LUIS GONZALES, 83/ MOVIE ADS (1955- 1960)

Left- "Iginuhit ng Tadhana" (1965)- Stars Luis Gonzales, Gloria Romero, Rosa Mia, Tony Cayado, Ven Medina, Venchito Galvez, Jose Morelos/ with Vilma Santos, Chona and Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos, Jr./ Directed by Mar S. Torres, Jose de Villa & Conrado Conde

Right- "Pinagbuklod ng Langit" (1969)- Stars Luis Gonzales, Gloria Romero, Rosa Mia, Vilma Santos, Gina Alajar, Jonjie Aranda/ Directed by Eddie Garcia

The actor, best remembered for portraying the late President Ferdinand Marcos in two biopics released in the 1960s, passed away on Thursday night due to complications arising from pneumonia. He was 81.

Luis Gonzales, Luis Mercado in real life, acted in more than 100 movies, most of which were under Sampaguita Pictures and costarred with his favorite leading lady, Gloria Romero, in the 1950s.

He played Marcos in the political propaganda movie “Iginuhit ng Tadhana” in 1965 and in the drama film “Pinagbuklod ng Langit” in 1969.

Romero, who played First Lady Imelda Marcos to his Ferdinand, recalled that they could only start shooting in Malacañang after office hours at 6 p.m. and wind up at 6 a.m. the next day.

In spite of the unusual working hours, Gonzales would remain cheerful, Romero said. “He was a jolly fellow. He was always joking around and he loved dancing,” she told the Inquirer.

Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos said Gonzales portrayed her father in her first movie “Trudis Liit” in 1963. Then a child star, Santos also played little Imee in the two Marcos movies.

“I was very young then and it was amusing to see and tour the Palace with him,” Santos said. “He really made a big mark in Philippine movies. I will be praying for the repose of his soul and for strength for his family, too.”

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos remembered Sampaguita producer Jose “Doc” Perez auditioning other actors, but in the end it was Luis’ voice that landed him the role. “In a nation of tenors, he and my dad were the only two baritones,” she said. “We were very fond of him and listening to him [on the set], I sometimes thought he was my father.”

Another Sampaguita star, Liberty Ilagan, described Gonzales as “a wonderful person … full of life and wit. There was never a dull moment with him. He will surely be missed.”

Actress Boots Anson-Roa, head of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation Inc., related that her late father Oscar Moreno and other Sampaguita colleagues fondly called Gonzales palengke (market place) because “he was a live wire. He always sparked animated conversations.”

Sampaguita movie queen Amalia Fuentes added that palengke was also in reference to his surname Mercado, which is Spanish for market.

Roa and Fuentes made a movie with Gonzales, Elwood Perez’s “Isang Gabi, Tatlong Babae,” in 1974.

Perez, then a newcomer, recalled watching the late actor on and off cam. “I was often starstruck on the set, but observing how Luis and Amalia switched on and off from their real selves (as old friends) to their screen characters (as husband-and-wife) made me ponder on my own role as director,” he said.
Great chemistry with wife

“He grew up in Tondo,” Fuentes said. “When we see each other, he’d holler, greeting me from far away.”

Gonzales married Vina Concepcion who belonged to one of the most prominent and wealthiest families in Pasig City.

The last time Fuentes, Perez and Gonzales worked together was in the 1997 film “Reputasyon.” “I’d often see him talking on the phone with his wife Vina,” Fuentes recounted. “He’d tell her what would happen on the set, while his wife would relate to him the Mills & Boon novels she read. They had great chemistry.”

He is survived by his wife and three children.

Gonzales was cremated on Friday. A three-day wake follows at the Santuario de San Antonio, Forbes Park, Makati City. Interment is on Monday at 2 p.m.
By: Bayani San Diego Jr. Philippine Daily Inquirer

Left- "Despatsadora" (1955)- Stars Gloria Romero, Luis Gonzales, Dolphy, Rosa Mia/ Directed by Tony Cayado

Right- "Hootsy Kootsy" (1955)- Stars Gloria Romero, Luis Gonzales, Dolphy, Zeny Zabala/ Directed by Mar S. Torres

"Boksingera" (1956)- Stars Luis Gonzales, Dolphy and Susan Roces/ with Panchito Alba, Nelly Baylon, Pacita Arana, Precy Ortega, Priscilla Concepcion/ Directed by Octavio Silos

Left- "Pagdating ng Takip-Silim" (1956)- Stars Gloria Romero, Luis Gonzales, Barbara Perez, Tony Marzan/ Directed by Rosa Mia

Right- "Vacacionista" (1956)- Stars Gloria Romero, Luis Gonzales, Dolphy, Norma Vales/ Directed by Mar S. Torres

Left- "Chabacano" (1956)- Stars Myrna Delgado, Luis Gonzales, Dolphy, Daisy Romualdez, Chicha, Zeny Zabala, Rod Navarro, Precy Ortega, Herminia Crranza, Horacio Morelos, Justina David/ Introducing Barbara Perez/ Directed by Octavio Silos

Right- "Timbando Cana" (1956)- Stars Lolita Rodiguez, Luis Gonzales, Norma Vales, Rosa Mia/ Directed by Olive La Torre

"Taga sa Bato" (1957)- Stars Paraluman, Lolita Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales, Van de Leon and Eddie Garcia/ Directed by Conrado Conde

"Sino ang Maysala?" (1957)- Stars Rogelio de la Rosa, Gloria Romero, Paraluman, Ric Rodrigo, Lolita Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales, Rosa Mia, Susan Roces and Romeo Vasquez/ Directed by Armando Garces

Left- "Pasang Krus" (1957)- Stars Rita Gomez, Luis Gonzales, Rosa Mia, Tony Marzan/ Directed by Octavio Silos

Right- "Ismol Bat Teribol" (1957)- Stars Luis Gonzales, Amalia Fuentes, Nelly Baylon, Romeo Vasquez, Tony Marzan, Boy Planas/ Directed by Jose de Villa

Left- "Colegiala" (1957)- Stars Gloria Romero, Luis Gonzales, Barbara Perez, Tony Marzan/ with Panchito Alba, Nori Dalisay, Meldy Corrales, Venchito Galvez, Manolo Noble, Pablo Guevarra, Aring Bautista, Marcela Garcia/ Directed by Tony Cayado

Right- "Isang Milyong Kasalanan" (1957)- Stars Rita Gomez, Luis Gonzales, Barbara Perez/ Directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa

Left- "Alaalang Banal" (1958)- Stars Gloria Romero, Luis Gonzales, Marlene Dauden, Carlos Salazar, Rosa Mia/ Directed by Armando Garces

Right- "Paruparong Bukid" (1958)- Stars Gloria Romero, Luis Gonzales, Dolphy, Daisy Romualdez, Eddie Garcia, Etang Discher, Boy Planas, Venchito Galvaez, Ely Roque, Luis Castro, Jaime Javier, Vic Guevarra, Lilibeth Perez/ Directed by Armando Garces

"Talipandas" (1958)- Stars Rita Gomez, Luis Gonzales, Van de Leon, Carlos Salazar, Bella Flores, Zeny Zabala, Pacita Arana, Ely Roque/ Directed by Conrado Conde

"Condenado" (1958)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales, Van de Leon, Eddie Garcia/ with Martin Marfil, Totoy Torrente, Pablo Guevarra, Precy Ortega, Apolonio Rivera, Jr./ Guests- Paraluman, Jose de Villa/ Directed by Armando Garces

"Pitong Pagsisisi' (1959)- An All-Star Cast/ Directed by Armando Garces

Left- "Alipin ng Palad" (1959)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez , Luis Gonzales, Eddie Garcia, Tony Cayado, Bella Flores, Zeny Zabala, Priscilla Valdez, Cesar Reyes, Leleng Isla, Naty Mallares, Aring Bautista, Lydia Correa, Marcela Garcia/ Directed by Octavio Silos

Right- "Cicatriz" (1959)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales, Barbara Perez, Carlos Salazar, Greg Martin, Rosita Noble, Bella Flores, Zeny Zabala, Venchito Galvez, Ven Medina/ Directed by Tony Cayado

"Double Cross" (1960)- Stars Rita Gomez, Luis Gonzales, Carlos Salazar, Tony Marzan/ with Martin Marfil, Bella Flores, Charlie Davao, Naty Santiago, Pablo Ramundo, Justina David, Aring Bautista/ Directed by Conrado Conde

Left- "Ipagdarasal Kita" (1960)- Stars Ric Rodrigo, Lolita Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales, Marlene Dauden, Rosa Mia, Zeny Zabala, Venchito Galvez, Nenita Navarro, Cesar Reyes/ Directed by Octavio Silos

Right- "Salamat Po, Doktor" (1960)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales, Daisy Romualdez, Carlos Salazar, Tony Marzan, Rosa Mia/ Directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa

"Ginang Hukom" (1960)- Stars Rosa Mia/ Directed by Ding M. de Jesus

Case No. 1: "Ama at Anak"- Stars Liberty Ilagan, Eddie Gutierrez and Lito Legaspi; Case No. 2: "Pinatay Ko ang Aking Ina" - Stars Luis Gonzales and Josephine Estrada (debut movie); Case No. 3: "Paglipas ng Dilim"- Stars Mario Montenegro and Rita Gomez; Case No. 4: "Gabing Walang Umaga"- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Carlos Salazar, Tony Marzan; Case No. 5: "Darling, Paalam"- Stars Amalia Fuentes and Romeo Vasquez


"Lupa sa Lupa" (1960)- Stars Gloria Romero, Lolita Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales, Eddie Garcia, Bella Flores, Pablo Guevarra, Venchito Galvez, Matimtiman Cruz/ Directed by Mar S. Torres

Left- "7 Amores" (1960)- All Star Cast

Right- "Ang Inyong Lingkod, Gloria Romero" (1960)- Stars Gloria Romero, Ric Rodrigo, Mario Montenegro, Luis Gonzales and Juancho Gutierrez/ Directed by Jose de Villa