort of customs and lifestyle the Filipinos used to have in the old days.

Rodolfo Samonte said...

Simon, JM,
I almost cried from sheer nostalgia watching this Antipolo clip. What happy days those were. This is a real gem, showing what Filpinos have lost, and won't ever see again. We've everything here that harks back to tradition - the harana, baro't saya, barong Tagalog, gitara at banduria, the panuelo, the pakipot, and selosan, hehehe. And of course the once lovely Hinulugang Taktak, which is now forever lost. JM, you know right after we learned to swim, our next trip was to go to Hinulugang Taktak and try our new-found abilities, hehehe. By that time my brother was swimming like a fish. Here's two pictures in Picassa, of myself and some friends in Hinulugang Taktak, probably around the late 60's: http://picasaweb.google.com/rodolfo.samonte/TayoNaSaAntipolo#5454143054903576562That rock where we're sitting down must be the same rock those guitarist are standing on in the movie clip. I have a piece of property in a subdivision near where the falls used to be. I'll be checking it out when I come home next month about possibly building a vacation home there.

Rodolfo Samonte said...

Here's that link again. Looks like it got attached to a word in the next sentence.

http://picasaweb.google.com/rodolfo.samonte/TayoNaSaAntipolo#5454143054903576562

TheCoolCanadian said...

Rod:

He-he. You were spring chicken then! So you've always worn eyeglasses! I never did even if I used to have -650 grade. I used contact lenses, then when laser surgery became popular, I went for it and for 2 minutes per eye, and instantly, my vision became 20-15! The best thing that ever happened to my vision.

Yeah, that's exactly where the filming was. At last you have old photos to reminisce the past. In my case, I haven't gone to Hinulugang Taktak. Never. So this film clip sort of gave me the experience.

Indeed, a vacation home would be great to have there.

joanna said...

The story has twists and complications, it talks about faith, choices, morality and immorality and the fine line that separates them. It is a touching romance, but has a blunt perspective on life.

Perrycomo said...

nice to hear "tayo na sa antipolo" song. sayang madaming vintage films ni Rosa Del Rosario ang nasira na.

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